Brazil and Mexico physicians’ preferences on anticoagulants

Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) such asBayer’s (BAYN: DE) Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Boehringer Ingelheim’s Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY)/Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) Eliquis (apixaban) are preferred treatments for venous thromboembolism (VTE), atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among physicians and payers in Brazil and Mexico.

However, according to a new report from Decision Resources Group, there is lower actual NOAC usage than physicians’ ideal prescribing preferences due to limited formulary coverage of NOACs and the high out-of-pocket costs of NOACs relative to conventional anticoagulants in both countries. To obtain formulary coverage, manufacturers of NOACs must demonstrate superior cost-savings with their therapies, which can potentially preclude the additional expenses associated with conventional anticoagulants (such as costs of blood monitoring visits and re-hospitalizations).  

Other key findings from the Emerging Markets Physician and Payer Forum report entitled include: