US pulmonologists view refractory asthma patient treatment with biosimilar Xolair by end-2018

US pulmonologists surveyed by health care advisory firm Decision Resources estimate that only 19% percent of their severe, refractory asthma patients are treated with Genentech and Novartis' Xolair (omalizumab), the only approved drug that serves this population.

However, by the end of 2018, when three novel biologics and biosimilar versions of Xolair are expected to be available, surveyed pulmonologists estimate that nearly 50% of their severe, refractory patients will be treated. This response demonstrates the great unmet need for this population that will be at least partially filled by the emerging biologics.

The new US Physician & Payer Forum report - titled How Will US Physician and Payer Attitudes and Decisions Shape the Asthma Market for Patients with Severe, Refractory Disease? - also finds that most surveyed pulmonologists are receptive to prescribing biosimilar versions of Xolair in their first year of availability and intend to prescribe Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer's Spiriva (tiotropium bromide) upon its approval for asthma. As a result, these prescribing habits could delay prescribing of branded biologics to a later line of therapy.