Surveyed U.S. Neurologists Would Prescribe Lundbeck/Otsuka's Lu-AE58054 to 25 Percent of their Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease Patients

BURLINGTON, Mass., April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources Group finds that surveyed U.S. neurologists are particularly receptive to novel symptomatic agents and would prescribe Lundbeck/Otsuka's selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist Lu-AE58054 to a median 25 percent of their drug-treated mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease patients, which is slightly above the 20 percent patient share they estimate for Forum Pharmaceuticals' emerging alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist encenicline (EVP-6124). Both late-stage symptomatic agents, which have shown clinical promise in Phase II trials in mild to moderate AD, would be prescribed mostly in combination with current options, according to respondents.

Other key findings from the DecisionBase report entitled Alzheimer's Disease (Mild to Moderate): Gauging Physicians' and Payers' Evolving Receptivity to Emerging Symptomatic vs. Disease-Modifying Therapies:

• Impact of biomarker data: At most, approximately one third of U.S. and European neurologists surveyed cite a biomarker assessment (change from baseline on brain beta-amyloid load as assessed by an amyloid imaging agent at 18 months) as among the most persuasive end points that would convince them to prescribe a new disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, results of a conjoint study suggest that an effect on biomarkers (such as a reduction from baseline in brain beta-amyloid load, cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for beta-amyloid and tau) has only a limited impact on the relative attractiveness of hypothetical future agents in the eyes of surveyed U.S. neurologists. In both cases, key clinical efficacy outcomes appear more compelling.
• Hurdles for future DMTs: U.S. neurologists' projected patient shares for three Phase III emerging DMTs—Eli Lilly's solanezumab, Roche/Chugai/MorphoSys's gantenerumab and Merck's MK-8931—fall below those of emerging symptomatic agents tested, likely owing in part to a limited amount of supportive clinical data available and/or lingering questions about the validity of the amyloid hypothesis. Separately, data suggest that potentially sizable gains over donepezil (Eisai/Pfizer's Aricept, other brands, generics) would be required for a majority of surveyed U.S. managed care organization pharmacy directors to reimburse a new DMT that offered better efficacy on cognition and cost at least $30 per day—a substantial price premium over current clinical mainstays, which are mostly generically available.

Comments from Decision Resources Group Senior Director Jonathan W. Searles:

• "Interviewed neurologists express hope, but measured overall confidence, in the therapeutic potential of investigational DMTs, arguably the Holy Grail in this market. In the wake of repeated DMT failures, study findings reinforce our belief that novel agents that safely deliver even modest efficacy improvements—be they symptomatic or disease-modifying—will be well accepted into clinical practice."
• "Aside from the obvious unmet need for therapeutic improvements in cognition and patient function, study data also signal a receptivity among clinician and payer respondents to agents that can safely address behavioral deficits in Alzheimer's disease, a largely untapped opportunity for drug developers in this arena."

About Decision Resources Group
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SOURCE Decision Resources Group