In the past decade, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, including AbbVie’s Humira and Amgen’s Enbrel, and Janssen’s interleukin IL-12/23 inhibitor Stelara have been leading the U.S. psoriasis biologics market. However, the recent wave of U.S. approvals of novel psoriasis agents is altering the market landscape. Celgene’s oral agent Otezla has been successfully carving out a space in biologics-naive patients. More-effective biologics—the IL-17 inhibitors Novartis’s Cosentyx and Eli Lilly’s Taltz—are threatening the first-line dominance of the TNF-α inhibitors, and Janssen’s IL-23 inhibitor Tremfya is likely to follow. With the recent entry of biosimilars and another IL-23 inhibitor, an IL-17 A/F dual inhibitor, and an oral TYK2 inhibitor in late-phase development, marketers of psoriasis therapies must learn how to overcome the formulary and uptake challenges facing current and emerging therapies in this increasingly competitive market.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
What are the current patient-share leaders among psoriasis biologics/Otezla, and which psoriasis agents do physicians and payers perceive to perform best on specific clinical and market access factors?
How do payers cover biosimilar versions of infliximab (Pfizer’s Inflectra, Merck’s Renflexis), and what are physicians’ expected prescribing behaviors toward biosimilars?
What are physicians’ perceptions of emerging biologics, such as Skyrizi, mirikizumab, bimekizumab, and BMS-986165, and how do payers anticipate covering these agents?
What pharmacoeconomic models and data do payers value given the likely cost and efficacy of novel psoriasis agents?