Rheumatoid Arthritis Biologic Competitors Shelled Out $195 Million to Promote Their Products in 2005

WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources and Millennium Research Group have produced a new report that finds that the six companies with approved rheumatoid arthritis (RA) biologics in 2005 (Amgen, Wyeth, Centocor, Schering-Plough, Abbott, and BMS) doled out $195 million promoting the five biologics that were approved for RA at the time (Enbrel, Remicade, Humira, Kineret, and Orencia). The new report entitled Brands & Strategies: Rheumatoid Arthritis finds that the $195 million includes spending for physician detailing and journal advertising in the United States, France, and Germany, as well as direct-to-consumer advertising in the United States.

The $195 million spent to promote these brands is substantial and in the range of promotional spending typically associated with more highly prevalent conditions such as dyslipidemia, asthma, and allergic rhinitis. One reason for this situation is that the market for RA biologics is highly competitive; several similar agents compete for the small number of patients eligible for treatment with a biologic. Secondly, RA biologics have expanded to several disease areas in recent years, and the $195 million is the total spent for promotion of the five brands, including all of the indications for which they are approved.

"For example," says Melissa Stolper, therapeutic area director at Decision Resources, "the total promotional spending for Enbrel covers not only RA but also psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis, while the total promotional spending for Remicade includes Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis in addition to RA. Not only must companies promote their drugs for several indications, but oftentimes this involves targeting different physician audiences beyond rheumatologists."

About Brands & Strategies

Brands & Strategies is the first and only report series to bring together all of the competitive information elements biopharmaceutical companies need to make informed decisions about their products and best next-steps. Each report includes the following:

  -- Brand-specific, event-driven, five-year annualized market forecast
  -- Country-specific market share projections by brand and assessment of
     impacts of future events
  -- Drug class sales by country
  -- Brand sales by region
  -- Projected price for all drugs for five years
  -- Generic pricing impact on all drugs
  -- Prevalence and diagnosis rates by country
  -- Promotional spend for each product
  -- Pipeline analysis by company within a specific disease
  -- SWOT analysis on each brand
  -- Clinical trial reviews and clinical trial competitive analysis
  -- Detailed brand strategy and how it relates to clinical trial results
  -- Impact of Medicare
  -- Selling strategies based on clinical trials

  About Millennium Research Group

Millennium Research Group (http://www.mrg.net/), part of the Decision Resources, Inc., family, is a leading provider of strategic information to the healthcare sector. Focused on the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries, the company provides clients its specialized industry expertise through published reports and customized consulting services.

About Decision Resources

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

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, Inc.
  781-296-2563
  emarshall@dresources.com