Rituxan and Other Emerging Agents Will Find Success When Used in Combination With Existing Therapies for Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that agents such as Biogen Idec/Genentech/Roche's Rituxan, Genzyme/Berlex's Campath, and Hana Biosciences' Marqibo will be incorporated into the multidrug chemotherapy regimens currently used as first- line treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). According to the new report entitled Emerging Therapies Will Be Adjuncts in this Niche Market: An Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Study, the combination use of Rituxan and the standard chemotherapy regimen hyper-CVAD (a treatment regimen that includes Bristol-Myers Squibb's Cytoxan, Baxter/Shionogi Seiyaku's Endoxan, generics; Eli Lily's Oncovin, generics; Bedford Labs' Adriamycin, Pfizer's Ariblastine/Adriacin, generics; Merck's Decadron, generics; Stada Pharmaceuticals' Rheumatrex, generics; Pfizer's Cytosar-U/Aracytine, Nippon Shinyaku's Cylocide, generics; and prednisone) shows the most promise and achieves the highest overall clinical rating among the emerging therapies.

"Clinical data demonstrate that improved disease-free survival was achieved when Rituxan was added to hyper-CVAD in ALL patients" said Clair Gricks, Ph.D., analyst at Decision Resources. "Hemato-oncologists are extremely positive about incorporating Rituxan into their first-line chemotherapy regimens, particularly hyper-CVAD, and they anticipate its use in a significant proportion of their patients. Based on feedback from surveyed physicians, we assume that Rituxan's market share will increase as clinical data mature."

The low incidence and heterogeneous biology of ALL creates challenges from a drug-development perspective. Physicians say that they depend on research in other disease areas that have overlapping biological characteristics with ALL for new agents to investigate in this patient group. Rituxan is already well established in other indications.

About Emerging Therapies Will Be Adjuncts in this Niche Market: An Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Study

Emerging Therapies Will Be Adjuncts in this Niche Market: An Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Study covers the current and future state of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia drug market. The report includes the following:

    -- 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 identify 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. (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.

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    For more information, contact:

    Elizabeth Marshall
    Decision Resources, Inc.
    781-296-2563
    emarshall@dresources.com