Bayer/Schering-Plough/Shionogi's Avelox Has Advantages Over Levofloxacin in the Treatment...

Bayer/Schering-Plough/Shionogi's Avelox Has Advantages Over Levofloxacin in
the Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Superior Bacteriological Eradication and Activity Against Antibiotic-Resistant
Pathogens Earn Avelox Gold Standard Status Through 2016, According to a New
Report from Decision Resources

WALTHAM, Mass., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, one of the
world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and
healthcare issues, finds that a therapy's overall clinical efficacy (defined
as cure or improvement of symptoms) is the attribute that most influences
primary care physicians' prescribing decisions for community-acquired
pneumonia. Clinical data and expert opinion show that
Bayer/Schering-Plough/Shionogi's Avelox (moxifloxacin) is similar in overall
clinical efficacy to the market leader levofloxacin -- Johnson & Johnson's
Levaquin, Sanofi-Aventis's Tavanic and Daiichi Sankyo's Cravit. However,
Avelox's advantages in bacteriological efficacy, spectrum of activity, and
activity against key antibiotic-resistant pathogens earn the agent gold
standard status for community acquired pneumonia.
The new report entitled Community-Acquired Pneumonia: In a Crowded
Generics-Dominated Market, Room for New Agents Still Exists finds that,
through 2016, there are no therapies in development that will displace Avelox
as the clinical gold standard for the treatment of community-acquired
pneumonia. Although levofloxacin is superior to Avelox in the areas of safety
and delivery -- offering a lower incidence of dermatological reactions and a
five-day course of treatment -- Avelox outperforms levofloxacin on efficacy
measures such as bacteriological eradication and activity against
penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus.
"Based on available data and expert opinion, we do not expect any therapy
under development for community-acquired pneumonia to displace Avelox as the
clinical gold standard for this indication through 2016," said John Lebbos,
M.D. director at Decision Resources. "While some therapies in development for
community-acquired pneumonia hold promise, most of them have efficacy, safety
and/or delivery features that are inferior when compared with Avelox."
About the Report
Community-Acquired Pneumonia: In a Crowded Generics-Dominated Market, Room
for New Agents Still Exists is a DecisionBase 2008 report from Decision
Resources. DecisionBase 2008 combines market forecasts with clinical and
commercial end points to assess market share projections in 35 indications.
These outputs are driven by quantitative and qualitative primary research.
DecisionBase 2008 provides detailed market share, patient share, and
price-per-day projections for emerging drugs in development. The market share
projections are based on prescriber surveys that compare physicians'
expectations of a potential target product profile with an emerging product
profile of the leading drugs in development.
The report can be purchased by contacting Decision Resources. Members of
the media may request an interview with an analyst.
About Decision Resources
Decision Resources (www.decisionresources.com ) is a world leader in
market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to
help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen
markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.
All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
For more information, contact:
Elizabeth Marshall
Decision Resources
781-296-2563
emarshall@dresources.com

SOURCE Decision Resources

Elizabeth Marshall of Decision Resources, +1-781-296-2563,
emarshall@dresources.com