Emerging and Recently Launched Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapies Will Cost Patients Between $28 and $52 a Day by 2015

WALTHAM, Mass., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that emerging and recently launched rheumatoid arthritis therapies will cost patients between $28 and $52 a day by 2015. The following table summarizes the emerging and recently launched drugs, their estimated launch dates, and the estimated average daily price in 2015:

    DRUG                 COMPANY                 Estimated      ESTIMATED
                                                  Launch         AVERAGE
                                                   Date        DAILY PRICE,
                                                                   2015

  Orencia          Bristol-Myers Squibb           2006 (US)       $52.39
                                                  2007 (EU)
                                                  2012 (JP)

  Rituximab/
   MabThera               Biogen                 2006 (US,EU)     $28.72
                  Idec/Genentech/Chugai/          2012 (JP)
                  Zenyaku Kogyo/ Roche

   Cimzia                  UCB                    2008 (US,EU)    $38.71

  Golimumab       Centocor/Schering-Plough/      2009 (US,EU)     $28.22
              Tanabe/Janssen Pharmaceutical KK    2015 (JP)

   Actemra             Roche/Chugai               2007 (JP)       $35.95
                                                 2008 (US,EU)

According to the new report entitled Rheumatoid Arthritis: Turning Physician Insight into Projected Patient Share, even with these emerging and recently launched therapies Amgen/Wyeth's Enbrel will remain the clinical gold standard for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis through 2015.

"None of the upcoming emerging and recently launched therapies will be able to surpass the efficacy of Enbrel, especially with regard to its ability to inhibit/slow structural damage progression after one year and two years of treatment," said Melissa Stolper, director at Decision Resources. "Although some agents are able to match or surpass Enbrel in terms of overall safety and/or delivery, the fact that surveyed rheumatologists weight efficacy notably higher than either safety or delivery as the key driver in their prescribing decisions precludes any agent from rising above Enbrel as the clinical gold standard through 2015."

About Rheumatoid Arthritis: Turning Physician Insight into Projected Patient Share

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Turning Physician Insight into Projected Patient Share covers the current and future state of the rheumatoid arthritis drug market. The report includes:

  -- More than 3,000 physician responses that define drug attributes that
     drive prescription now and in the future.
        - Clinical end point tradeoffs that are most influential to
          physicians.
        - Areas of unmet need with highest potential.
        - Benchmark trial results for specific drug opportunities.
        - Patient share potential for emerging therapies and target product
          profiles.
  -- Decision Resources proprietary analysis of commercial factors that
     accelerate or constrain a drug's market potential.
        - Promotion: DTC spend, detailing intensity.
        - Reimbursement: formulary tier, prior approval restriction,
          quantity limits.
        - Labeling: black box warnings, approved patient segments,
          contraindications.
        - Competition: order of entry, pricing, generic entry, pipeline
          sales forecast.
        - Medical practice: decision trees, treating physician type, line of
          therapy.
  -- Comparisons of the key clinical attributes of current and emerging
     therapies in the areas of efficacy, safety, and delivery.
  -- Analysis and supporting data that identifies the clinical "Gold
     Standard" now and over the next ten years.
  -- Key insights as to which clinical end points have the greatest
     influence on physician decision-making.

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

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (http://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.

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