Rheumatologists' uptake of Benlysta will not lead to decline in patient share for immunosuppressant/cytotoxics or for Rituxan through 2013

The uptake of Human Genome Sciences/GlaxoSmithKline’s emerging B-cell inhibitor Benlysta (belimumab), over the next two years for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) will not lead to a decline in the patient share of immunosuppressant/cytotoxic agents or for Roche/Biogen Idec’s Rituxan (rituximab) (Roche’s MabThera, Chugai/Zenyaku Kogyo’s Rituxan), according to surveyed rheumatologists surveyed by research and advisory firm Decision Resources.

However, surveyed rheumatologists anticipate a significant reduction in their use of corticosteroids through 2013, most likely due in part to their anticipated adoption of Benlysta, based on a US survey of 100 rheumatologists and 20 managed care organization (MCO) pharmacy directors.

The new US Physician & Payer Forum report, titled Benlysta in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: How Will US Physicians and Payers React to the Approval of the First Biologic in a Largely Genericized Market? finds that, overall, surveyed rheumatologists foresee more widespread use of Benlysta compared with Rituxan by 2013. More than one quarter of surveyed rheumatologists believe they will use Benlysta as an add-on therapy in moderate to severe SLE, which is in line with the finding that physicians do not anticipate any one drug, aside from corticosteroids, will lose substantial patient share to Benlysta in SLE over the next two years.