No Surprise Here: Avandia Scrips Plunge
Make a commentBy Ed Silverman // June 4th, 2007 // 10:33 am
In a research note issued this morning, Barbara Ryan of Deutsche Bank writes that IMS data for the week ending May 25 indicate a “substantial hit” to Avandia scrips. The biggest winner is Takeda’s Actos, although Merck’s Januvia is benefitting, too.
IMS audit levels point to overall increase of roughly 6 percent and 3 percent for oral anti-diabetic meds, both for new and total scrips. Here’s the data:
AVANDIA: Total Rx down 16 percent, New Rx down 21 percent;
ACTOS: Total Rx up 20 percent, New Rx up 56 percent;
JANUVIA: Total Rx up 16 percent, New Rx up 26 percent;
BYETTA: Total Rx up 3 percent; New Rx up 5 percent.