Rheumatoid Arthritis | Decision Base | US | 2015
Which Efficacy and Safety Achievements Will Differentiate Emerging Therapies in a Crowded Market Filled with Efficacious Drugs?
Nine biologics are approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), along with an oral kinase inhibitor (tofacitinib [Pfizer/Takeda Pharmaceutical’s Xeljanz]). Given rheumatologists’ long-standing familiarity with the safety and efficacy profiles of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors and, increasingly, of non-TNF-α agents abatacept (Bristol-Myers Squibb/Ono Pharmaceutical’s Orencia), rituximab (Biogen Idec/Roche/Chugai/Zenyaku Kogyo’s Rituxan, Roche’s MabThera), and tocilizumab (Roche/Chugai’s RoActemra/Actemra), new agents face challenges in gaining uptake. To help drug developers negotiate the formidable barriers to uptake in this market, this report identifies attributes with the greatest power to influence rheumatologists’ prescribing decisions and the gaps in efficacy and safety of select current and emerging therapies.
