The most highly anticipated analgesic drugs in late-phase development belong to the anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) class: Pfizer / Eli Lilly’s tanezumab and Regeneron / Teva / Mitsubishi Tanabe’s fasinumab. As the first injectable biologics expected to launch in the crowded and highly generic oral chronic pain market, these drugs have the potential to disrupt the current later-line treatment algorithm of chronic pain patients. Despite demonstrations of impressive efficacy results in clinical trials, lingering concerns about the safety of this class may constrain prescribing. However, the need for less-addictive yet potent analgesics for chronic pain patients may lead physicians to overcome such concerns to provide robust analgesia to chronic pain patients without chronic use of opioid analgesics. We explore attitudes toward anti-NGF drugs and the potential disruption of treatment paradigms with the anticipated launch of these drugs.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
Geography: United States
Primary Research: Survey of 52 U.S. pain specialists and 50 U.S. rheumatologists
Key Drugs Covered: Tanezumab, fasinumab
Content Highlights: Physician willingness to prescribe anti-NGF drugs. Factors influencing use of anti-NGF drugs. Anticipated use of anti-NGF drugs and their expected impact on medical practice. Key obstacles to uptake of anti-NGF drugs.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Special Topics uses quantitative primary research to assess evolving trends and market effects in dynamic disease areas. The report examines topics of high interest to an indication, such as delving into reasons driving physicians’ prescribing decisions or assessing physicians’ receptivity to emerging agents in order to better understand the nuanced dynamics in the indication.