WALTHAM, Mass., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the
world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare
issues, finds that simvastatin (Merck's Zocor, generics) leads Pfizer's
Lipitor in second-line patient share -- 22.9 percent versus 14.7 percent. Most
patients progressing to simvastatin do so after switching from Lipitor.
Surveyed primary care physicians and cardiologists cite simvastatin's better
reimbursement and formulary status as the primary reason to prescribe
simvastatin instead of Lipitor. Nevertheless, despite the availability of
generic statins, more than 75 percent of Lipitor's prescriptions stem from
first-line therapy.
The report entitled Treatment Algorithms in Dyslipidemia also finds that,
prior to the release of the ENHANCE trial results, Merck/Schering-Plough's
Vytorin and AstraZeneca's Crestor also gained significant second-line patient
shares-13.1 percent and 10.9 percent, respectively. These gains reflect
physicians' efforts to boost efficacy in patients whose initial low-density
lipoprotein (LDL) lowering treatment had been less than optimal; surveyed
physicians perceive these agents to offer the best LDL-reducing ability.
However, 47 percent of surveyed primary care physicians and 49 percent of
surveyed cardiologists have changed their prescribing of Merck/Schering-
Plough's Zetia and Vytorin because of data from the ENHANCE trial, which
showed that the addition of Zetia to simvastatin treatment did not
significantly change carotid artery thickness. The majority of surveyed
physicians now prescribe Vytorin and Zetia in fewer new patients, with a
smaller percentage of physicians switching patients off of these drugs.
"Cardiologists we surveyed expect to decrease their first- and second-line
prescriptions for Vytorin between 2008 and 2010, and to increase their third-
line use of the drug in the same time period." said Madhuri Borde, Ph.D.,
analyst at Decision Resources. "However, fewer surveyed primary care
physicians anticipate lower use of Vytorin in first- and second-line therapy
over the next two years."
About Treatment Algorithm Insight Series
Decision Resources combines in-depth primary research with the most
extensive claims-based longitudinal patient-level data from PharMetrics(R) to
provide exceptional insight into physicians' prescribing trends and the
factors that drive therapy product choice, from diagnosis through multiple
courses of treatment, for a specific disease.
For each disease examined, Decision Resources' Treatment Algorithm Insight
Series provide the following:
-- Summary of U.S. medical practice based on interviews with leading
experts in the field.
-- Qualitative diagnosis/referral/treatment algorithm for the United
States.
-- Drug usage by lines of therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line).
-- Discussion of key freeform combinations by lines of therapy.
-- Product share (class and specific compound level) within each line of
therapy (1st, 2nd, 3rd line).
-- Progression of therapy from key 1st line products.
-- Pathway to key therapies from previous therapies.
-- Qualitative analysis of two-year forecast incorporating upcoming
launches, changes in reimbursement, etc.
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.
All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
For more information, contact:
Elizabeth Marshall
Decision Resources
781-296-2563
emarshall@dresources.com
SOURCE Decision Resources
