European neurologists expect significant increases in the use of both Tysabri and Extavia in their multiple sclerosis patients

Although neurologists in the European Union tend to prescribe the established interferon betas as their first line disease modifying agents (DMAs) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, they are most satisfied with Biogen Idec/Elan's Tysabri (natalizumab), according to recent findings from BioTrends Research Group.

Prescribing of both Tysabri and Novartis's recently-launched DMA Extavia (Interferon Beta-1b Kit) is anticipated to increase over the next six months, with Bayer's Betaferon (interferon beta-1b) suffering the most in terms of market share loss. Despite these expected changes, neurologists clearly associate most of the DMAs with a certain MS patient type and their reported prescribing reflects these preference patterns.

The recently-released TreatmentTrends: Multiple Sclerosis in the European Union report finds that neurologists in the UK have less clinical experience with many of the DMAs, prescribe DMAs to a smaller percentage of their MS patients, and are detailed less than their counterparts in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. In line with these regional differences, neurologists in the UK report relying on different attributes when making their DMA prescribing decisions and identify different unmet needs for DMAs in development compared to neurologists from the other EU regions.