Physicians' Adoption of Velcade for the Treatment of Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease Will Drive Growth In This Market Through 2021

BURLINGTON, Mass., Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that physicians' adoption of Millennium (Takeda)/Johnson & Johnson's Velcade for the treatment of chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) following the publication of results from studies sponsored by prominent oncology research centers will drive growth in the GVHD market through 2021. In particular, Velcade's uptake in the first-line treatment setting will displace lower-priced standards of care such as corticosteroids and small-molecule immunosuppressants.

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According to Niche Markets and Rare Diseases: Graft Versus Host Disease, expert physicians report that Velcade's market potential could be even greater, based on their interest in employing Velcade in the prophylactic setting. The market opportunity for prophylactic therapies, based on underlying population sizes, is up to three times larger than for primary or later-line treatments, and although Velcade is unlikely to secure regulatory approval for GVHD, the substantial need for more-effective treatments will drive uptake.

The report also finds that although the current clinical pipeline is sparse, several drug developers have nevertheless been drawn into GVHD drug development by the potential to secure orphan-drug designation for novel agents.

"GVHD is an excellent illustration of the orphan drug designation working effectively — without the benefits of the orphan designation, companies might be reluctant to develop drugs for such a small, specific population," said Decision Resources Senior Vice President Cynthia Mundy, Ph.D.

GVHD is a relatively rare condition that occurs in a patient population — severely ill oncology patients eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplant — who already have access to costly specialized treatment. Interviewed hematologist/oncologists report that cost concerns have little to no impact on current treatment decisions, and do not anticipate major changes in payers' attitudes toward GVHD reimbursement following launches of novel therapies.

About Graft Versus Host Disease
Graft Versus Host Disease is offered as part of Decision Resources' Niche Markets and Rare Diseases service. Each report assesses opportunity in a select drug market across the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. The report provides detailed coverage of patient populations, current therapies, unmet needs and emerging therapies, and includes primary research with country-specific thought leaders.

About Decision Resources
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SOURCE Decision Resources