US and European hema-oncologists views therapies for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

US and European hematological oncologists surveyed by health care advisory firm Decision Resources indicate that overall survival is the factor that most influences their prescribing decisions for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, and that increased overall survival is associated with the highest level of unmet need.

Interviewed thought leaders are optimistic that the CRd regimen - carfilzomib (Onyx Pharmaceuticals/Ono Pharmaceutical’s Kyprolis) in combination with lenalidomide (Celgene’s Revlimid) and dexamethasone - will show advantages over sales-leading lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (the Rd regimen) on this attribute in the ongoing Phase III ASPIRE trial.

The DecisionBase 2013 report, titled As Carfilzomib and Pomalidomide Make Inroads Into the Market, What Key Attributes Will Differentiate Emerging Therapies According to Hematological Oncologists and Payers? finds that surveyed US managed care organization (MCO) pharmacy directors demand that emerging therapies provide significant improvements in overall survival over Rd - a premium-priced standard-of-care regimen for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma - to justify their cost and secure reimbursement. Notably, half of surveyed payers would not reimburse a new therapy priced the same as Rd or higher that offers a three-month improvement in overall survival over Rd, citing insufficient overall clinical benefit as one of the key reasons for not granting reimbursement.