Release issued 9th July 2008

Most surveyed MCO pharmacy directors will move Razadyne and Razadyne ER from tier 2 to tier 3 when generic Razadyne is launched, according to a new report from Decision Resources

July 9, 2008 -Waltham, Mass.  Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the generic availability of Shire/Janssen/Ortho McNeil's Razadyne (galantamine) in December 2008 will have the greatest impact on Eisai/Pfizer's Aricept as surveyed primary care physicians (PCPs) estimate that after the launch of generic galantamine, prescriptions of Aricept for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease will drop by up to 20 percent. According to the new Physician & Payer Forum primary market research report entitled The Impact of Razadyne's Genericization and the Launch of Biologic Disease-Modifying Drugs on the Alzheimer's Disease Market: Clinician and Payer Receptivity to Novel Agents, the availability of generic galantamine will decrease Aricept's share of PCPs' prescriptions for Alzheimer's disease patients from 66 percent to 46 percent by December 2009. The report also finds that for surveyed neurologists, Aricept's share of prescriptions for Alzheimer's Disease patients will fall from 62 percent to 44 percent. 

According to the report, more than two-thirds of managed care organizations (MCOs) that cover Razadyne and Razadyne ER in their private plan formularies grant these agents tier 2 status. When generic galantamine becomes available, many surveyed MCO pharmacy directors indicated that they will move both Razadyne formulations to tier 3. Additionally, nearly one quarter of surveyed MCO pharmacy directors said they will remove Razadyne ER from their private plan formularies, and more than one third will remove Razadyne, when generic galantamine becomes available. The percentage of pharmacy directors who reported they will remove Razadyne ER and Razadyne from their Medicare prescription drug plan formularies was slightly lower.

The report also finds that clinicians do not have clear expectations of disease-modifying agents for Alzheimer's Disease. Three quarters of surveyed clinicians favor an oral formulation over an intravenous formulation of a disease-modifying agent for Alzheimer's because of convenience. Thirty three percent of PCPs versus 21 percent of neurologists would select a regimen with lowest out-of-pocket costs for patients. In terms of patient compliance, 15 percent of neurologists compared with 11 percent of PCPs would select an intravenous regimen over an oral formulation.

"While clinicians anticipate prescribing Aricept less frequently when generic galantamine becomes available, this trend will not be accelerated by a widespread shift of Aricept to unfavorable formulary tiers," said Andrea Witt, Ph.D., director at Decision Resources. "MCO pharmacy directors indicate that Aricept will still enjoy favorable tier status on most private and Medicare prescription drug plans after the launch of generic galantamine."

The Impact of Razadyne's Genericization and the Launch of Biologic Disease-Modifying Drugs on the Alzheimer's Disease Market: Clinician and Payer Receptivity to Novel Agents is based on a U.S. survey of 71 neurologists, 72 PCPs and 20 MCO pharmacy directors. Their responses were compared to assess similarities and differences of opinion regarding clinical, economic and scientific factors.

About Physician & Payer Forum
Physician & Payer Forum is a primary research service from Decision Resources that offers access to high volume-prescribing physicians, specialists, and managed care organization representatives in the United States; analysis of events and survey participants' responses to them; insight into prescribing patterns; and an examination of the implications of events and issues for the pharmaceutical market.

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, Inc. company.

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