Echinocandins Show Growth Among All Antifungal Classes

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Echinocandins Show Growth Among All Antifungal Classes

Merck's Cancidas and Astellas's Mycamine Cut Prices, According To

New Data from Arlington Medical Resources

By: PR Newswire

Oct. 30, 2008 08:01 AM

SYS-CON Brasil (Assinatura) - NJ,USA

http://br.sys-con.com/node/729629

MALVERN, Penn., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Arlington Medical Resources

(AMR), a provider of premier market intelligence for the

pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries, finds that

echinocandins show growth in the share of courses among all

antifungal classes: 10.7 percent of all courses in the January -

June 2008 time period compared to 9 percent in the January - June

2007 time period. Echinocandins are a class of antifungal agents

consisting of Merck's Cancidas (caspofungin), Astellas's Mycamine

(micafungin) and Pfizer's Eraxis (anidulafungin). These agents are

commonly used to treat lung tissue infections, disseminated fungal

infection and fungemia and are administered intravenously.

" Cancidas currently enjoys the largest share of courses within the

echinocandin class (66 percent), followed by Mycamine (22 percent)

and Eraxis (13 percent), " stated Joyce Wedemeyer, product director

at AMR. " However, Cancidas's share decreased from the previous time

period from 74 percent, Mycamine's increased from 13 percent and

Eraxis's remained the same at 13 percent. "

The newly released U.S. edition of The Hospital Antifungal Market

Guide also finds that Cancidas and Mycamine have cut their prices.

This cost information is based on hospital acquisition cost.

" Cancidas and Mycamine have both decreased in the average cost/day

(in U.S. dollars). Cancidas's average cost/day decreased 12 percent

from $174 to $152 and Mycamine's average cost/day decreased 4

percent from $137 to $131, " added Ms. Wedemeyer. " However, Eraxis's -

the newest of these drugs-average cost/day remained stable at $165. "

Why Pharmaceutical Companies Need this Information

The Hospital Antifungal Market Guide enables pharmaceutical

companies to monitor inpatient shares, costs and the clinical use of

systemic antifungal agents. For every therapeutic drug course there

is a link between drug, diagnosis and suspected or confirmed fungal

pathogen.

About The Hospital Antifungal Market Guide

The Hospital Antifungal Market Guide is the industry's most

comprehensive audit of hospital systemic antifungal drug usage

covering acute care hospitals in the United States, Italy, Germany,

France, U.K. and Spain. The information in the audit is abstracted

directly from hospital source documents from a panel of

demographically representative acute care hospitals of all sizes,

including transplant centers. The U.S. data is published twice a

year and the European data is published once a year.

About AMR

AMR (www.AMR-data.com) serves the market intelligence needs of the

pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries. Research includes

clinical inpatient databases that directly link anti-infective drug

with indication/procedure, formulary and stocking status tracking

studies, drug purchasing audits and diagnostic imaging procedure

volume/contrast media usage audits.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. 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, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

All company, brand or product names contained in this document

may be

trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective

holders.

For more information, contact:

Natalia Morales Marshall

Decision Resources Decision Resources, Inc.

781-296-2691 781-296-2563

nmorales@... emarshall@...

SOURCE Arlington Medical Resources