Multinational drugmakers' sales will represent 92% of Mexico's NSCLC cancer drug Market in 2014

In 2014, sales of drugs from multinational corporations will represent 92% of Mexico's non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) drug market, according to new research from Decision Resources. Factors promoting the market's growth include a modest increase in the use of premium-priced chemotherapies and targeted agents, brand loyalty among prescribing oncologists and an increase in diagnosed incident cases.

"Our research shows that Mexican physicians in the private sector retain high brand loyalty to drugs used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer. For example, Bristol-Myers Squibb's Bristaxol, for which paclitaxel generics have been available for several years in Mexico, still enjoys almost 80% use," stated Decision Resources' analyst Amy Duval.

The new Emerging Markets report, titled Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Mexico, also finds that, during the 2009-2014 forecast period, two therapies are expected to be approved for the indication: Merck KGaA's Erbitux (cetuximab)in 2011 and Bayer's Nexavar (sorafenib in 2013. Erbitux is already used off-label for non-small-cell lung cancer in Mexico because of its endorsement in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for certain patients.