The Atrial Fibrillation Market in Brazil is Expected to Grow at a Rate of 31 Percent Annually over the Next Five Years

The Atrial Fibrillation Market in Brazil is Expected to Grow at a Rate of 31 Percent Annually over the Next Five Years

Allison Thrower, 781-993-2604orLiz Marshall, 781-993-2563

Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, forecasts that the Brazilian market for atrial fibrillation will increase at a rate of 31 percent per year from 2011 to 2016. The Emerging Markets report entitled finds that this dramatic growth will be fueled by an increased drug-treated population and the proliferation of treatment alternatives for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation.

According to surveyed Brazilian cardiologists, new branded oral anticoagulants, such as Boehringer-Ingelheim’s Pradaxa (dabigatran) and Bayer/Janssen’s Xarelto (rivaroxaban), will capture 79 percent of Brazil’s atrial fibrillation drug market in 2016, owing to their relatively high prices and superior clinical profiles over warfarin (Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Coumadin, generics) and aspirin. Over the next five years, market growth will also be spurred by the launch of two novel antithrombotics – Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer’s Eliquis (apixaban) and Daiichi-Sankyo’s Lixiana (edoxaban), which is in line to become a fourth-to-market nonmonitored oral anticoagulant. Following its launch, Eliquis is slated to be the top-selling drug in this market in 2016, with nearly 60 percent of surveyed cardiologists identifying its clinical advantage over warfarin – the current gold standard therapy for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation.

“We believe physicians will largely be swayed by the compelling results of the ARISTOTLE trial that demonstrated apixaban’s superior efficacy to warfarin in lowering stroke and mortality rates without increased risks like major bleeding,” said Decision Resources Analyst Andreia Ribeiro, Ph.D. “Considering the improved efficacy without the necessity of INR monitoring, cardiologists in Brazil are excited for these new treatments in patients who can afford them.”

The analysis also reveals that, although novel antithrombotics will capture a majority of the Brazilian atrial fibrillation market, the premium price of these new agents could have a dampening effect on their patient share. The daily price of Eliquis for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation will rival that of marketed agents Pradaxa and Xarelto, making all of these agents’ significantly higher prices a key driver to market expansion as physicians increasingly switch from warfarin.

“Despite efficacy in stroke prevention, novel antithrombotics’ uptake potential will be challenged by their relatively high prices compared with warfarin, which is roughly 16 percent of the average daily prices for Pradaxa and Xarelto,” said Dr. Ribeiro.

The new report features extensive primary research with Brazilian cardiologists as well as a market outlook by compound and class through 2016 and atrial fibrillation epidemiology through 2021.

Decision Resources is the first and only company to offer a syndicated report series for with comprehensive disease-specific analysis. Each report assesses the commercial opportunity in the pharmaceutical market for a disease based on population demographics, economic development, disease epidemiology and changing physicians’ practices.

Decision Resources () 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. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources Group company.

Decision Resources Group is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources Group at .