Comments on: As Vytorin Slumps, Abbott’s New Pill Gains

By: Stinky

Stinky — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:39:14 +0000

Cutaneous flushing occurred in ~70% of pts in the Arbiter 2 study, so I think that it will be difficult for Abbott to penetrate with Niaspan + a statin. Compliance with a statin is bad enough, couple that with a whopping pill that causes flushing in most pts and Abbott may be throwing a lot of money out the window.

By: Ed Silverman

Ed Silverman — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:59:26 +0000

Hi Dingle,

Good points - yes, one would expect ABT to detail this quite hard and that detailing activity doesn’t have to translate directly into gaining their undying attention. And yes, one can argue the two drugs are for different patient types, although others may say there could be some overlapping.

In any event, I posted this because its something of an early snapshot. I agree that the ultimate arbiter will be scrip data, although given the controversy and confusion resulting from Vytorin, perhaps Simcor will benefit. That possibility, in itself, is interesting.

Thanks for stopping by,
ed

By: Dingle

Dingle — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:44:39 +0000

Just because Simcor is recording a lot of details through ImpactRx doesn’t mean that it is really getting docs’ attention. You’d imagine ABT would be detailing the hell out of this product. But I don’t think the medical community is or will be that receptive. It is by no means a substitute for vytorin, it is for a different patient type.
The actual script data for Simcor, not the details, will be the judge.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:49:00 +0000

I should have made it clear that commercially the alternative methods look attractive, and are not in my opinion doubtful approaches.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:47:14 +0000

These recent developments (Vytorin and the non-approval) make the Kos acquisition look like a stroke of genius. Niaspan and Simcor, as far as I know, are not new drugs per se: one is an older drug while the other is a combo. It does cast more doubt on the future for new blockbusters, which are noticeably few, and the alternative methods of getting to market - combos, reformulations, re-purposing etc.