Nexavar use in Chinese patients nearly doubled in 2012

Use of Nexavar (sorafenib, from Bayer [BAYN: DE] and Onyx Pharmaceuticals) has nearly doubled in first-line advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China in 2012 from 2011, according to new findings from CancerMPact Treatment Architecture China, conducted by health care consultants Kantar Health and Draco Healthcare, a leading China-focused consultancy.

“Nexavar quickly became the standard of care for HCC in Western markets when it was first approved five years ago; however, Chinese physicians have historically relied on 5-FU-based regimens,” said Neesha Suvarna, a consultant with Kantar Health, adding: “Our most recent physician survey data shows that Nexavar adoption is increasing in China. While the utilization of Nexavar in HCC is smaller in China compared with the West, the growth trend we observe suggests that there is a high potential for growth.”

In addition, Kantar Health’s research found that use of Alimta (pemetrexed, from Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY]) is gradually increasing in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in China since its approval in 2011. Also gaining in use are EGFR biomarker testing and EGFR-targeting agents, such as Tarceva (erlotinib, Genentech/Roche/Astellas) and Iressa (gefitinib, AstraZeneca) in Chinese patients who are EGFR-mutant.