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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Release
Use of Avastin® and Tarceva® Strong in First Quarter 2006
Westlake Village, CA, May 2, 2006 (PR Newswire) – ICI, Inc., a leading provider of expertise-based oncology market research, reports first quarter 2006 usage of Avastin® and Tarceva® is strong for several cancers and medical oncologists continue to perceive both drugs as promising. The study, Medical Oncology, evaluated oncology practice patterns for the year’s first quarter. Conducted in March, it surveyed nearly 100 medical oncologists from across the country. Medical Oncology aims to provide an immediate overview of current attitudes, usage, and trends in the treatment of colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and lung cancers.
In the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), study findings show the number of patients who receive Avastin® as a first-line therapy continues to increase (50%) among medical oncologists who use Avastin® in this setting. However, the number of medical oncologists who report trying Avastin® for NSCLC did not increase in Q1 2006 compared to other quarters tracked in the study.
The study also finds 90% of physicians surveyed have tried Tarceva® in the management of NSCLC. Third-line use of Tarceva® is strongest (45%) and is followed by second-line use (29%) for NSCLC patients, though the number of NSCLC patients receiving Tarceva® has not increased when evaluated against previous survey data. Overall, ease of administration of Tarceva® remains its most favorably perceived attribute, while cost remains the biggest concern noted by physicians.
For breast cancer, Avastin® is still considered the most promising new therapy (47%). Avastin® use is slowly increasing, with 44% of physicians now indicating having used Avastin® for breast cancer patients. Among those respondents, first-line use remains the strongest (38%), while single agent use continues to decline as all respondents who are using Avastin® report combining it with other chemotherapy.
The study also notes Abraxane™ use is not dramatically increasing as a preferred second- or third-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer. The number of physicians who have tried Abraxane™ did not increase over the previous quarter’s data, though Abraxane™ use has gradually increased over the past year for metastatic breast cancer. Most respondents report administering Abraxane™ as a single agent and use it in the third-line setting.
Other highlights from the survey include:
- 32% of respondents consider intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (IP) the most promising new treatment strategy for ovarian cancer.
- Physicians believe Avastin®, panitumumab, and Erbitux® are among the most promising new treatment strategies for colon cancer.
- Although FOLFOX combined with Avastin® is still the most frequently used first-line chemotherapy regimen for patients with stage D colon cancer, Xeloda® use continues to rise (24%). (Use of oral chemotherapy products will be carefully monitored as CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] changes are implemented in 2006.)
- Tarceva® and Avastin® continue to be perceived as the most promising new therapies for pancreatic cancer by 26% and 18% of respondents, respectively. 66% of respondents report having used Tarceva® in the management of pancreatic cancer, but this does not represent a significant increase from previous survey data.
The objectives of this study (to be conducted once each quarter this year) are to:
- Provide a real-time overview of current attitudes, usage, and trends in the treatment of colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, pancreatic, and lung cancers,
- Measure and track perceptions of safety and efficacy of established and emerging treatment strategies,
- Identify preferred first-line, second-line, and third-line treatment regimens by tumor type,
- Track the use of supportive care products, and
- Track awareness of new treatment strategies by tumor type and identify how they are likely to be incorporated into physicians’ overall management strategy.
For detailed information or for a subscription to the study (which contains 148 pages and more than 250 metrics), please contact Sugata Biswas at 818-707-9774 or sbiswas@icimrr.com .
About ICI
Interactive Clinical Intelligence (ICI), a Cancer Consultants, Inc. company, is a leading provider of expertise-based oncology market research to the pharmaceutical industry. ICI has conducted hundreds of qualitative and quantitative research projects exclusively in oncology. ICI offers:
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Senior staff members with extensive clinical, market research, and reimbursement experience associated with the pharmaceutical / biotech industry,
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The most comprehensive database of oncology professionals (more than 90% of the private practice oncologists in the U.S.) that participate in online and off-line programs,
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A full range of customized market research services spanning both quantitative and qualitative studies,
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Syndicated and omnibus research reports on a quarterly basis, and
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Consulting services for clinical, product launch, reimbursement, and other healthcare related issues.
About Our Reports
ICI’s syndicated and omnibus research follows key drivers and emerging forces shaping the oncology marketplace on a quarterly basis. These studies span a wide variety of tumor types and therapies and include the following published reports:
The Medical Oncology report is a quantitative study providing an in-depth analysis of current attitudes, usage and trends in the treatment of colon, breast, prostate, ovarian, pancreatic, and lung cancers.
The Hematology report is a quantitative study providing an in-depth analysis of current attitudes, usage and trends in the treatment of NHL, multiple myeloma, MDS, and AML.
The Impact of MMA report is a quantitative study that targets medical oncologists and office practice managers in community oncology clinics to track and assess awareness and behavioral changes that result from the implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, new drug administration G-codes, Part D, and the Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP).
This quantitative study consists of responses provided by hospital administrators and hospital pharmacists knowledgeable about the hospital environment and the impact of Medicare reimbursement changes in the hospital setting.
About Cancer Consultants, Inc.
Founded in 1997, Cancer Consultants, Inc. provides comprehensive oncology marketing solutions to cancer care providers, including hospitals, physicians, and the pharmaceutical industry. Cancer Consultants, Inc. consists of four distinct companies: Interactive Clinical Intelligence, Inc., providing a syndicated and primary market research solutions; OncoInteractive, Inc., an interactive agency providing strategic oncology marketing services and publishers of Women&Cancer magazine; OncoEd, Inc., providing medical writing, continuing medical education, and symposiums; and CancerConsultants.com, a Web development and information distribution firm that provides easy access to cancer information. Cancer Consultants, Inc. is based in Ketchum, Idaho.
Contact:
Sugata Biswas
Vice President, ICI
818-707-9774
Email: sbiswas@icimrr.com
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