Wyeth’s Enbrel ‘will achieve blockbuster status by 2010’

Enbrel, the anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) drug used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis, could achieve blockbuster status by 2010, according to new reports.

The term blockbuster is attached to a drug if it achieves sales of more than $1 billion (535 million pounds) each year and depending on how the cost-effectiveness for other anti-TNF drugs like Humira is perceived, Enbrel could achieve this status by the next decade, the report from Decision Resources found.

The market research company believes that the market for psoriasis treatment alone for the major Western countries will increase to $3.5 billion by 2015 from its current value of $1.5 billion.

Additionally, third party payers will increasingly determine what biological drugs will be used most widely, the study found.

Joanna Kim, an analyst at Decision Resources, remarked: “The most important constraint on the uptake of biologics in the psoriasis market will come from third-party payers as they scrutinise each biologic agent’s cost-effectiveness.”

“At present, the reimbursement environment for psoriasis in the United States is more permissive than in Europe,” she added.

However, Ms Kim concluded that this would change when payers compare the needs of psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis patients before deciding to tighten the prescription of anti-TNF therapies for psoriasis patients.

Currently, Enbrel is marketed in the UK by Wyeth. In June, NICE approved Enbrel for the treatment of psoriasis after first-line treatments have failed.

Stevo Knezvic, chief medical offer at Wyeth Europe, said UK regulatory body’s endorsement was “excellent news” for psoriatic patients across Europe.