Scott-Levin: Zyban Smokes Competition.NEWTOWN, Pa.--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 20, 1997--A shake-up is occurring in the market for prescription medicines to help smokers kick the habit, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. data recently released by the health care consulting firm Noun 1. consulting firm - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting company business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a Scott-Levin. The prescription smoking-cessation market was valued at $70 million during the 12-month period ending July 1997, a 73% decrease from the previous year. The switches of Nicoderm and Nicorette from prescription to over-the-counter products prompted a 66% decline, to 69,000 total prescriptions, in July. According to Scott-Levin's Physician Drug and Diagnosis Audit, the number of patient visits to office-based physicians for tobacco-use disorder dropped from 4.9 million in 1992 to 1.2 million in 1996. This downward trend is most likely due to the recent availability of over-the-counter medications. In June 1997, Glaxo Wellcome launched Zyban into the prescription smoking-deterrent market. The brand immediately captured 41% of the 57,000 new prescriptions dispensed dis·pense v. dis·pensed, dis·pens·ing, dis·pens·es v.tr. 1. To deal out in parts or portions; distribute. See Synonyms at distribute. 2. To prepare and give out (medicines). 3. for smoking deterrents in July. Novartis' Habitrol, formerly the market leader, accounted for 37% of new smoking-cessation prescriptions in July, falling from a 60% share in June, according to Scott-Levin's Source Prescription Audit. Zyban is dispensed as a twice-a-day tablet, a novel alternative to the patch, aerosol aerosol (âr`əsōl,–sŏl): see colloid. aerosol System of tiny liquid or solid particles evenly distributed in a finely divided state through a gas, usually air. and gum formulations currently competing in this market. Zyban costs patients $76, on average, for a month's supply. During the quarter ending July 1997, Zyban accounted for 88% of the 78,000 details promoting smoking deterrents to physicians. More than 77% of the details for smoking-cessation products were presented to primary care doctors, followed by pulmonary pulmonary /pul·mo·nary/ (pool´mo-nar?e) 1. pertaining to the lungs. 2. pertaining to the pulmonary artery. pul·mo·nar·y adj. Of, relating to, or affecting the lungs. disease specialists, who received 5%. In July, third-party plans reimbursed for more than 52% of all smoking-cessation prescriptions. In Scott-Levin's Spring 1997 Managed Care Formulary formulary /for·mu·lary/ (for´mu-lar?e) a collection of recipes, formulas, and prescriptions. National Formulary see under N. for·mu·lar·y n. Drug Audit, 25% of panelists had at least one smoking deterrent de·ter·rent adj. Tending to deter: deterrent weapons. n. 1. Something that deters: a deterrent to theft. 2. on formulary. Only 5% of panelists required physicians to obtain prior authorization prior authorization, n See predetermination. prior authorization Health insurance A cost containment measure that provides full payment of health benefits only if the hospitalization or medical treatment has been before prescribing a smoking deterrent. The audit panel consists of pharmacy directors representing 65% of all U.S. managed care subscribers whose drug benefits are controlled by formularies. For more information, contact Sherry Messina at 215/860-0440; email@scottlevin.com . Scott-Levin, a division of PMSI/Scott-Levin Inc., provides consulting and communications services to pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Visit Scott-Levin on the World Wide Web at http://www.scottlevin.com . CONTACT: Scott-Levin Tom Liberta or Nancy Robertone, 215/860-0440 email@scottlevin.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion