Rising Drug-Resistance Rates Continue to Erode the Utility of Frontline Antibiotics, Driving Uptake of New Antibiotic Brands in the Hospital-Treated Gram-Negative Infections Market

BURLINGTON, Mass., March 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that the hospital-treated Gram-negative infection (GNI) market continues to be dominated by well-entrenched, generically available antibiotics (e.g., piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftriaxone, fluoroquinolones). These agents are used as front-line therapies and are effective for the majority of GNI inpatients today. However, prescribers voice serious concerns over climbing rates of antimicrobial resistance in GNIs in particular, worried about the declining utility of the current antibiotic armamentarium.

Our primary market research shows that potent antibiotics, like carbapenems (i.e., Invanz, Doribax, meropenem, imipenem/cilastatin), are increasingly being used in earlier lines of therapy. Indeed, approximately 40% of surveyed ID specialists report increased use of carbapenems in the past 12 months, and nearly all of these respondents cite the growing prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) -producing bacteria as a key driver for their increased prescribing.

Carbapenem-resistant infections (CRIs) are concerning to physicians because safe and efficacious treatment options for inpatients with these infections are limited. As such, the primary value proposition for the most recent antibiotics to enter the U.S. GNI market, Merck's Zerbaxa and Allergan's Avycaz, is their activity against these key drug-resistant bacteria. Nevertheless, the high cost of these branded products compared to generic agents, and concerns over selective pressure leading to resistance to these potent drugs, will continue to limit their prescribing.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Analyst Tara Mehan, Ph.D.:

• "Efficacy in infections caused multi-drug resistant bacteria is a key area of differentiation for new antibiotic brands. This is an area where managing physicians have the fewest effective therapeutic options, and where high prices become less of a barrier to prescribing."
• "With Avycaz' approval, we've been seeing a shift in the U.S. regulatory environment for novel antibiotics, allowing a more streamlined pathway to market, as well as a shift in perception regarding value-based pricing for these life-saving drugs. There are a number of new agents in the pipeline that will work against concerning superbugs and I would not be surprised to see antibiotic developers seek limited use labels that target these pathogens, and expect premium pricing for their products."

Other key findings from the Current Treatment^® report entitled Gram-Negative Infections (U.S.):

• Compared to ID specialists surveyed in 2016, 2017 survey respondents reported an even higher proportion of their GNI patients test positive for a fluoroquinolone-resistant pathogen.
• Surveyed ID specialists report that up to a quarter of their GNI inpatients in the past 12 months were admitted to the hospital following treatment failure in the outpatient setting.
• Although the majority of GNI inpatients are prescribed empiric therapy providing Gram-negative coverage, approximately 40% of those inpatients are not successfully treated.
• More than one-third of GNI inpatients initiated on Avycaz and over one-fifth of those initiated on Pfizer's Tygacil, or Zerbaxa, were previously treated with meropenem or imipenem/cilastatin.

To request a demo of this report, please visit our website. To follow DRG experts, and stay up to date on their analysis of the latest industry news, connect with DRG on Twitter @DRGInsights and on LinkedIn and the DRG Blog.

About Decision Resources Group
DRG, a subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Ltd., is the premier source for global healthcare data and market intelligence. A trusted partner for over 20 years, DRG helps companies competing in the global healthcare industry make informed business decisions. Organizations committed to the developing and delivering life-changing therapies to patients rely on DRG's in-house team of expert healthcare analysts, data scientists, and consultants for critical guidance. DRG products and services, built on extensive data assets and delivered by experts, empower organizations to succeed in complex healthcare markets.

To learn more, visit www.decisionresourcesgroup.com.

Media contact:
Decision Resources Group
Whitney Goldstein
617-747-9037
[email protected]

SOURCE Decision Resources Group

Related Links

http://www.decisionresourcesgroup.com