Ulcerative Colitis | Current Treatment | EU5 | 2019

Multiple well-established therapies are currently available to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in Europe. TNF-α inhibitors such as Janssen / Merck’s Remicade and AbbVie / Eisai’s Humira helped to advance UC treatment, particularly for the moderate to severe population, and are now well entrenched as first-line biologics. However, over the past three years, the UC treatment landscape in Europe has seen the approval of the first non-TNF biologic (Takeda’s Entyvio), the first targeted oral therapy for UC (Pfizer’s Xeljanz), and the launch of biosimilar infliximab and adalimumab (Celltrion’s Remsima and Amgen’s Amgevita, respectively). Entyvio, a CAM-inhibitor, and Xeljanz, a Jak-inhibitor, offer alternative mechanisms of action for TNF-α refractory patients, expanding the treatment armamentarium. The availability of biosimilars has influenced physicians’ prescribing behavior and will continue to impact the UC treatment landscape.

Questions Answered:

• What drug classes are the patient-share leaders across different lines of therapy? How are different agents positioned in surveyed physicians’ treatment algorithm?
• What are the most influential drivers for treatment selection?
• What are the common treatment scenarios before initiating different targeted therapies (i.e., Remicade, Humira, Simponi, Entivyo Entyvio, Xeljanz, and biosimilars)? What is the course of action upon discontinuing these agents?
• What factors drive therapy discontinuation and switch? What factors have/will drive recent/anticipated prescribing changes?

Markets covered: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom

Primary research: 250 gastroenterologists completed the survey. Of that total, 50 respondents were in France, 50 in Germany, 50 in Italy, 50 in Spain, and 50 in the United Kingdom. The survey was fielded from June 18 to July 14, 2019.

Key companies: Merck & Co., Celltrion, Hospira, Biogen, AbbVie / Eisai, Biogen, Amgen, Sandoz, Takeda, Pfizer, others

Key drugs: adalimumab (Humira and biosimilars), Entyvio, infliximab (Remicade and biosimilars), Simponi, Xeljanz

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.