Lack of Biomarkers to Guide Treatment Selection and Improve Patient Outcomes Are Key Unmet Needs in the Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Market

BURLINGTON, Mass., Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that the lack of biomarkers and corresponding diagnostics for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to guide therapeutic selection are obstacles in achieving earlier remission in pediatric patients afflicted with this rare immune disorder. Such diagnostics could offer both earlier diagnosis of JIA—a complex set of disorders composed of multiple subtypes—as well as potentially lead to more personalized treatment approaches based on the growing repertoire of anti-inflammatory agents. Due to the heterogeneous nature of JIA and the lack of diagnostic and prognostic tools, interviewed experts indicate they do not always adhere to the available treatment guidelines for choosing a therapeutic intervention.

Other key findings from the Niche Markets and Rare Diseases report entitled "Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis":

• The number of diagnosed prevalent cases in the U.S. and five major European markets under study (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) will remain stable through 2024.
• The underlying dysregulation of cytokine signaling in JIA is typically addressed with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate.
• According to interviewed thought leaders, biologic DMARDs, including TNF-alpha inhibitors etanercept (Amgen/Pfizer/Takeda's Enbrel) and adalimumab (AbbVie/Eisai's Humira), and the T cell activation inhibitor abatacept (Bristol-Myers Squibb/Ono Pharmaceutical's Orencia), are typically used as later-line therapies in patients whose disease is not controlled with nonbiologic agents. Other biologic DMARDs, including IL-1 and IL-6 inhibitors, are also used, and combination therapy with multiple biologic and nonbiologic DMARDs is necessary in some patients.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Therapy Area Lead Mladen Tomich, Ph.D.:

• "While there are a number of effective therapies available for JIA, interviewed thought leaders are calling for the implementation of approaches that would improve treatment efficacy, including increased emphasis on patient-reported outcomes and availability of biomarkers to guide personalized therapy. There is also an opportunity for pharmaceutical developers to better differentiate their products by conducting clinical studies specifically in JIA, which can be challenging, given the heterogeneity of the disease."
• "Despite the availability of multiple treatment options for JIA, interviewed experts identify the need for oral agents, or injectable agents dosed less frequently—attributes that could be important drivers of brand uptake in the needle-phobic pediatric population."

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About Decision Resources Group
Decision Resources Group offers best-in-class, high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, delivered by more than 900 employees across 14 global locations. DRG provides the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, financial services and payer industries with the tools, insights and advice they need to compete and thrive in an increasingly complex and value-based marketplace. DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

Media contact:

SHIFT Communications
Theresa Masnik
617.779.1871
[email protected]

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SOURCE Decision Resources Group

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