For Parkinson's Disease Treatment, Surveyed Neurologists in France Use Once-Daily Formulations of Requip and Mirapex More Frequently Than Prescribers in Germany, Italy, Spain or the United Kingdom

BURLINGTON, Mass., Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, when comparing dopamine agonist use for Parkinson's disease, more frequent use of once-daily formulations of Requip (GlaxoSmithKline's Requip, Requip XL/LP/Modutab/RP/Prolib) and Mirapex (Boehringer Ingelheim's Mirapex/Sifrol/Mirapexin; Mirapex ER/Mirapexin ER/Sifrol Retard) occurs in France than in the remaining EU5 countries—Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Additionally, surveyed neurologists from France, Italy and Spain report using once-daily Requip more frequently than three-times-daily Requip.

The new European Physician & Payer Forum report entitled Will Novel Formulations and Therapeutic Options in Parkinson's Disease Achieve Acceptance Among European Physicians and Payers? finds that surveyed neurologists' preference of once-daily Requip over three-times-daily Requip is most likely attributable to the convenience and improved patient compliance associated with once-daily dosing. Additionally, surveyed neurologists from Germany and the United Kingdom report use of three-times-daily Requip that is higher than their counterparts in other markets, reflective of the relatively greater use of generic drugs in these two countries.

The report also finds that in all the EU5 countries, dopamine agonist monotherapy is the predominant first-line treatment in Parkinson's disease patients younger than age 70. As a result of motor response complications associated with chronic levodopa therapy, physicians generally attempt to delay the use of levodopa by using dopamine agonists and/or MAO-B inhibitors. Despite the ADAGIO clinical trial results, which demonstrated a mild disease-modifying effect for Teva/Lundbeck's Azilect (an MAO-B inhibitor), surveyed physicians prescribe MAO-B inhibitors as first-line therapy much less frequently than dopamine agonists.

"Across the EU5, Azilect accounts for the majority of MAO-B inhibitor prescriptions among surveyed neurologists who prescribe MAO-B inhibitors for Parkinson's disease," said Decision Resources Analyst Sami Fam, Ph.D. "Azilect accounts for the greatest proportion of total MAO-B inhibitor use amongst Spanish MAO-B inhibitor prescribers relative to other European MAO-B inhibitor prescribers and surveyed Spanish neurologists report a relatively high level of MAO-B inhibitor use as first-line treatment for the indication and in use for mild Parkinson's disease. These results suggest that Spanish neurologists are more convinced than their colleagues in other European markets of Azilect's benefit as a disease-modifying therapy in early Parkinson's disease."

The report also finds that reimbursement for Parkinson's disease therapies is generally not restricted in any of the EU5 countries. For example, in France, the low cost of Parkinson's disease drugs as compared with therapies used for other neurological indications means that these agents are not subject to prescribing restrictions that impact certain drugs that are used to treat indications such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (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. 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 www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE Decision Resources