Abbott Laboratories' Humira Will Replace Centocor's Remicade as the Clinical Gold Standard for the Treatment of Crohn's Disease by 2010

WALTHAM, Mass., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that Abbott Laboratories' Humira will replace Centocor's Remicade as the clinical gold standard for the treatment of Crohn's disease by 2010. According to the new report entitled Humira Emerges as the Leading Therapy: A Crohn's Disease Study, Humira outperforms Remicade in efficacy, safety, and convenience.

"Data from Phase III clinical trails suggest that Humira more effectively maintains remission and clinical response than Remicade," said Cynthia Mundy, Ph.D., therapeutic area director at Decision Resources. "Humira's less frequent and less severe hypersensitivity reactions, lower rate of minor side effects, and subcutaneous administration also are improvements over Remicade."

Humira received marketing approval for Crohn's disease in February 2007 in the United States, and European regulatory approval for Crohn's disease is anticipated in 2007 as well. Humira becomes the new clinical gold standard in 2010 and remains so until at least 2015.

About Humira Emerges as the Leading Therapy: A Crohn's Disease Study

Humira Emerges as the Leading Therapy: A Crohn's Disease Study covers the current and future state of the Crohn's disease 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 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