US nephrologists views on prescribing Roche's Mircera

Among surveyed US nephrologists, familiarity with Swiss drug major Roche's (ROG: SIX) Mircera (methoxy polyethylene glycolspoetin beta), is low, but is still second highest among six late-stage renal therapies in development, according to a new report from BioTrends, a unit of health care advisory firm Decision Resources.

Mircera is an erythropoietin receptor activator indicated for the treatment of symptomatic anemia in chronic kidney disease, which received US Food and Drug Administration approval in November 2007. After reviewing a brief product profile, 49% of physicians are highly interested in Mircera and believe that over 40% of their chronic kidney disease–non-dialysis (CKD-ND) and 40% of dialysis patients are likely Mircera candidates.

The TreatmentTrends: US Nephrology Q3 2013 report also finds that surveyed nephrologists have extremely low familiarity with Injectafer - an IV iron product from American Regent approved in July 2013 - as 70% report low familiarity. Interest among respondents is moderate and 25% of their CKD-ND patients are likely Injectafer candidates.

Familiarity rating up for Keryx’ Zerenex

Mean familiarity ratings for Keryx Pharmaceutical's (Nasdaq: KERX) iron-based phosphate binder Zerenex (ferric citrate coordination complex) increased significantly over the same quarter last year, likely because of the recent New Drug Application submission and ongoing press and clinical activity. After reading a brief Zerenex product profile, most physicians expressed a preference to use it in dialysis patients versus CKD-ND patients.

"Mircera, Injectafer and Zerenex, coupled together, could have a significant impact on the US renal anemia market in the coming years," said BioTrends Research director Rob Dubman. "Mircera is a long-acting agent, which may provide greater patient convenience. And recent clinical trial results demonstrate that Ferinject - the brand name of Injectafer in Europe and elsewhere - reduces the need for other forms of anemia management such as erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) and blood transfusions in CKD-ND patients with iron deficiency anemia. Lastly, Zerenex has been shown to reduce the need for ESAs and IV iron in dialysis patients in Phase III clinical data," he added.