Strong interest in J&J's Simponi

BioTrends Research Group has released highlights from its LaunchTrends: SIMPONI, a four-wave syndicated research study that will track uptake of  the drug from US Food and Drug Administration approval through six  months post launch. The research is based on results of a survey of 77  rheumatologists conducted on-line between May 5 and 7. Simponi  (golimumab) is a subcutaneous anti-tumor necrosis-alpha therapy from US  health care major Johnson & Johnson's Centocor-Ortho Biotech subsidiary  that has been approved for the treatment of  moderately-to-severely-active rheumatoid arthritis.

95% of the rheumatologists surveyed were aware of Simponi and about  one-third had been called on by sales representatives for the drug.  Two-thirds reported a favorable reaction to the product and 83% a high  interest in learning more about it. Among those familiar with Simponi,  nearly all were aware of the monthly dosing intervals, but overall the  respondents were less familiar with the product's indications and dose  delivery forms. Compared to the other biologics indicated for RA, 43%  identified Simponi as the "easiest to administer/easiest for patients to  take" while 26% gave Abbott Laboratories' Humira (adalimumab) top  billing for ease of use. The respondents reported that close to 40% of  their severe RA patients could be considered candidates for Simponi and  that the majority of the drug's patients would be switched from other  biologic agents. Market share projections suggest that the new product  will primarily draw from other TNF-inhibitors and 38% of the respondents  suggest that they will prescribe the product for their RA patients as  soon as it is available.

Surveyed rheumatologists are also highly aware of other late stage  biologics awaiting approval such as Belgian drugmaker UCB's Cimzia  certolizumab pegol) and Swiss major Roche's Actemra (tocilizumab). 62%  of the respondents reported a greater interest in Actemra compared to  Simponi, primarily due to the former's novel mechanism of action. Given  a choice between the two drugs, the respondents reported a greater  interest in the J&J product by a three-to-one margin.