Stakeholder Insight: Lung Cancer - Third-Generation Cytotoxics Set to Dominate the Market

Introduction

According to Datamonitor’s estimate, nearly 423,000 new cases of SCLC and NSCLC are expected to be diagnosed in the seven major pharmaceutical markets in 2003. Despite the high level of pharmaceutical interest, there are significant unmet needs in the disease in terms of poor survival. This Analysis examines the current diagnosis and treatment trends of lung cancer in the seven major markets.

Scope

• Analysis of Lung cancer treatment based on a survey of 152 clinical oncologists and pulmonologists in the 7 major markets
• Diagnosis patterns of SCLC and NSCLC, including stage distribution and physician types responsible for diagnosis
• Percentage use of various treatment modalities for SCLC and NSCLC by stage

Highlights

Third-generation cytotoxics, such as gemcitabine, vinorelbine and paclitaxel, are increasingly being prescribed to SCLC patients. Having reached an efficacy plateau with cisplatin and etoposide regimen, Datamonitor believes that physicians will increasingly experiment with third-generation chemotherapy that have proven to be effective in NSCLC.

Cisplatin plus Campto (irinotecan) is the gold-standard regimen for extensive SCLC in Japan, based on the results of a Japanese trial. Physicians in the US and Europe are generally skeptical of the regimen and it will not see a wide uptake until the results are replicated in a Western clinical trial.

Aventis’ Taxotere (docetaxel) has the potential to become the gold-standard first-line therapy for NSCLC in the US. However, Datamonitor believes that this is unlikely to be the case in the European markets, where Lilly’s Gemzar (gemcitabine) and Pierre Fabre/GSK’s Navelbine (vinorelbine) will continue to dominate the NSCLC market.

Reasons to Purchase

• Assess the number of drug-treated population of lung cancer in the seven major markets
• Enhance your commercial positioning by understanding the dynamics of current lung cancer drugs