Forest Pharmaceuticals' Lexapro Will Lose Ground by 2010 to Sanofi-Aventis's Amibegron for the Treatment of Major Depression

Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that Forest Pharmaceuticals' Lexapro will lose patient share to Sanofi-Aventis's amibegron for the treatment of major depression by 2010. The new report entitled Crowded with Generics, Clever Marketing Will Win Only Incremental Sales: A Major Depression Study, finds that the lack of sexual side effects with amibegron (because of its unique non-serotonergic mechanism of action) will allow it to significantly weaken Lexapro's grip on the major depression market.

Interviewed thought leaders identify as an advantage the fact that Lexapro is more tolerable than other SSRI and SNRI antidepressants and has a lower risk of drug interactions in patients receiving multiple medications.

"Although a high dose (150-375 mg) of Wyeth's Effexor XR is considered by the majority of interviewed psychiatrists to be the most effective strategy in severe and treatment-resistant major depression, its tolerability disadvantages during treatment initiation and discontinuation preclude the drug from being the clinical gold standard therapy. If amibegron is as effective but more tolerable than Lexapro, it could represent a real threat to Lexapro's clinical gold-standard status," said Natalie C. Taylor, Ph.D., analyst at Decision Resources.

About Crowded with Generics, Clever Marketing Will Win Only Incremental Sales: A Major Depression Study

Crowded with Generics, Clever Marketing Will Win Only Incremental Sales: A Major Depression Study covers the current and future state of the major depression drug market. The report includes the following:

  -- More than 3,000 physician responses that define drug attributes that      drive prescription now and in the future.       -- Clinical end point tradeoffs that are most influential to          physicians.       -- Areas of unmet need with highest potential.       -- Benchmark trial results for specific drug opportunities.       -- Patient share potential for emerging therapies and target product          profiles.   -- Decision Resources proprietary analysis of commercial factors that      accelerate or constrain a drug's market potential.       -- Promotion: DTC spend, detailing intensity.       -- Reimbursement: formulary tier, prior approval restriction, quantity          limits.       -- Labeling: black box warnings, approved patient segments,          contraindications.       -- Competition: order of entry, pricing, generic entry, pipeline sales          forecast.       -- Medical practice: decision trees, treating physician type, line of          therapy.   -- Comparisons of the key clinical attributes of current and emerging      therapies in the areas of efficacy, safety, and delivery.   -- Analysis and supporting data that identifies the clinical "Gold      Standard" now and over the next ten years.   -- Key insights as to which clinical end points have the greatest      influence on physician decision-making.  

The report can be purchased by contacting Decision Resources. Members of the media may request an interview with an analyst.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

  For more information, contact:    Elizabeth Marshall   Decision Resources, Inc.   781-296-2563   emarshall@dresources.com 

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SOURCE: Decision Resources, Inc.