WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and health care issues, finds that Alli, GlaxoSmithKline's over-the-counter formulation of Roche's Xenical, has impacted both physicians' prescribing habits for obesity drugs and managed care's reimbursement policies for Xenical. Although Alli has been marketed in the United States only since June 2007, already half of surveyed endocrinologists and primary care physicians say they have recommended the drug to their patients. The availability of Alli has resulted in the writing of fewer prescriptions for Xenical by 44% of endocrinologists and 54% of primary care physicians.
The new Physician & Payer Forum primary market research report entitled Obesity: New Treatments and Reimbursement Issues also finds that Lilly/Amylin's Byetta, even though it is not labeled for obesity, is rated the most efficacious agent for weight loss on the market by physicians and the safest according to managed care organizations. Managed care pharmacy directors estimate that as much as 15% of prescriptions written for Byetta may actually be for obesity rather than type 2 diabetes.
U.S. sales of obesity drugs have declined over the past few years as a result of overall dissatisfaction with currently marketed agents due to poor efficacy, unacceptable side effects, and lack of reimbursement.
"There is significant opportunity to satisfy the unmet needs for an anti- obesity agent," according to John Earl, Ph.D., director at Decision Resources. "Byetta's efficacy profile as reported by clinicians in practice fits the efficacy expectations that surveyed physicians have for a novel anti-obesity drug. If Byetta receives an additional label for obesity and achieves even 15% of prescriptions for obesity, it will generate $596 million in the United States in 2010."
Obesity: New Treatments and Reimbursement Issues is based on a U.S. survey of 20 managed care pharmacy directors, 71 endocrinologists, and 70 primary care physicians. Their responses were compared to assess similarities and differences of opinion regarding clinical, economic, and scientific factors.
About Physician & Payer Forum
Physician & Payer Forum is a primary research service from Decision Resources that offers access to high volume-prescribing physicians, specialists, and managed care organization representatives in the United States; analysis of events and survey participants' responses to them; insight into prescribing patterns; and an examination of the implications of events and issues for the pharmaceutical market.
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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SOURCE Decision Resources
