Healthnewsreviews blog: The marketing of anemia drugs - a story we shouldn't forget (including comments)

The marketing of anemia drugs - a story we shouldn't forget

 "In an opinion piece on TheScientist.com, Daniel W. Coyne writes, “Amgen’s incomplete report on an early major trial of epoetin misled the medical community about the anemia drug’s risks and benefits—and helped make Amgen rich.”
In the book, “How We Do Harm,” Otis Brawley, MD, chief medical and scientific officer of the American Cancer Society, writes quite a bit about hemoglobin-building drugs.  He discusses:.....

financial: Amgen - Media - Press Release (Product Sales Performance eg. Neupogen/Etanercept/Darbepoetin/Aranesp/Epogen...)

Amgen - Media - Press Release

Product Sales Performance
 

XGEVA^® (denosumab) sales were $153 million in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 14 percent over the fourth quarter of 2011, reflecting increased segment share as well as overall segment growth.

Prolia^® (denosumab) sales were $88 million in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 9 percent over the fourth quarter of 2011, reflecting continued global growth.

Combined Neulasta^® (pegfilgrastim) and NEUPOGEN^® (Filgrastim) sales increased 9 percent to $1,344 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $1,232 million in the first quarter of 2011. Combined U.S. Neulasta and NEUPOGEN sales increased 13 percent to $1,053 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $930 million in the first quarter of 2011, driven primarily by an increase in the average net sales price and, to a lesser extent, an increase in Neulasta unit demand. Combined Neulasta and NEUPOGEN international sales decreased 4 percent to $291 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $302 million in the first quarter of 2011, due primarily to a decrease in the average net sales price. A mid single-digit percentage point increase in Neulasta unit demand was offset by a decline in NEUPOGEN units due primarily to biosimilar competition.

Enbrel^® (etanercept) sales increased 7 percent to $938 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $875 million in the first quarter 2011, driven primarily by an increase in the average net sales price. ENBREL remains the segment share leader in both the rheumatology and dermatology segments.

Aranesp^® (darbepoetin alfa) sales decreased 11 percent to $518 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $580 million in the first quarter of 2011. U.S. Aranesp sales decreased 19 percent to $202 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $250 million in the first quarter of 2011, due primarily to a decline in unit demand, offset partially by a mid single-digit percentage point increase in the average net sales price. The unit decline reflects segment contraction resulting from changes to the product label and reimbursement environment that occurred during 2011. International Aranesp sales decreased 4 percent to $316 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $330 million in the first quarter of 2011, due primarily to a decrease in the average net sales price.

EPOGEN^® (epoetin alfa) sales decreased 17 percent to $446 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $535 million in the first quarter of 2011, reflecting the impact of changes to the label and reimbursement. The decline was comprised of an approximately 30 percent decrease in unit demand driven by a reduction in dose utilization, offset partially by reductions in customer discounts as part of new provider contracts that became effective Jan. 1, 2012.

On a sequential basis, EPOGEN sales decreased 8 percent, comprised of an approximately 20 percent decrease in unit demand driven by the timing of end-user purchases at the end of 2011 and a reduction in dose utilization. These decreases were offset partially by reductions in customer discounts as part of new provider contracts.
Sales of our other, growth-phase products increased 22 percent to $399 million in the first quarter 2012 versus $327 million in the first quarter of 2011. Sales of Sensipar^®/Mimpara^® (cinacalcet) increased 17 percent to $219 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $187 million in the first quarter of 2011. Sales of Vectibix^® (panitumumab) increased 20 percent to $90 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $75 million in the first quarter of 2011. Sales of Nplate^® (romiplostim) increased 38 percent to $90 million in the first quarter of 2012 versus $65 million in the first quarter of 2011. These increases were driven primarily by global unit growth.

(2nd article) FDA Safety Alerts for Human Medical Products > Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs) In Chronic Kidney Disease: Drug Safety Communication - Modified Dosing Recommendations

Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs) In Chronic Kidney Disease: Drug Safety Communication - Modified Dosing Recommendations

Epoetin alfa (marketed as Epogen and Procrit) and darbepoetin alfa (marketed as Aranesp)

Safety Concerns Prompt New Recommendations for Anemia Drugs « news@JAMA (patients with chronic kidney disease)

"The revised recommendations apply to epoetin alfa, which is marketed as Epogen and Procrit, and to darbepoetin alfa, marketed as Aranesp."