Branded Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Likely to Provide a Bump in Patient Requests for Sanofi/Regeneron’s Dupixent, but Insurance Coverage and…

Pharma Business Week

Branded Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Likely to Provide a Bump in Patient Requests for Sanofi/Regeneron's Dupixent, but Insurance Coverage and Out-of-Pocket Costs Continue to be Key Barriers for the Only Approved Atopic Dermatitis Biologic

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Pharma Business Week -- Sanofi/Regeneron's Dupixent continues to exceed expectations and current users remain extremely satisfied with the first biologic approved to treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, according to 100 U.S. dermatologists surveyed in July 2018. With nearly eighteen months on the market, the majority of Dupixent users report prescribing the agent to more than five atopic dermatitis patients, a figure that has been growing consistently since launch. However, as the brand continues to grow, some of Dupixent's shortcomings are beginning to manifest (see also Spherix Global Insights).

Lack of insurance coverage continues to be the most commonly cited barrier to use, while out-of-pocket costs have become a growing concern amongst dermatologists. Those with ample experience with the brand (i.e., have prescribed to more than ten patients) report that out-of-pocket costs are significantly more of a barrier than those considered "low" users or those yet to prescribe Dupixent. Furthermore, while persistency rates are still very favorable for Dupixent, more than half of patients who have discontinued the agent did so due to insurance reasons or out-of-pocket costs, while an additional 20% were discontinued due to lack of efficacy.

Keywords for this news article include: Pharmaceutical Companies, Advertising, Dermatology, Atopic Dermatitis, Health and Medicine, Spherix Global Insights, Skin Diseases and Conditions, Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases and Conditions.