European Neurologists Expect Significant Increases in the Use of Both Tysabri and Extavia in Their Multiple Sclerosis Patients the Next Six Months, According to a Recent Report From BioTrends

EXTON, Pa., Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- BioTrends Research Group, Inc. finds that while neurologists in the EU tend to prescribe the established interferon betas as their first line disease modifying agents (DMAs) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, they are most satisfied with Biogen/Elan's Tysabri. Prescribing of both Tysabri and Novartis's recently launched DMA, Extavia, is anticipated to increase over the next six months with Bayer's Betaferon suffering the most in terms of market share loss. Despite these expected changes, neurologists clearly associate most of the DMAs with a certain MS patient type and their reported prescribing reflects these preference patterns.

The recently released TreatmentTrends®: Multiple Sclerosis in the European Union report finds that neurologists in the U.K. have less clinical experience with many of the DMAs, prescribe DMAs to a smaller percentage of their MS patients, and are detailed less than their counterparts in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. In line with these regional differences, neurologists in the U.K. report relying on different attributes when making their DMA prescribing decisions and identify different unmet needs for DMAs in development compared to neurologists from the other EU regions.

Among the eight therapies in development that were profiled in the research, interest is rated highest for Novartis's Gilenya and Merck Serono's Movectro -- despite the recent nonapproval by the European Medicines Agency for the latter product which Merck has recently appealed. Neurologists in the U.K. again diverge in their reported interest in the DMAs in development with a greater level of enthusiasm for Genzyme/Bayer's alemtuzumab compared to their counterparts in the other EU regions. While familiarity and interest is currently low for Biogen's PEG-Avonex and BG-12, Teva's laquinimod, Sanofi-Aventis's teriflunomide and Abbott/Biogen's daclizumab, for some of these DMAs in development, neurologists appear to have already identified which established DMAs are most at risk with the introduction of these new agents. Knowledge of symptomatic products in development is low with Bayer/Almirall's Sativex and Biogen's Ampyra receiving the highest marks for familiarity, interest and clinical value.

TreatmentTrends®: Multiple Sclerosis in the European Union is a syndicated annual report that provides a comprehensive view of the current and expected future management of MS based on primary research fielded with 229 neurologists in the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain. These reports cover the use of DMAs for the treatment of MS, as well as attitudes and perceptions toward these products, advantages and disadvantages, ideal patient types, barriers to growth and expected future use. In addition, respondents were queried about their awareness of and interest in MS-related DMA and symptomatic products in development. A parallel report covering the U.S. market was published in late November.

About BioTrends Research Group, Inc.

BioTrends Research Group, Inc. (www.bio-trends.com) provides syndicated and custom market research to pharmaceutical manufacturers competing in clinically evolving, specialty pharmaceutical markets. For information on BioTrends publications and research capabilities, please contact us at (610) 363-3872 or www.bio-trends.com.

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SOURCE BioTrends Research Group, Inc.