Opioid Addiction | Current Treatment | US | 2020

Treatments for opioid addiction are categorized as either substitution therapies—the opioid receptor agonists methadone, buprenorphine, and buprenorphine / naloxone combinations—or abstinence therapies—the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone. Physicians and patients prefer opioid receptor agonists. Indivior’s Suboxone Film has been one of the most widely prescribed opioid receptor agonists in the United States, and with direct generic competition beginning in early 2019, buprenorphine / naloxone sublingual film products will likely remain a treatment mainstay. In general, these treatments are associated with the potential for misuse and diversion, and relapse rates among patients are high. This report explores the current prescribing practices for opioid addiction in the United States, the factors influencing treatment decisions, and the changes in prescribing that are expected to occur in the coming year.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

• What are the patient shares of key therapies used to treat opioid addiction, and how do shares differ across lines of therapy?
• What are the drivers and constraints influencing physicians’ opioid addiction treatment decisions? What factors drive switching to and from specific branded agents (e.g., Sublocade [Indivior], Zubsolv [Orexo]) and generic agents (e.g., buprenorphine / naloxone sublingual film)?
• What are physicians’ estimates regarding patient compliance with current opioid addiction therapies?
• How has use of opioid addiction therapies changed in the past year, and what changes do physicians expect in their prescribing of these drugs in one year?

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Current Treatment: Physician Insights provides physician insights on treatment dynamics, prescribing behavior, and drivers of brand use so that marketers can create specific messaging around these treatment dynamics to more effectively increase or defend their market position.

Markets covered: United States

Primary research: Survey of 102 psychiatrists in the United States.

Key companies: Alkermes, BioDelivery Sciences, Braeburn, Indivior, Orexo

Key drugs: Bunavail, methadone, Probuphine, Sublocade, Suboxone Film, Subutex, Vivitrol, Zubsolv

Key insights provided:

• Factors influencing disease management and treatment decisions.
• Drivers and constraints of treatment selection.
• Physician-reported treatment practices and brand-level patient shares.
• Rationale for changes in treatment approach.
• Physician insight on persistency and compliance.
• Physician-reported recent / anticipated changes in brand usage or treatment approach.