New Market Report: Treatment Algorithms: Melanoma - High cost of novel therapies limits uptake

Oct. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- The melanoma market has seen an increase in developer attention following recent breakthroughs. The identification of the role of BRAF mutations has revolutionized the treatment of melanoma, but drug resistance remains a significant problem. In addition, the lack of appropriate reimbursement infrastructure is a barrier to uptake of targeted therapies in cost-conscious markets.

Scope
* Disease overview assessing etiology, risk factors, symptoms and patient segmentation
* In-depth analysis of most common treatment types according to stage at diagnosis and patient characteristics
* Analysis of physician prescribing trends in the six surveyed markets across all stages of disease
* Analysis of possible future treatment trends with regard to targeted therapies

Highlights

Wide excision surgery forms the primary treatment for localized melanoma. More advanced Stage III tumors and in transit disease have nodal involvement, meaning that these patients often require additional therapy in combination with surgery.

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Full Report Details at
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Chemotherapy without surgery is the most popular treatment of Stage IV melanoma. The approvals of ipilimumab and vemurafenib have altered the therapeutic landscape of metastatic melanoma. However, the high cost of these drugs has restricted their uptake in more cost-conservative markets, where traditional cytotoxic therapies remain dominant.

Respondents indicated that the use of targeted therapies in melanoma will increase in the future. Increasing pressure on manufacturers to demonstrate cost-effectiveness of their drugs and anticipated approval of new targeted therapies means that the use of companion diagnostics will play an increasingly important role in the treatment of melanoma.

Reasons to Get this Report
* Gain insight into the treatment strategies and prescribing trends of 107 physicians treating melanoma across the six surveyed markets
* Excel deliverable contains extensive treatment trees for each disease stage and country, including percentages and patient numbers
* Assess melanoma market potential by identifying where treatment options are do not fulfilling patient needs and how physicians select drugs

Report Table of Contents:

OVERVIEW

* Catalyst
* Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

* Strategic scoping and focus
* Datamonitor key findings

DISEASE DEFINITION AND DIAGNOSIS

* Disease definition

* Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, although potentially the most fatal
* Melanoma has very low incidence in Japan and other Asian countries

* Etiology

* Risk of melanoma primarily associated with lifestyle choices

* Symptoms

* A growing or changing skin lesion is the principle symptom of melanoma

* Prognosis

* Survival rates for advanced melanoma patients are still low despite increased treatment options

* Presentation and diagnosis

* Self-examination reduces melanoma incidence and mortality

* Influences on diagnosis and treatment rates

* SunSmart campaign
* International awareness campaigns
* Screening methods

* Referral patterns

* Referral is dictated by stage at diagnosis and treatment approach

PATIENT SEGMENTATION

* Stage distribution

* Several staging systems exist for melanoma that incorporate a variety of prognostic factors

CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS

* Overview of the available drug classes
* Stage I-III

* Treatment type
* Prescribing trends

* Stage IV

* Treatment type
* Prescribing trends: first line
* Prescribing trends: second line and third line

* Local and distant relapse

* Local and distant relapse rates
* Treatment and prescribing trends: local relapse
* Treatment and prescribing trends: distant relapse

* Future changes in therapy

* Targeted therapies and companion diagnostics

BIBLIOGRAPHY

* Journal papers
* Websites
* Datamonitor reports

APPENDIX A

* Physician data

APPENDIX B

* Contributing experts

TABLES

* Table: Melanoma 5-year survival rates, by stage at diagnosis, 2002-08
* Table: Leading treatments for melanoma, 2012
* Table: Survey respondents across the six markets, 2012

FIGURES

* Figure: Distribution of melanoma patients across the US and five major EU markets, by stage, 2012
* Figure: Percentage breakdown of Stage III melanoma patients in the US and five major EU markets, 2012
* Figure: Respondents treating Stage I-II melanoma patients with surgical resection only, 2012
* Figure: Percentage of Stage III patients without in-transit disease receiving each type of treatment, 2012
* Figure: Percentage of Stage III patients with in-transit disease receiving each treatment type, 2012
* Figure: Stage III patients without in-transit disease receiving neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapies
* Figure: Stage III patients with in-transit disease receiving neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapies
* Figure: Top three regimens used in the adjuvant treatment of Stage III melanoma without in-transit disease
* Figure: Top three regimens used in the adjuvant treatment of Stage III melanoma with in-transit disease
* Figure: Percentage of Stage IV melanoma patients receiving each treatment type, 2012
* Figure: Top three regimens used in the first-line treatment of Stage IV melanoma, 2012
* Figure: Number of Stage IV patients receiving additional lines of therapy, 2012
* Figure: Top three regimens used for second-line treatment of Stage IV melanoma, 2012
* Figure: Top three regimens used for third-line treatment of Stage IV melanoma, 2012
* Figure: Percentage of local relapse patients receiving each treatment type, 2012
* Figure: Top three regimens used for treatment of local relapse melanoma patients, 2012
* Figure: Top three regimens used for treatment of first-line distant relapse melanoma patients, 2012
* Figure: Top three regimens used for treatment of second-line distant relapse melanoma patients, 2012
* Figure: Top three regimens used for treatment of third-line distant relapse melanoma patients, 2012
* Figure: Percentage of Stage IV patients referred for BRAF V600E mutational testing, 2012

About Datamonitor

The Datamonitor Group is a world-leading provider of premium global business information, delivering independent data, analysis and opinion across the Automotive, Consumer Markets, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Logistics & Express, Pharmaceutical & Healthcare, Retail, Technology and Telecoms industries. Datamonitor's market intelligence products and services ensure that you will achieve your desired commercial goals by giving you the insight you need to best respond to your competitive environment.