Pulmonologists see Actelion's Tracleer as most effective therapy for PAH

For the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), the highest proportion of US surveyed pulmonologists (35%) identified Swiss biotech Actelion’s (SIX: ATLN) Tracleer (bosentan) as the most effective therapy, when compared to other available therapies, according to research from advisory firm Decision Resources. However, only 15% of surveyed managed care organizations’ (MCO) pharmacy directors chose Tracleer as the most effective treatment for PAH.

The DecisionBase 2011 report, titled Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Despite Offering Better Safety Profiles, Late Stage Emerging Agents Fall Short of Capturing Gold Standard Status, finds that the low proportion of pharmacy directors who identified Tracleer as the most efficacious PAH therapy is reflective of payers’ considerations regarding the cost-effectiveness of treatment with this agent.

Tracleer, which was the second-to-launch agent for PAH in the USA (2001) after epoprostenol (GlaxoSmithKline/Gilead’s Flolan, Actelion’s Veletri, generics), has been used in the treatment of PAH for almost a decade and is regarded by many physicians as offering the best balance between documented efficacy, safety and tolerability, and delivery in the majority of PAH patients. As a result, Tracleer is the current market-leader in PAH in the world’s major pharmaceutical markets.