Merck and SGP's Vytorin/Zetia: Are Doctors Writing Fewer Scripts?

CNBC and other media outlets have done a significant amount of reporting on cardiologists' reaction to the Vytorin/Zetia study and the effect the ACC panel's opinion might have on heart doctors' prescriptions.

But what about the work-a-day primary care physicians who actually write the overwhelming majority (an estimated 75 percent) of the scripts for cholesterol-lowering drugs?

Well, Deutsche Bank this morning is out with the results of a survey it did involving 101 PCPs, and it doesn't look good for Merck (MRK) and Schering-Plough (SGP). AstraZeneca (AZN), though, may come through smelling like a rose.

DB's big pharma analyst Barbara Ryan writes in the research note to clients: "These datapoints suggest both additional abrupt and sustained declines for Vytorin and Zetia and increased utilization of other statins, especially Crestor." AZN makes Crestor and last week it ended one study early because the drug worked so well.

The Detusche poll shows that on average Vytorin scripts will fall from 16 percent market share to nine percent, and Zetia's piece will drop from nine-and-a-half percent to six percent. Overall, Ryan expects a total Vytorin and Zetia "unit decline" of 32 percent this year.

The survey says doctors are or will be putting fewer patients on Vytorin and Zetia and switching some of their patients off of those drugs. They'll be moved onto Pfizer's (PFE) Lipitor and generic Zocor, but Ryan believes "the primary beneficiary in terms of share gains appears to be Crestor."

Deutsche Bank makes a market in SGP & MRK and owns at least one percent of the shares of both.

Comments

[J.E.C.49:]

My doctor switched my prescription to Vytorin 2 1/2 years ago after having been on Zocor for 2 years prior. With maintaining the same diet, my cholesterol went down an additional 10%.
I have refilled my Vytorin prescription for April and my doctor has no plans to switch to another statin at this time.

2008 Apr 10 10:01 AM

[straight up:]

That "survey" of 101 PCPs was done by a marketing PR firm. I'm sure it was completely without bias....

2008 Apr 10 10:35 AM

[STL:]

This study is a joke, Steve Nissen hates Merck and was upset he was passed over for leading the study. I heard someone say we need to go back to statins w/ outcome studies, isn't zocor a statin with outcomes??

I have been on Vytorin for 12 months, the lower dose and my LDL is around 100. I was on straight zocor 20 before and was only doing ok. The media needs to back off and let doctors make decisions for their individual patients. I thought Crestor (at high doses) had side effects also but now it's a wonder drug???

I don't beleive anything from the media or big pharma in general...it's a business and the doctors are getting paid off all the time for speaking, free lunches, trips, etc...by ALL the companies.

2008 Apr 10 11:29 AM

[MOMMA:]

if crestor couldn't beat PLACEBO it would have real problems!

2008 Apr 10 05:15 PM

[Iknowjack:]

MOMMA..that is a dumb post. The study looked at 15,000 people who" LDL was alreday below 130. No high blood pressure or diabetics. These pts would NOT be considered for Chol. Drug thearpy. Half had CRP greater than 2, and half had lower than 2. If you don't know what CRP is look it up stupid. Those who had high CRP benefited from Crestor, less CV incidents, strokes, etc. IN fact the study was so good halted it after only 2 years. So do me a favor and read the comics you jerk!

2008 Apr 10 07:23 PM

[WaveNet Pharma:]

If CNBC’s Pharmaceutical Reporter focused less on misguided study or census findings and more on patient/doctor insights he would do himself and his audience a great service.

He must be in that ignorant minority who believe that those who are on Vytorin will switch out to other medications because of a botched –up panel discussion !! All the doctors I spoke with are amazed at the media coverage of an isolated and ill-conceived study whose findings, delivered as a monologue, defied all scientific conventions of an interactive panel discussion. As a patient who has tried everything over the last 25 years, I know that Zetia delivers amazing LDL lowering effects and that for patients who need a statin along with Zetia (and there are plenty apparently), nothing beats Vytorin in convenience and economics.
It is about time we start reporting facts and not survey resullts of projected intentions bordering on fiction.

2008 Apr 12 12:24 PM

[Iknowjack:]

Go read the Jupiter Study, then stick Vytorin in the trash!!!

2008 Apr 13 09:54 PM

[WaveNet Pharma:]

Iknowjack, you don't seem to understand what those who have used (not just read some useless studies) Vytorin are telling you. It simply works better than statins while lowering HDL/LDL ratio very successfully.

Now you know where to stick all these charlatanic studies you have been reading !!!

2008 Apr 14 01:43 AM

[Iknowjack:]

Crestor only statin to have indication for reducing plaque. That is what it is all about. Also CRP Jupiter Study show pts with normal LDL and no high blood pressure or diatetes, had better outcomes on Crestor 20mg. The inflammation marker is the key. Vytorin has nothing, I repeat nothing. Also one of SGP exec's sold shares prior to the negative news. That person will get hammered!!
No Brag Just Facts!!

2008 Apr 14 10:30 AM