Uptake of alternative biologics such as Roche/Chugai's Actemra/RoActemra will erode RA market share of TNF-alpha inhibitors through 2019

In the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug market, the uptake of alternative biologics such as Roche/Chugai's Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) will erode the market share of TNF-alpha inhibitors over the next decade, according to new research from Decision Resources.

Actemra/RoActemra will emerge as the likely preferred biologic agent for TNF-refractory patients and will garner blockbuster sales of approximately $1.5 billion in 2019 in the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan.

The Pharmacor 2010 findings from the topic entitled Rheumatoid Arthritis reveal that although rheumatologists currently switch patients to an alternative biologic after responding inadequately to two TNF-alpha inhibitors, the increasing trend will be to make the switch after one agent from this drug class is used. Additionally, while TNF-alpha inhibitors such as Amgen/Pfizer/Takeda's Enbrel (etanercept) and Abbott/Eisai's Humira (adalimumab) will continue to dominate RA treatment, the market share of TNF-alpha inhibitors will decrease from 75% in 2009 to 58% in 2019.