Multiple Sclerosis | TreatmentTrends | EU | 2015

The wide array of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) now available for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the major European markets (EU5; France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) has greatly expanded neurologists’ MS armamentarium and made treatment decisions increasingly complex. New oral DMTs (i.e., Genzyme/Sanofi’s Aubagio and Biogen’s Tecfidera) are available in all five countries, and the EMA has approved updates of two mainstays of MS treatment that offer more-convenient dosing (i.e., Biogen’s Plegridy and Teva’s Copaxone 40 mg three time weekly [3TW]), as well as a high-potency DMT (Genzyme/Sanofi’s Lemtrada). Furthermore, recent cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in Gilenya- (Novartis) and Tecfidera-treated patients have changed the way neurologists approach treatment with these DMTs and affected prescribing decisions following anti-John Cunningham (JC) virus antibody assay results. TreatmentTrends: Multiple Sclerosis 2015 (EU) is the fourth fielding of a syndicated report that offers a snapshot of market dynamics and the competitive landscape of the MS space through comprehensive primary research with neurologists across the EU5. This report covers the current and anticipated use of approved DMT brands for the treatment of MS, as well as neurologists’ perceptions of these products—e.g., their advantages and disadvantages, ideal patient types, anticipated use, barriers to growth—and current detailing and message efforts for these brands. Finally, we asked neurologists about their awareness of and interest in select DMTs in development.