Increased use of Spiriva will be driven by greater first-line maintenance use

Privately-held German drug major Boehringer Ingelheim and pharma behemoth Pfizer's (NYSE: PFE) Spiriva (tiotropium will most likely strengthen its position among the sales leaders for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through greater use in the primary care setting.

GlaxoSmithKline's Advair (fluticasone and salmeterol) and Spiriva are the sales leaders in the COPD market, and hold similar percentages of patient share across the first three lines of therapy, according to a new report from research and advisory firm Decision Resources.

"While Advair and Spiriva hold similar percentages of patient share through the first three lines of therapy, results from surveyed primary care physicians indicate less of a preference for Spiriva, compared with surveyed pulmonologists," said Decision Resources analyst Amanda Puffer, adding: "PCPs prefer Boehringer Ingelheim's Combivent or Advair for use as a first-line maintenance therapy, which presents an opportunity for Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer to more aggressively target the primary care market to increase Spiriva's market share."