Burgeoning Population Of Hepatitis C Virus Patients In Need Of Second And Third Line Treatment Options

Main Category: Liver Disease / Hepatitis
Article Date: 06 Sep 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, has found that a significant proportion of hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients do not achieve a sustained virologic response or are not able to tolerate current first-line treatment. According to the new report entitled Hepatitis C Virus Patient Flow Model and Treatment Algorithm, although currently available therapies can cure HCV, these agents are effective in only about half of all patients who receive therapy. The lack of available efficacious second- and third-line therapies leads to the accumulation of patients who are non-responsive to first-line therapy. Because HCV is not a highly fatal disease, this growing population is awaiting the launch of novel therapies and represents an important segment in the HCV market.

Hepatitis C virus represents a large commercial opportunity for drug developers due to its high prevalence, the relatively poor efficacy and side effects of current therapies and its large undiagnosed and under treated population.

"A sizeable cohort of the HCV-infected patients is aging, developing progressive liver disease, and is awaiting the introduction of several innovative new therapies in late-stage development," said John Lebbos, M.D., therapeutic area director at Decision Resources. "However, over the longer term, the size of the candidate population for treatment will be limited due to the dramatic decreases in the incidence of HCV that have been achieved as well as the improved efficacy of novel agents."

Based on this report, Decision Resources is offering an exclusive, in depth webinar entitled Hepatitis C Virus: Forecasting the Drug-Treated and Treatment Eligible Populations from 2006 to 2021. The webinar, presented by Dr. Lebbos, will be held at 10 AM (EDT) on September 25, 2007. To register, visit http://www.DecisionResources.com.

About Hepatitis C Virus Patient Flow Model and Treatment Algorithm

This specialized report includes a detailed, annualized patient forecast model of the HCV population from 2006 to 2021 which includes the incidence- and mortality-based model includes estimates of the number of patients eligible for first-, second-, third, and fourth-line treatment by genotype and the impact of novel, more effective therapies on the epidemic and treatment- eligible populations. The HCV patient flow model also allows the user to adjust key assumptions, providing the model with flexibility to model different scenarios.

About Treatment Algorithm Insight Series

Decision Resources combines in-depth primary research with the most extensive claims-based longitudinal patient-level data from PharMetrics(R) to provide exceptional insight into physicians' prescribing trends and the factors that drive therapy product choice, from diagnosis through multiple courses of treatment, for a specific disease.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (http://www.DecisionResources.com) is a world leader in healthcare market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Decision Resources, Inc.
http://www.decisionresources.com

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