The Battle for Preferred Alternative Mechanism Biologic in Crohn's Disease Heats Up as Launch of Janssen's Stelara Approaches the Six-Month Mark

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Spherix Global Insights has released "RealTime Dynamix: Crohn's Disease, Q1 2017", an independent report based on a recent survey of US gastroenterologists.  Clearly excited about having more choices when it comes to biologic therapies for IBD, these clinicians identified the launch of Janssen's Stelara as the most exciting thing to happen in IBD in 2016.

Stelara enters a market dominated by two well-entrenched TNF-inhibitors, AbbVie's Humira and Janssen's own Remicade.  Takeda's Entyvio has been the only significant alternative-mechanism agent up until now, and the surveyed physicians are divided when it comes to whether or not Stelara can bump Entyvio to a third or later-line position.  In fact, while the vast majority of gastroenterologists would select one TNF-inhibitor and one alternative mechanism biologic if limited to only two agents, seldom is that combination a dual-Janssen win of Remicade and Stelara.  UCB's Cimzia, already being used in a small niche population, is projected to see a significant share decline over the next six months.  The TNF-inhibitors are also set to get squeezed on the front end as biosimilar agents begin to infiltrate the market.  Indeed, three-quarters of physicians expect managed care to "force" biosimilar use and only one-in-ten report being strongly against biosimilars.

The pipeline for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) has an interesting assortment of novel agents, of which gastroenterologists are most familiar with Pfizer's Xeljanz, an oral JAK-inhibitor already approved for rheumatoid arthritis.  Oral agents hold massive appeal in the IBD market with up to one-third of the gastroenterologists willing to accept lower efficacy for the convenience of a pill.  Upon review of five IBD pipeline agents, more than one-third selected Celgene's mongersen as the most highly desired agent, followed by Xeljanz.  Respondents were not so bullish on the profile of Roche/Genentech's etrolizumab.  With about one-quarter of biologic-treated CD patients achieving suboptimal results, the opportunity for second and third-line agents looks very promising.

About Spherix Global Insights
Spherix Global Insights is a business intelligence and market research company, specializing in renal, autoimmune, neurologic and rare disease markets.  Our aim is to apply our commercial experience and unique relationships within core specialty markets to translate data into insight, enabling our clients to make smarter business decisions.

About RealTime Dynamix
RealTime Dynamix™ is a quarterly service which combines large scale primary market research with unparalleled market understanding to dig deeper and seek out the latest opinions and controversies that are impacting autoimmune, renal and neurology markets.

For more information contact:
Lynn Price, Immunology Franchise Head
Email: [email protected]
www.spherixglobalinsights.com

SOURCE Spherix Global Insights

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