Ankylosing Spondylitis | Decision Base | US | 2014
In a Market Dominated by Effective TNF-Alpha Inhibitors for Moderate to Severe Disease, Where Do Physicians and Payers See Viable Areas for Differentiation?
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that belongs to the group of spondyloarthritides (SpA) and primarily affects the sacroiliac (SI) joints and the axial skeleton, causing chronic back pain and stiffness. The key treatment goals for AS include improving the signs and symptoms of the disease, improving physical function, preventing disability, and slowing or preventing structural damage. Treatment of moderate to severe disease is dominated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-? inhibitors); however, the market is poised to expand with the anticipated approval of novel biologic and oral therapies that will attempt to compete with the established therapies on the basis of novel mechanisms of action, efficacy, and/or differences in formulation and dosing frequency.
