Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and health care issues, finds that some managed care companies (MCOs) will attempt to institute a "virtual Advair" policy by encouraging primary care physicians (PCPs) to separately prescribe generic fluticasone plus Servent in lieu of Advair, a more expensive combined product.
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"When Flovent goes off-patent, MCOs will rework their formularies, leading many physicians to prescribe two drugs to do the job that Advair did on its own," said Matthew Bonner, MD. "Formulary directors and PCPs agree that compliance would decline with the implementation of the 'virtual Advair' strategy, although they disagree about the magnitude of the effect."
The new PhysicianForum report entitled Asthma Therapy and the Impending Patent Expiry of Flovent also found that there is confusion between PCPs and MCOs regarding the preferred delivery mechanism for asthma therapies. PCPs agree that patients are more partial to dry powder inhalers (DPIs), while many managed care organizations believe that patients prefer older, metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) for delivery of inhalable asthma medications. "There's a real disconnect here. Almost two-thirds of formulary directors still believe that patients prefer MDIs. In reality, most PCPs tell us that their patients prefer DPIs," continued Dr. Bonner.
Asthma Therapy and the Impending Patent Expiry of Flovent is based on a survey of 26 formulary directors of MCOs and 67 PCPs in the United States. Their responses were compared to assess similarities and differences in clinical, economic, and scientific factors.
About PhysicianForum
PhysicianForum is a new primary research service from Decision Resources. The service offers access to high-volume prescribing PCPs, specialists, and MCO representatives in the United States and Europe; analysis of events and responses to them; insight into prescribing patterns; and implications for the pharmaceutical market.
About Decision Resources
Decision Resources, Inc., is a world leader in research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets. The company has provided strategic information services for 30 years, assessing international pharmaceutical and health care industry trends. Visit Decision Resources at www.decisionresources.com.
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For more information, contact: Elizabeth Marshall Decision Resources 781-296-2563 emarshall@dresources.com
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SOURCE: Decision Resources, Inc.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Marshall of Decision Resources, +1-781-296-2563,
emarshall@dresources.com
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