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Stakeholder Insight: Multiple Sclerosis - Disease-modifying efficacy and side effects guide treatment choice

Published by: Datamonitor

Published: Dec. 21, 2006 - 175 Pages


Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3

Scope of the analysis 3

Datamonitor insight into the multiple sclerosis market 4

CHAPTER 2 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE 14

Coverage of the Stakeholder Insight Survey 14

Disease definition & epidemiology 14

Presentation and diagnosis 14

Treatment 14

Key prescribing influences 15

Unmet needs 15

CHAPTER 3 COUNTRY TREATMENT TREES 16

US 17

France 18

Germany 19

Italy 20

Spain 21

UK 22

CHAPTER 4 EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PATIENT SEGMENTATION 23

Disease definition 23

There is no universal course for multiple sclerosis 23

Researchers have attempted to classify multiple sclerosis according to the clinical course of the disease 23

Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis 25

Young female adults are most at risk of developing multiple sclerosis 25

Other genetic and environmental factors appear to play a role in onset of MS 27

Prevalence of multiple sclerosis 28

Over 800,000 individuals across the US and 5EU are estimated to suffer from MS 28

US 30

5EU 30

The majority of patients suffer from relapse remitting multiple sclerosis 34

CHAPTER 5 PRESENTATION AND DIAGNOSIS 35

Presentation 35

Symptoms typically first emerge in relapsing-remitting course of multiple sclerosis 35

Fatigue and depression are most common symptoms 36

Less than half of new patients present to a physician at the time they suffer from first symptoms of MS 37

The majority of patients present to a primary care physician 41

Diagnosis 42

Diagnostic criteria 43

Only half of patients with multiple sclerosis symptoms receive an accurate diagnosis on initial presentation to a physician 45

CHAPTER 6 TREATMENT OPTIONS AND GUIDELINES 48

Treatment options 48

Symptomatic treatment 48

Disease-modifying drug treatments 49

Acute relapse treatment 52

Treatment guidelines 52

There are no official international guidelines for the chronic treatment of multiple sclerosis and use of disease-modifying therapies 52

Several treatment guidelines are in place for the management of acute relapses of multiple sclerosis 54

CHAPTER 7 PRESCRIBING TRENDS IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 56

Treatment of multiple sclerosis with disease-modifying drug treatments 56

Across all stages of MS, 53% of total diagnosed patients receive disease modifying therapies 56

First-line therapy 60

Approximately one third of patients prescribed first-line therapy move to second-line therapy 64

Second-line therapy 67

Approximately one quarter of patients prescribed second-line therapy move to third-line therapy 70

Third-line therapy 72

Only one fifth of patients prescribed third-line therapy move to fourth-line therapy 74

Fourth-line therapy 77

Summary of treatment lines according to country 79

Novantrone (mitoxantrone) 80

Novantrone is the only treatment US Food and Drug Association-approved treatment for worsening MS 80

Approximately half of respondents prescribe mitoxantrone to their patients 81

The majority of current mitoxantrone prescriptions are reserved for last line therapy 82

In the future, mitoxantrone is unlikely to change from being reserved as a last line therapy 85

Tysabri (natalizumab) 87

Tysabri is the first humanized monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis 87

Cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy led to withdrawal after only three months on the market 87

Tysabri has been relaunched albeit under tight controls 88

The majority of interviewed neurologists would consider prescribing Tysabri 89

Tysabri administered as an infusion presents a small barrier to use 90

A potential risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with Tysabri would create a barrier to its use 92

Respondents expect to prescribe Tysabri predominantly to their patients with RRMS 94

There is no clear point for when Tysabri will be prescribed in the treatment algorithm 95

Treatment for acute relapse of multiple sclerosis 98

Steroids have historically been the mainstay of treatment 98

Interviewed neurologists consider intravenous methylprednisolone the number one treatment for acute relapses 98

Interviewed neurologists use numerous other therapies 100

Oral steroids are used by almost a quarter of patients but may increase risk of side effects 101

Intravenous dexamethasone offers a cheaper alternative to intravenous methylprednisolone 101

Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help reduce side effects 102

Plasmapheresis should be considered for patients who fail to respond to intravenous methylprednisolone 102

Use of intramuscular adrenocortropic hormone is no longer the preferred treatment for treating acute relapse 103

Intrathecal steroids are not recommended for treating acute relapse 103

CHAPTER 8 INFLUENCING FACTORS ON PRESCRIBING TRENDS IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 104

Current market overview 104

The disease-modifying drugs have continued to perform well in terms of revenues 104

Factors driving prescribing choice 106

Disease-modifying efficacy is the number one influential factor 106

Side effects are accepted as an inherent outcome of taking any disease-modifying drug but the nature and severity of the side effects are key influencers 107

Speed of onset of action is desirable 107

Ability to combine a drug with other therapies is heavily influenced by prescribing practices and trends 108

Drugs are used over a long period of time and must be considered safe for extended use 109

Dosing frequency and delivery methods may compromise patient compliance 111

In Europe cost typically has a greater influence on prescribing choice than formulary / reimbursement status 113

UK restricts use of disease-modifying drugs based on clinical versus cost-effectiveness 114

In the US formulary / reimbursement status is considered a greater influence on prescribing choice than cost 115

CHAPTER 9 IMPROVING TREATMENT OUTCOMES 117

Performance of prescribed drugs against attributes 117

Neurologists in the US and UK are most satisfied with current therapies 117

Avonex is perceived to perform slightly better across all attributes than the other disease-modifying therapies 118

Tysabri is perceived to perform best on disease modification efficacy 119

Higher dosed interferons are perceived to have a faster onset of action 121

None of the drugs are perceived to have a very good side-effect profile 123

Ability to combine with other therapies 126

A higher dosing frequency is perceived to more efficacious 127

Intravenous delivery methods are perceived less favorable 129

Interferons and Copaxone are considered safe for extended use 130

There is room to improve patient treatment compliance 131

Formulary / reimbursement status 132

Drugs with increased disease-modifying efficacy are considered to perform better on cost 133

Reasons for discontinuing therapy/switching to alternative drug therapy 135

Lack of efficacy and intolerable side effects are the key reasons for discontinuing or switching treatment 135

Occurrence of any side effect if poorly managed can lead to treatment discontinuation 137

Unmet needs 140

BIBLIOGRAPHY 143

References 143

Websites 149

APPENDIX A 152

Physician research methodology 152

Physician sample breakdown 152

US 152

France 153

Germany 153

Italy 154

Spain 154

UK 155

Contributing experts 155

APPENDIX B 156

The survey questionnaire 156

Physician details 156

Introduction 157

Section 1—Epidemiology and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis 157

Section 2—Treatment of multiple sclerosis 159

First-line therapy 160

Second-line therapy 162

Third-line therapy 164

Fourth-line therapy 166

Section 3—Key prescribing factors 170

Disclaimer 175





Abstract

Introduction
The disease-modifying drugs are considered by physicians to represent a significant advance for the management of MS. However, none is fully effective and there are problems with regards to side effects, dosing regimens and cost. Tysabri, a novel once-monthly drug is expected to be an improvement in terms of efficacy; however, there remains a concern over side effects and long-term safety.

Scope
Overview of epidemiology, presentation, referral and diagnostic assessment in MS
Breakdown of first-line to fourth-line treatment regimens and treatment choice according to disease category
Influences on treatment choice and perception of current drug therapies
Evaluation of unmet needs and future outlook
Highlights
Multiple sclerosis affects less than 1% of the population in the US and Europe. Despite the high level of general awareness of the disease, neurologists estimate less than half of individuals present at the time they suffer from first symptoms and it can take more than one year to receive an accurate diagnosis.

Numerous strategies, including switching to an alternative interferon beta, are adopted as second-line therapy. Although not favored by opinion leaders or US neurologists, combining two disease-modifying drugs is popular in the 5EU markets. Given the willingness of neurologists to try this strategy, further trials are required.

Tysabri is perceived by neurologists as offering a clear improvement in terms of disease-modifying efficacy. However, a lack of long-term safety data will ensure for the moment it remains positioned as a last-line therapy for relapse-remitting patients who have failed first- and second-line treatment with interferon beta or glatiramer acetate.

Reasons to Purchase
Target prescribers more effectively, through an understanding of prescribing behavior and its influences
Validate new product forecasting based on diagnosis and treatment rates, and the likely rate of uptake for new products
Benchmark brand awareness and perceptions surrounding product positioning in order to formulate competitive lifecycle management strategies


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