Asthma Improvements to Combination Inhalers Will Satisfy a Growing Patient Base

Introduction

Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic disease that costs at least $13 billion in the US alone each year. In the UK, there are four times as many people with asthma than with diabetes. The patient potential for asthma therapies in the seven major markets is set to rise even further, from 51.4 million in 2003 to 62.4 million in 2013, stimulating greater demand for cost-effective asthma therapies. 

Scope

Survey of 59 PCPs and pulmonologists in the 7 major markets on asthma epidemiology, co-morbidities, treatment and compliance trends and perceptions 

Assessment of treatment outcomes and unmet need from both a research and primary care perspective 

Prescribing trends for major drug classes, including corticosteroids, beta2-agonists, combinations, leukotriene modifiers for each patient severity 

In-depth interviews with seven key opinion leaders in asthma from the US, Japan, the UK, Germany and Spain 

Report Highlights

Despite the FDA approval of asthma drug Singulair (montelukast) for allergic rhinitis, relatively poor efficacy will prevent Merck from fully exploiting the fact that at least three fifths of asthmatics suffer concomitant allergic rhinitis. However, high unmet need will ensure that the use of asthma therapies in COPD will remain significant. 

The launch of Altana’s/Aventis’ safe ICS therapy Alvesco (ciclesonide) in 2004 will be welcomed by pediatricians, but cost savings will ensure that combination inhaled corticosteroid & long-acting beta2-agonist therapies will become the gold standard in all adult asthma patients in the near future. 

Improvements to existing controller therapies & the launch of second generation PDE-4 inhibitors will be the most successful pipeline developments over the next decade. Although the concept of disease modification is highly attractive, research is at a very early stage, it will take at least 10 years before such compounds are clinically available.

Reasons to Purchase

Learn what drugs in late-development will have the greatest impact on future prescribing trends, and in particular the outlook for disease modifiers 

Investigate if Altana’s/Pfizer’s new PDE-4 inhibitor Daxas (roflumilast) will impact sales of Singulair (montelukast) 

Determine initial patient and physician reaction to Xolair (omalizumab) and the new COPD anticholinergic Spiriva (tiotropium) 

Pages: 158  Published: December 2003 

Publisher: Datamonitor Respiratory Reports 

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