Imclone/Bristol-Myers Squibb/Merck Serono's Erbitux will Overtake Cisplatin/5-Fluorouracil as the Clinical Gold Standard for the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer by 2010

Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that Imclone/Bristol-Myers Squibb/Merck Serono's Erbitux will overtake cisplatin/5-fluorouracil as the clinical gold standard for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck by 2010. According to the new report entitled With Nothing in the Pipeline for the next Ten Years, This Small Market Needs a Savior: A Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (Stage IV) Study, Erbitux is considered to be the only emerging therapy to offer significant efficacy improvements over other treatments.

"Erbitux is the future gold standard in our model based on its improved safety and delivery profile," said Amy Walker, analyst at Decision Resources. "Erbitux's main commercial disadvantage is its premium pricing, which could limit its uptake. According to a survey conducted by Decision Resources, more than 20% of oncologists do not treat patients with Erbitux because patients cannot afford the copayments."

With Nothing in the Pipeline for the next Ten Years, This Small Market Needs a Savior

With Nothing in the Pipeline for the next Ten Years, This Small Market Needs a Savior: A Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (Stage IV) Study covers the current and future state of the squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (stage IVc/recurred) drug market. The report includes:

  -- 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., (http://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.

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  Elizabeth Marshall   Decision Resources, Inc.   781-296-2563   emarshall@dresources.com 

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SOURCE: Decision Resources, Inc.