Satisfied With Stelara's Efficacy and Dosing, Nearly Three-Quarters of Surveyed Dermatologists Will Increase Its Use for the Treatment of Psoriasis Over the Next Year

WALTHAM, Mass., June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that 74 percent of surveyed dermatologists report they will increase their use of Centocor Ortho Biotech's Stelara over the next year for the treatment of psoriasis. As a result, 44 percent of these physicians will decrease their use of Amgen/Pfizer/GlaxoSmithKline's Enbrel. According to the new report, Brand Perception Series: Physician Segmentation in Psoriasis, surveyed dermatologists are highly satisfied with Stelara's efficacy and dosing, and perceive it to be number three out of eight surveyed brands, just behind Enbrel and Abbott's Humira.

Twenty-six percent of dermatologists surveyed fall into the cost- and convenience-conscious prescriber segment, and compared to other physician segments in the analysis, this segment reports a higher percentage of patients treated with Stelara. This physician group reports lower satisfaction with Stelara's extent of plaque clearance, effect on patient quality of life and effect on the frequency of flare-ups relative to other brands than do the other physician segments. However, these cost- and convenience-conscious physicians value dosage formulation and dosing frequency more than the average surveyed physician, suggesting Stelara's use among this group is driven by its convenience advantage.

"The use of Stelara by cost- and convenience-conscious physicians is likely driven by its convenience advantage, as it is delivered in three-month dosing intervals," said Decision Resources Analyst Amanda Puffer, M.Sc. "These findings suggest that this physician segment may be the most likely to adopt emerging agents with a convenience advantage, such as Incyte's Jak inhibitor INCB-18424 and Celgene's phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor apremilast, which are both expected to be dosed orally. This advantage in administration may make cost- and convenience-conscious physicians the most effective target for driving uptake of these novel agents."

About Brand Perception Series: Physician Segmentation

Brand Perception Series: Physician Segmentation identifies key physician segments to uncover targeted opportunities for current and emerging drug brands. This series offers a fresh look at a competitive drug market by analyzing physician perception of current and emerging drugs using unique physician profiles that will help biopharmaceutical companies understand and size market opportunities.

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.

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SOURCE Decision Resources