Oncology Drug Iressa Better Than Chemotherapy In Some Patients, According To New Report From Cutting Edge Information

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 11 Dec 2008 - 5:00 PST

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Iressa's sales are poised to increase on positive clinical results suggesting that AstraZeneca's targeted lung cancer therapy performs better than standard chemotherapy in many patients, according to a new report, "Oncology Market Forecast to 2013", published by pharmaceutical business intelligence leader Cutting Edge Information.

Iressa's positive clinical trial results will shift prescriptions away from current market leader Tarceva and back to Iressa, according to CEI. However, analysts expect that Iressa's annual sales will only increase to $300 million unless the FDA unrestricts access to the drug for new patients.

The recent study led by Dr. Edward Kim of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, however, points to new life for Iressa. Though Iressa prolongs life 7.6 months on average compared to chemotherapy's 8 months, Iressa presents fewer -- but also less severe -- side effects.

Even more promising, when researchers focused on only those patients exhibiting an EFGR gene mutation, life expectancy in patients taking EFGR inhibitor Iressa increased to 8.4 months, whereas those taking docetaxel decreased to 7.5 months.

"Not only are patients' quality of life better with Iressa, but the drug also extends life expectancy," says Eric Bolesh, research manager at Cutting Edge Information. "That's a powerful combination for oncology treatments."

Oncologists now have the option to prescribe the convenient pill-based therapy Iressa instead of traditional chemotherapy in patients who have not responded well to initial chemotherapy. Cutting Edge Information expects a gradual increase in Iressa's sales from $258 million to nearly $300 million as physicians slowly respond to recent clinical results.

But Bolesh cautions, "Too many negative results in the past will dampen Iressa's sales growth. Some physicians will be leery of automatically shifting their patients away from traditional therapies on the basis of only one study."

Cutting Edge Information's report examines 130-plus oncology brands and provides the following market analysis:

- Individual Drug Profiles - Drug profiles include information about drugs' competitive, strategic and market growth positions.

- Oncology Indication Market Outlook - Detailed outlooks for the breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, and leukemia markets.

- Drug Manufacturer Profiles - Pipeline and portfolio analyses for companies that either have established oncology franchises or exciting development pipelines for new cancer compounds.

Cutting Edge Information