For Ulcerative Colitis, Surveyed Experts Indicate That Corticosteroids Have Advantages Over Remicade in the Induction of Remission

Abbott/Eisai’s Humira Will Earn Decision Resources’ Clinical Gold Standard Status for Ulcerative Colitis in 2012, According to a New Report from Decision Resources

WALTHAM, Mass., April 16 /PRNewswire/ — Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that surveyed gastroenterologists identify a therapy’s effect on induction of remission as the attribute that most influences their prescribing decisions in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Clinical data and the opinions of interviewed thought leaders indicate that corticosteroids have advantages in this attribute over Centocor/Schering-Plough/Mitsubishi Tanabe’s Remicade (infliximab), the sales-leading agent in the market.

The new report entitled Ulcerative Colitis: Opportunity Awaits Therapies That Treat Moderate to Severe Disease More Effectively Than Infliximab finds that a drug that maintains remission in a higher percentage of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis than infliximab at one year would earn a 30 percent patient share in the United States and a 15 percent patient share in Europe, according to surveyed U.S. and European gastroenterologists.

In 2008, Decision Resources’ proprietary clinical gold standard for ulcerative colitis was prednisone. Based on available data and expert opinion, Abbott/Eisai’s Humira (adalimumab) will earn gold-standard status for ulcerative colitis in 2012, following its approval for the indication in 2011. Interviewed experts believe that adalimumab has potential to be superior in maintenance of remission when compared to infliximab.

“Although clinical trial data are limited, interviewed experts believe that adalimumab will be more effective than infliximab in the maintenance setting and that it offers superior safety and tolerability when compared with other drugs in the market, including infliximab,” said Decision Resources Analyst Benjamin Guikema, Ph.D. “Adalimumab also has a reduced risk of major organ toxicity, giving it a significant advantage over all other currently available therapies.”

About the Report

Ulcerative Colitis: Opportunity Awaits Therapies That Treat Moderate to Severe Disease More Effectively Than Infliximab is a DecisionBase 2009 report. DecisionBase 2009 is a decision-support tool that provides in-depth analysis of unmet need, physician expectations of new therapies and commercial dynamics to help pharmaceutical companies optimize their investments in drug development.

The report can be purchased by contacting Decision Resources. Members of the media may request an interview with an analyst.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

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    Decision Resources                               Decision Resources, Inc.
    Christopher Comfort                              Elizabeth Marshall
    781-296-2597                                     781-296-2563
    ccomfort@dresources.com                          emarshall@dresources.com

SOURCE Decision Resources