March 15, 2011 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

The Second Highest Percentages of Neurologists and Payers chose Purdue/Napp/Mundipharma/Shionogi’s OxyContin as the most Efficacious Neuropathic back Pain Therapy, According to Findings from decision Resources

BURLINGTON, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, for the treatment of neuropathic back pain, the highest percentages of surveyed neurologists (53 percent) and surveyed managed care organizations’ (MCO) pharmacy directors (40 percent) chose Pfizer’s Lyrica (pregabalin) as the most efficacious therapy, when compared to other currently available agents. Surveyed neurologists who chose Lyrica as the most efficacious therapy indicated high satisfaction with the percentage of patients responding to treatment, reduction in pain intensity and reduction of disability.

“Many interviewed physicians remark that although OxyContin is a highly effective analgesic, it rarely improves a patient’s quality of life, owing to its detrimental gastrointestinal and central nervous system side effects—as well as its abuse potential”

The DecisionBase 2011 report entitled Neuropathic back Pain: Could an Emerging Therapy Obtain Commercial Success by Targeting this Untapped Patient Population? also finds that the second highest percentages of neurologists (20 percent) and payers (25 percent) selected Purdue/Napp/Mundipharma/Shionogi’s OxyContin (oxycodone controlled-release) as the most efficacious available therapy for neuropathic back pain. Neurologists’ responses were similar to those of payers as both groups showed greatest satisfaction with OxyContin’s reduction in pain intensity and the percentage of patients responding to treatment. However, both groups, on average, indicated low satisfaction with OxyContin on safety and tolerability end points.

“Many interviewed physicians remark that although OxyContin is a highly effective analgesic, it rarely improves a patient’s quality of life, owing to its detrimental gastrointestinal and central nervous system side effects—as well as its abuse potential,” said decision Resources Analyst Natalie Taylor, Ph.D. “Additionally, interviewed thought leaders perceive antiepileptics such as Lyrica as disease-modifying agents because of their direct action on the compressed or entrapped nerves involved in neuropathic back pain, whereas strong opioid analgesics such as OxyContin act centrally and are perceived to primarily lessen pain symptoms.”

The findings also reveal that surveyed neurologists indicate that they would prescribe Depomed/Abbott’s gabapentin GR to 20 percent of their neuropathic back pain patients. decision Resources forecasts that gabapentin GR will attain a lower patient share than that estimated by surveyed neurologists, owing to competition from Lyrica and generic gabapentin (Pfizer’s Neurontin, generics).

Additionally, surveyed U.S. neurologists and MCO pharmacy directors agree that reduction in pain intensity is one of the attributes that most influences their decisions regarding prescribing and tier placement decisions, respectively, in neuropathic back pain. Clinical data and the opinions of interviewed thought leaders indicate that tramadol extended-release (ER; Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals/ Labopharm/Sanofi Aventis/Grünenthal/Hexal/Merck Sharp & Dohme’s Ultram ER, Monotramal LP, Tramadolor, Tradorec XL, generics) has advantages over sales-leading OxyContin on this attribute.

About DecisionBase 2011

DecisionBase 2011 combines clinical end points, market dynamics, reimbursement factors and primary research involving prescribers and payers to identify and quantify unmet need in 35 indications. as part of the unmet need analysis, patient share and sales are projected for key emerging drugs in development and for potential target product profiles based on physicians’ expectations.

About decision Resources

decision Resources (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. decision Resources is a decision Resources, Inc. company.

About decision Resources, Inc.

decision Resources, Inc. 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, Inc. at DecisionResourcesInc.com.

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