Research and Markets: Key Findings from Treatment Algorithms: Psoriasis

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2rw494/key_findings_from) has announced the addition of Decision Resources, Inc's new report "Key Findings from Treatment Algorithms: Psoriasis" to their offering.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that, despite being non-life-threatening, has a tremendous impact on patients' quality of life. While topical therapies remain the mainstay of psoriasis treatment, the heightened awareness of psoriasis as a systemic disorder has led to an increased use of both conventional and biological systemic agents.

New entrants to the topicals arenaGalderma's vitamin D3 ointment Vectical (calcitriol) and Warner Chilcott's fixed-dose combination Taclonex (calcipotriene/betamethasone dipropionate)have increased the competition for patient share among topical agents owing to their more convenient administration (Taclonex) or steroid-sparing capacity (Vectical). In the moderate-to-severe psoriasis segment, the suboptimal side-effect profiles of the commonly used conventional systemics (i.e., methotrexate, cyclosporine) have opened the playing field to several biologics.

Among these, Amgen/Pfizer/Stiefel's TNF-a inhibitor Enbrel (etanercept) has historically captured the nearly all of biologics-eligible patients owing to dermatologists' comfort with its longstanding efficacy and safety record. However, Enbrel's positioning in the psoriasis treatment algorithm is becoming more vulnerable in light of increasing competition from newer entrants such as Abbott's Humira (adalimumab) and Janssen Biotech's interleukin-12 and -23 (IL-12/23) inhibitor Stelara (ustekinumab), both of which offer efficacy superior to that of Enbrel.

While Humira is establishing itself as a first-line biologic, Stelara's novel mechanism of action and limited long-term safety data have handicapped its uptake. Using patient-level claims data, this report determines the share of each currently marketed drug or class of drugs by line of therapy, evaluates therapy flow, and analyzes why key drugs are chosen over others.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Background

2. Key Findings for Newly Diagnosed Patients

3. Key Findings for Recently Treated Patients

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Research and Markets: Key Findings from Treatment Algorithms: Psoriasis