Opioid Addiction | Unmet Need | US/EU | 2019

The few currently available pharmacological treatments for opioid addiction fall into one of two categories: substitution therapies or abstinent therapies. Substitution therapies (i.e., methadone, buprenorphine, and buprenorphine / naloxone combination) prevent a patient from experiencing withdrawal symptoms but allow the patient to still experience a limited “high” without taking any illicit opioids. Abstinent therapies (i.e., naltrexone) block the euphoric effect of opioids if a patient attempts to take an illicit opioid. However, all of these drugs are associated with clinical shortcomings in efficacy, safety, and/or delivery, creating opportunities for new and improved alternatives. This report examines physicians’ key treatment drivers and analyzes the greatest areas of unmet treatment need and thereby the opportunities in this space.

Questions Answered

• What are the treatment drivers and goals for opioid addiction?
• Which drug attributes are key influencers, which have limited impact, and which are hidden opportunities?
• How do buprenorphine-containing therapies (e.g., Suboxone Film, Sublocade) perform on key treatment drivers and goals for opioid addiction?
• What are the prevailing areas of unmet need and opportunity in the treatment of opioid addiction?
• What trade-offs across different clinical attributes and price are acceptable to U.S. and European psychiatrists for a hypothetical new opioid addiction drug?

Markets covered: United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany

Primary research: Survey of 60 U.S. and 30 European psychiatrists fielded in November 2018

Key companies: Indivior, Orexo, Braeburn Pharmaceuticals, Camurus

Key drugs: Suboxone Film, Subutex, Sublocade, Zubsolv, methadone, naltrexone

Key metrics included:

• Target Product Profile (TPP) simulator based on conjoint analysis methodology.
• Stated versus derived importance of product attributes on prescribing behavior.
• Assessment of current drug performance against treatment drivers and goals.
• Physician perceptions of unmet needs in the indication and related indications.
• Analysis of remaining drug development opportunities.

Product Description

Unmet Need supports clinical development decisions by identifying key attributes and assessing areas of unmet need for a specific disease or subpopulation. Based on surveys with U.S. and European physicians, this report provides insight into key treatment drivers and goals, the performance of current therapies, and the remaining commercial opportunities. Two market scenarios are profiled in detail by DRG experts, and additional customized market scenarios can be evaluated with the corresponding TPP simulator.