Zyprexa Reduced Hospitalization Rate In CATIE Study Is Key For Payors, Lilly Says
This article was originally published in The Pink Sheet Daily
Executive Summary
U.S. sales of the antipsychotic fell 10% in the third quarter; CATIE trial results will not boost Zyprexa sales "overnight," COO Lechleiter says.
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Data from the CATIE study showing reduced hospitalization rates for patients treated with Lilly's Zyprexa (olanzapine) compared to other antipsychotics will be a focal point for payors, Chief Operating Officer John Lechleiter said. In the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness study, "we…saw less evidence of hospitalization for patients who were on Zyprexa. That's going to be important not only to patients but to payors as well," Lechleiter said during Lilly's Oct. 20 earnings call. The trial examined four atypicals - Zyprexa, AstraZeneca's Seroquel (quetiapine), Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal (risperidone) and Pfizer's Geodon (ziprasidone) - and one conventional antipsychotic, perphenazine (Schering's Trilafon and generics) (1 (Also see "Zyprexa Ekes Out Narrow Lead In Schizophrenia Study, But Efficacy Is Offset By Side Effects" - Pink Sheet, 19 Sep, 2005.)). In the study, fewer patients on Zyprexa were hospitalized for an exacerbation of schizophrenia than those on the other treatments. The olanzapine group also had a lower risk ratio for hospitalizations than the other groups. Overall, Zyprexa demonstrated a narrow efficacy edge compared to other products, but it also had a higher incidence of weight gain. Zyprexa sales for the third quarter were up 1% to $1.35 bil. U.S. sales of the antipsychotic fell 10% to $504 mil. due to lower underlying demand, while international sales increased 14% to $531 mil., Investor Relations Manager Craig Hartman said. "We continue to forecast a slight decline in worldwide Zyprexa sales for the full year," Hartman said. Lechleiter noted that Zyprexa product sales have yet to reflect the full effect of the CATIE data, which were released in September, or Lilly's settlement of most personal injury claims related to the antipsychotic. In June, Lilly reached a $690 mil. agreement to settle three-quarters of the product liability claims relating to hyperglycemia and diabetes risk with Zyprexa (2 (Also see "Lilly To Pay Up To $690 Mil. To Settle Majority Of Zyprexa Injury Claims" - Pink Sheet, 10 Jun, 2005.)). "We'd be delighted to be wrong about our forecast for Zyprexa but at this point I don't think these things turn on a dime," Lechleiter said. "I don't think it's reasonable for us to expect that we're going to see overnight the impact either of the settlement or of the results of the CATIE trial." Lilly's sales for the quarter were $3.6 bil., up 10% compared to the same period a year ago. Net income increased 5% to $794.4 mil. - Andrew Shelton |