Cognet-X Inc.: Three Drug Categories Have Greatest Impact on Many Managed Care Pharmacy Budgets.Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers FEASTERVILLE, Pa.--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 20, 2002 Antidepressants Antidepressants Medications prescribed to relieve major depression. Classes of antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine/Prozac, sertraline/Zoloft), tricyclics (amitriptyline/ Elavil), MAOIs (phenelzine/Nardil), and heterocyclics , proton pump inhibitors Proton Pump Inhibitors Definition The proton pump inhibitors are a group of drugs that reduce the secretion of gastric (stomach) acid. They act by binding with the enzyme H+, K(+)-ATPase, hydrogen/potassium adenosine triphosphatase and cholesterol reducers often have the largest impact on U.S. managed care organizations' pharmacy budgets, according to Cognet-X Inc. data. At the same time, about one-quarter of the managed care pharmacy directors surveyed said their plan's medical costs are decreasing in proportion to pharmacy costs increasing. This suggests that the use of prescription medications is helping to reduce hospitalizations, emergency room visits and other medical expenses. About 80% of the managed care pharmacy directors surveyed told Cognet-X that antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Definition Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are medicines that relieve symptoms of depression. Purpose and proton pump inhibitors were among the top 5 drug classes impacting their plan's budget for prescription drugs. PPIs treat gastroesophageal reflux disease gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Disorder characterized by frequent passage of gastric contents from the stomach back into the esophagus. Symptoms of GERD may include heartburn, coughing, frequent clearing of the throat, and difficulty in swallowing. and erosive e·ro·sive adj. Causing erosion. esophagitis esophagitis /esoph·a·gi·tis/ (e-sof?ah-ji´tis) inflammation of the esophagus. chronic peptic esophagitis reflux e. . The SSRI SSRI selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. SSRI n. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; a class of drugs that inhibit the reuptake of serotonin in the central nervous system, used to treat depression and other class includes brands such as Eli Lilly & Co.'s Prozac, Forest Laboratories' Celexa, Pfizer Inc.'s Zoloft and GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil. Celexa was one of the 10 drugs most promoted to managed care pharmacy directors in 2001, according to Cognet-X's PAR-Rx (Promotional Assessment Research) Report(TM). Three of the five PPIs on the market also were among the top promoted brands to pharmacy directors in 2001. TAP Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Prevacid was the No. 1 most-promoted product, followed by competitors Protonix (American Home Products Co.) and Nexium (AstraZeneca PLC) in second and third place, respectively, PAR-Rx data show. In addition, 77% of pharmacy directors surveyed said that another drug class, cholesterol reducers known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or "statins Statins A class of drugs commonly used to lower LDL cholesterol levels. Mentioned in: C-Reactive Protein ," was among the most costly to their plans. That drug category includes brands such as Pfizer's Lipitor, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Pravachol and Merck & Co.'s Zocor. About one-quarter of pharmacy executives added oral antidiabetic agents and antiarthritic medications, including the COX-2 class, to their list of products that most impact their budget. These findings are included in the demographic information that Cognet-X collects for the PAR-Rx Report. About the PAR-Rx Report Cognet-X's PAR-Rx Report is a year-round service that provides the pharmaceutical industry with real-time, Internet-based competitive intelligence on pharmaceutical company promotion to influential managed care pharmacy directors. The Report offers Cognet-X clients the ability to evaluate and analyze variable differences that are critically important to their decision-making process. The Report collects comprehensive data that can be segmented and analyzed to provide clients with "21st-Century solutions to their 21st-Century challenges." About Cognet-X Cognet-X offers the pharmaceutical industry market research, consulting and software development that help companies build and refine their relationships with numerous customer bases, including the managed care community. Based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania Bucks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2000, the population was 597,635. A 2004 U.S. Census estimate placed the population at 621,342, making it the fourth most populous county in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Allegheny, and Montgomery , Cognet-X is privately held and employee owned. For more information on the PAR-Rx Report or other valuable Cognet-X products, please contact Robert E. Houghton (extension 101) at (215) 396-8300 or via e-mail at robh@cognetx.com. |
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