BURLINGTON, Mass., Sep 08, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Decision Resources, one ofthe world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical andhealthcare issues, finds that, at least one half of surveyed dermatologistsacross the EU5 (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) willlikely wait until Pfizer's Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib hasaccumulated favorable postmarketing safety data before they will prescribe it.However, if tofacitinib's long-term safety record is favorable, with efficacythat is at least comparable to Pfizer's Enbrel, this agent has the potential tocompete directly with the leading biologic agents that are currently approved inEurope for psoriasis: Enbrel, Merck's Remicade, Abbott's Humira andJanssen/Cilag's Stelara.
The new European Physician & Payer Forum report entitled EuropeanPhysician and Payer Perspectives on Emerging Immunomodulators in Psoriasis alsofinds that the majority of surveyed dermatologists in the EU5 indicate that theywill prescribe Isotechnika's emerging calcinuerin inhibitor voclosporin,following its launch for psoriasis. Voclosporin is likely to be used early inthe treatment algorithm for psoriasis, either as a first-line systemic treatmentoption or in patients who have failed one or more oral therapy. By the end of2014, Decision Resources expects three novel oral systemic agents--voclosporin,tofacitinib and Celgene's phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitor apremilast--tolaunch in Europe for the treatment of psoriasis.
The report also finds that surveyed dermatologists in the EU5 are less likelyto prescribe apremilast than either voclosporin or tofacitinib.
"Among the nearly one quarter of physicians who do not plan to prescribeapremilast, the majority indicate that they do not see any advantages of thisdrug over currently marketed therapies," said Decision Resources Analyst IvaHolder, Ph.D. "Those who say they will prescribe apremilast will likely use itas a later-line oral systemic treatment by the end of 2014."
The findings also reveal that surveyed European dermatologists estimate thatbetween 31 and 45 percent of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients who arecandidates for biologics do not receive these drugs. Dermatologists in each ofthe EU5 countries follow prescribing guidelines for psoriasis established bynational medical societies and, according to surveyed physicians, biologiccandidates who do not meet the criteria outlined in these guidelines are themost likely to remain undertreated. Additionally, between 11 percent and 31percent of patients who are eligible for a biologic do not receive one due toreimbursement or budget restrictions.
"Restrictions at the hospital level are more persuasive in limiting theprescribing of biologics in Spain, whereas regional authorities' limitationsfeature prominently as a constraining factor in the prescribing of biologictherapy for psoriasis in Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany. In addition,restrictions imposed by indicative prescribing amounts in Germany are alsoconsidered key in limiting access to biologics in this country," Dr. Holdersaid.
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