Alzheimer’s Disease – Unmet Need – Unmet Need – Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease (US/EU)
Agitation affects most Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and comprises a constellation of disruptive symptoms for patients and their families, which may contribute to nursing home placement. Agitation is commonly treated with off-label atypical antipsychotics, in spite of the safety warnings they carry related to the elevated risk of death in elderly dementia patients. In 2023, Lundbeck / Otsuka’s Rexulti (brexpiprazole) became the first FDA-approved drug to treat agitation associated with AD. Other novel agents are emerging as potential treatments (e.g., Axsome’s AXS-05 [Auvelity], Bristol Myers Squibb’s KarXT [Cobenfy]). Understanding the drivers of clinical decision-making in agitation and prescriber perceptions of the risk / benefit profiles of today’s approved brand and off-label generic options will help to identify levers for new product positioning and differentiation in this evolving market.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
- What are the most important clinical attributes influencing prescribing for agitation in AD (e.g., impact on agitation, risk of extrapyramidal symptoms, delivery profile, scope of nonfinancial patient / caregiver support)?
- How do Rexulti and off-label agents (i.e., quetiapine, risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole, citalopram, dextromethorphan / quinidine) perform on these attributes?
- Based on a conjoint analysis and TPP simulation, what trade-offs across key clinical attributes (e.g., impact on Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, incidence of dizziness and extrapyramidal symptoms, delivery profile) and price are neurologists willing to make for a hypothetical new drug to treat agitation in AD?
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Unmet Need offers insight into key treatment drivers and goals, the performance of current therapies, and the remaining commercial opportunities, enabling you to:
- Evaluate clinical and nonclinical product attributes that influence treatment decisions through physicians’ weightings and analysis of stated vs. derived importance
- Pinpoint areas of high unmet need by assessing current drug performance against key attributes and treatment drivers
- Analyze market scenarios for different target product profiles using the TPP Simulator
Markets covered: United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany
Primary research: Survey of 60 U.S. and 32 European neurologists fielded in February 2026
Key companies: Otsuka / Lundbeck
Key drugs: Rexulti, quetiapine, risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole, citalopram, dextromethorphan / quinidine
Key feature
Target Product Profile (TPP) simulator tool allows for customizable market simulations based on conjoint analysis. Compare up to seven TPPs across multiple disease-specific attributes and price points to gauge which variables influence prescribing behavior.
