Crestor is Prescribed as a Second- or Third-Line Therapy to Twice as Many Patients as is Lipitor for Newly Diagnosed Cases

Decision Resources Unveils New Online Platform for Its Treatment Algorithms Service

BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that in the treatment of dyslipidemia, AstraZeneca’s Crestor is prescribed as a first, second or third line therapy more commonly than Pfizer’s Lipitor. According to Treatment Algorithms in Dyslipidemia, patients receiving a second-line or third-line therapy within one year of being diagnosed with dyslipidemia are twice as likely to receive Crestor than are prescribed Lipitor.

The analysis also find that among recently treated patients, almost 30 percent of patients receive a non-statin therapy such as Abbott’s Niaspan, Lovaza, Tricor or TriLipix, or Merck’s Vytorin or Zetia.

“The statins, Vytorin and Zetia predominantly target LDL-C so patients with elevated triglycerides or decreased HDL even after treatment with one of these agents are often prescribed an add-on drug such as niacin, a fibrate, omega-3 fatty acid or bile acid sequestrant to target these lipid abnormalities,” said Decision Resources Analyst Christine Helliwell, Ph.D. “However, tolerability issues—in particular with Niaspan, and, to a lesser extent Lovaza—mean that patients do not necessarily stay on these drugs long-term.”

Enhanced Service and Platform Now Available

The analysis is part of Decision Resources’ enhanced Treatment Algorithms series, which features a new online platform. Interactive, user-friendly and with more graphical data views, the new platform enables users to easily toggle between diseases and time cohorts, which ultimately allows for more in-depth analysis on each line of therapy. Treatment Algorithms analysis is now updated quarterly to provide ongoing trending of product utilization by line of therapy and new therapy initiations. Through examination of U.S. patient-level claims data, Decision Resources’ Treatment Algorithms series provides exceptional insight into physicians’ prescribing trends, from diagnosis through multiple courses of treatment, for a specific disease.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources (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. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources Group company.

About Decision Resources Group

Decision Resources Group is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources Group at www.DecisionResourcesGroup.com.

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CONTACT:

Decision Resources
Lisa Osgood, 781-993-2606
[email protected]
or
Decision Resources Group
Christopher Comfort, 781-993-2597
[email protected]

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  Massachusetts

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:   Health  Biotechnology  Pharmaceutical

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