Epilepsy | Unmet Need | Treatment Refractory (Partial Onset) | US/EU | 2018

DRG estimates that 60% of epilepsy patients experience partial-onset seizures (POS). More than two dozen antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are available in the United States and Europe—the majority of which are approved to treat POS—yet 20-30% of all epilepsy patients are refractory to AED treatment. While the treatment algorithm in early lines of therapy is generally well understood, later-line prescribing for refractory POS is highly variable, in part because seizures in epilepsy are diverse and newer therapies lack clear clinical differentiation. As such, treatment choice is often based on neurologists’ personal experience. Understanding the drivers of clinical decision-making for treating refractory POS and prescriber perceptions of third-generation brands will help innovators identify levers for new product positioning and differentiation in this crowded yet underserved market.

Questions Answered

• What clinical end points and drug attributes are most influential in prescribing for refractory POS? How do recently launched brands such as Vimpat, Briviact, and Fycompa perform on these attributes?
• What are the prevailing areas of unmet need and opportunity in the treatment of refractory POS in epilepsy?
• Based on conjoint analysis and TPP simulation, what trade-offs between efficacy, safety, and price are neurologists willing to make for a hypothetical new AED for refractory POS?

Product Description

Unmet Need: Provides quantitative insight into U.S. and European physician perceptions of key treatment drivers and goals and the current level of unmet need for a specific disease. Commercial opportunities are analyzed, and the extent to which emerging therapies may capitalize on these opportunities is evaluated.

Markets covered: United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

Primary research: Survey of 61 neurologists in United States and 30 neurologists in Europe.

Key companies: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, UCB, Pfizer, Janssen, and Concordia Pharmaceuticals.

Key drugs: Aptiom/Zebinix, Briviact, Fycompa, Lyrica, topiramate, Vimpat, and zonisamide.

Key metrics included:

• Stated versus derived analysis of U.S. and European physician prescribing behavior.
• Conjoint analysis with U.S. and European physicians includes market simulator.
• Assessment of current drug performance against treatment drivers and goals.
• Physician perceptions of unmet need in subpopulation covered and related subpopulations.
• Analysis of remaining drug development opportunities.