Warehousing of HCV patients reaches new high
December 19, 2013 | HCV, Warehousing, interferon
A new study conducted by Research Partnership reveals that 90% of physicians treating HCV patients in the US have reported they are now “warehousing” patients (holding off treatment) in expectation of more efficacious and tolerable new therapies.
A new study conducted by Research Partnership reveals that 90% of physicians treating HCV patients in the US have reported they are now “warehousing” patients (holding off treatment) in expectation of more efficacious and tolerable new therapies.In a special report conducted alongside our regular Therapy Watch tracking study into HCV, hepatologists and infectious disease specialists were asked specific questions around the issue of warehousing and new treatments. The survey reveals that over 9 in 10 doctors are now warehousing some of their patient caseload.For the past two decades, the therapies available for HCV have been very limited, offering low success rates and harsh side effects. New drugs from Vertex (Incivek) and Merck (Victrelis) have been welcomed because they are more effective, but they still need to be given with Interferon. Interferon is the component that causes the strongest side effects, so a lot of patients still find the existing available treatment programmes, which can take up to a year to complete, intolerable. The race is on for a number of pharmaceutical companies to release new interferon-free regimens, which are currently in the late stages of development and due to be released within the next 6-12 months.
Gilead’s interferon-free product sofosbuvir and Johnson & Johnson’s simeprevir appear to lead the field – receiving the highest levels of spontaneous and prompted awareness. However, Abbvie’s products ABT 267, ABT 333 and ABT 450 remain contenders for market share, scoring higher than J&J’s simeprevir in terms of likelihood to prescribe amongst doctors who are aware of the drugs.
Associate Director Darren Kottler, who manages the survey, commented “The findings clearly illustrate that physicians are keen to start their patients on interferon-free alternatives. For some time Gilead and J&J appeared to lead the race, but it looks like Abbvie’s announcement that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were going to fast-track its all-oral triple direct-acting antiviral DAA combination therapy, has had an impact on physician perception.
We will have to wait and see how this all plays out in the market once these new products are released. The new interferon-free regimens and ultimately new generation of protease-inhibitors are certainly going to be positive for many patients currently awaiting treatment for HCV”.
The report, Warehousing in HCV, has been published and is now available to purchase. Those who purchase the report will receive a complimentary warehousing in HCV infographic. Click here to find out more.
We are one of the largest independent healthcare market research and consulting agencies in the world. Trusted partner to the global pharmaceutical industry, we use our expertise and experience to deliver intelligent, tailor-made solutions. We provide strategic recommendations that go beyond research, helping our clients to answer their fundamental business challenges. Find out more at http://bit.ly/1J4JDcq
This content was provided by Inizio
Company Details
Latest Content from Inizio
Infographic: Are data blind spots putting your launch at risk?
Commercial pharma launches depend on confident, evidence-led decisions. Yet many launch teams are still working with fragmented data spread across multiple systems, making it difficult to understand market readiness, prioritize…
Key takeaways from ASCO® 2026
Following ASCO® 2026, Inizio’s experts have shared their perspectives across three thought leadership articles, each exploring a different aspect of what this year’s congress revealed for pharmaceutical organisations. Together, they…
Webcast | Smarter science, sharper strategy: Expert perspectives from ASCO® 2026
Key insights from ASCO® 2026, including oncology trends, scientific highlights, and strategies for smarter congress engagement.
From activity to impact: 5 takeaways from MAPS Americas 2026
Across sessions, panels, and conversations on the ground in Denver, there was a noticeable shift in both mindset and momentum. Many of the themes discussed in previous years are now…
Inizio launches Intelligent Congress: Turning medical event investment into measurable impact
Inizio, the global commercialization partner to the health and life sciences industry, today announced the launch of Intelligent Congress – a connected, end-to-end solution designed to help pharma organizations maximize…
Inizio Unveils Next-Generation Hub Services at Asembia 2026, Setting a New Standard in Patient Access
Integrated capabilities combining advanced analytics, pharmacy, and specialized talent to improve access, affordability, and adherence
5 takeaways from Reuters’ Pharma USA 2026 – and what they mean for you
Pharma USA is North America’s largest cross-functional pharma event and Inizio was there to offer insights on patient engagement, accelerated product launches, and Intelligent Commercialization™. Now we’re back in the…
Precision Medical Affairs in Action: Using AI and Analytics to Elevate Strategy, Engagement, and Impact
Discover how AI, analytics and real-world data are reshaping Medical Affairs.
How did multifaceted support from across Inizio help a biotech firm prepare for launch?
Discover how teams from across Inizio provided a range of integrated services to give a client’s product the best chance of launch success.
Our key takeaways from ISMPP EU 2026 – Evolving with Purpose: Excellence in an Era of Efficiency
Explore Inizio Medical’s key takeaway from ISMPP EU 2026, including AI governance, transparency, patient partnership and evolving impact measurement.