Mixed US views on Gilenya, Aubagio and Tecfidera as breakthrough MS drugs

More than half of surveyed neurologists consider US biotech firm Biogen Idec's (Nasdaq: BIIB) Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) to be a breakthrough in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), slightly greater than those who feel the same about Swiss drug major Novartis' (NOVN: VX) Gilenya (fingolimod) and nearly twice as many as for Sanofi (Euronext: SAN) subsidiary Genzyme’s Aubagio (teriflunomide).

Conversely, according to a new report from health care advisory firm Decision Resources, less than one-third of surveyed managed care organization (MCO) pharmacy directors/medical directors (PDs/MDs) identify Gilenya, Aubagio or Tecfidera as breakthrough treatments, perhaps underscoring their decision to most commonly cover all three oral agents on non-preferred tiers in their largest commercial plans. Notably, about one-quarter of surveyed MCO PDs/MDs did not cover Aubagio or Tecfidera at the time the survey was fielded, which is likely due to the recent launches of these agents.

The US Physician and Payer Forum report, titled The Rapidly Evolving Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Landscape: How Are US Physicians and Payers Responding to the Influx of New Disease-Modifying Therapies? also finds that two emerging products, Biogen Idec's Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) and Teva's Copaxone 40mg/ml, dosed three-times weekly (a reformulation of Teva's once-daily 20mg/ml Copaxone; glatiramer acetate), will experience usage patterns and market access positioning similar to those of their respective predecessor compounds.