BioTrends Research Group, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds thatalmost all pharmacotherapy-treated epilepsy patients are prescribed second-generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), approximately one-half are prescribed first-generation AEDs and 16 percent third-generation AEDs, reflecting the role of polytherapy in epilepsy management by U.S. neurologists. Overall, market leaders are all second-generation AEDs, with UCB's Keppra capturing nearly one-quarter of all patient share, followed by GlaxoSmithKline's Lamictal, according to a recently released TreatmentTrends®: Epilepsy report. The success of these AEDs is not surprising considering that neurologists rate Lamictal as performing best overall on efficacy attributes, while Keppra performs best on safety/tolerability, patient benefits and physician benefits. UCB's Vimpat, on the market for just over three years, captures 8 percent patient share — on par with more established AEDs, such as Novartis' Trileptal, UCB's Keppra XR and Abbott's Depakote. Although only commercially available for two months at the time of fielding, Lundbeck's first-generation Onfi already captured 1 percent patient share. With approximately one-third of their patients treated with adjunctive AED therapy and 16 percent of patients estimated to be refractory to treatment, surveyed neurologists appear hesitant to remove a patient from an adjunctive therapy soon after seizure control is achieved.
The report also finds that, although the 101 surveyed U.S. neurologists prescribe generic formulations of both first- and second-generation AEDs to their epilepsy patients the majority of the time, they typically stay with the branded formulations of Keppra XR, Cephalon/Teva's Gabitril and MEDA Pharmaceuticals' Felbatol. It is interesting to note, however, that while approximately 60 percent of neurologists are comfortable switching a well-controlled patient from a generic to branded formulation of the same AED, only one-fifth are comfortable switching a patient from a branded to generic formulation, suggesting that if a patient is started on a branded formulation they will be more likely to remain on the brand.
Interestingly, although neurologists do not anticipate a significant change overall in their prescribing of first- or second-generation AEDs over the next six months, prescribing of third-generation AEDs is expected to significantly increase from 16 percent to 19 percent of AED patient share, driven predominantly by an anticipated significant increase for Vimpat. The continued uptake of Vimpat over the next six months will be driven by UCB's strong company support of the AED and strong performance of efficacy-related attributes. With only 34 percent of surveyed neurologists aware of GSK/Valeant Pharmaceuticals' recently approved third-generation Potiga, neurologists anticipate prescribing the product to 1 percent of their patients assuming commercial availability in the next six months. Only 11 percent of physicians are able to name an AED in development unaided; however, the majority of neurologists do express at least moderate interest in learning more about surveyed AEDs in development. If UCB's Rikelta is successfully launched to market, nearly one-half of neurologists believe that it will compete directly with the market leader Keppra for patient share likely due to their structural similarities.
TreatmentTrends: Epilepsyis an annual syndicated report series that provides a comprehensive view of the current and expected future management of epilepsy in the U.S. based on primary research with neurologists. The survey was fielded in March 2012 with 101 neurologists. A parallel report covering the European market (EU5) will be published in November 2012. TreatmentTrends: Epilepsycovers the use of AEDs for the treatment of epilepsy, as well as attitudes and perceptions toward key marketed AED brands, advantages and disadvantages, ideal patient types, barriers to growth and expected future use. In addition, respondents are queried about their awareness of and interest in AEDs in development.
About BioTrends Research Group
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