Decision Resources, which is considered to be one of the world’s top research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare related matters revealed that while compared to other agents presently available, Centocor Ortho Biotech/Merck/Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma’s Remicade (infliximab) has been chosen as the most effectual therapy for the treatment of minor to severe ulcerative colitis by the most of the of surveyed gastroenterologists which is nearly 57 percent of the total. Remicade was also chosen as the most effective remedy for the ailment by the maximum percentage and nearly70 percent of surveyed Managed Care Organization’s or MCOs pharmacy directors came to the same conclusion.
The results from Decision Resources’ study of the ulcerative colitis drug market shows that, when taking into consideration of all assessed effectiveness end points, the gastroenterologists who were surveyed regard Remicade as the most effective therapy were most contented with the drug’s capacity to stimulate a response, its outcome on surgical involvement and its effect on mucosal curing. Though, surveyed physicians were most dissatisfied with Remicade’s effect on continuation of response. This discovery is likely due to Remicade’s declining effectiveness in the maintenance setting. When asked about this matter the thought leaders told that patients often shows less reactions to Remicade in due course of time. Surveyed MCOs that preferred Remicade as the most effective therapy were most happy with its consequence on inducing remission, which is persistent, with surveyed physicians’ opinions.
However, surveyed gastroenterologists and MCOs did not agree on which medicine is the most tolerable and safe among existing therapies for minor to severe ulcerative colitis. When safety and tolerability are concerened factors, azathioprine (GlaxoSmithKline/Prometheus Laboratories/UCB’s Imuran, Eisai’s Imurek, generics) has been chosen by the maximum percentage of doctors even as Remicade was selected by the majority numbers of MCOs.
