Prescribing trends indicate that neurologists are not adhering to guidelines

A lack of prescriber adherence to both marketing licenses and pharmacoeconomic guidelines represents both a challenge and opportunity for pharmaceutical companies marketing current Alzheimer's disease drugs. Indication expansion between disease severities may not be a viable commercial option; conversely, stricter guidelines by bodies such as the UK's NICE will not necessarily threaten the market.

Datamonitor's survey shows that symptomatic improvement is still a high priority, indicating that neurologists would welcome a new non-disease modifying drug if it was differentiated from the current cognitive enhancers on efficacy or side effects. In order to achieve this in the minds of neurologists, an alternative mode of action is required.

Datamonitor forecasts that the introduction of disease modifying drugs (e.g. Alzhemed, Flurizan) will not necessarily threaten the acetylcholine esterase inhibitor market, in fact, treatment with such drugs will extend the therapeutic window for symptomatic drugs, resulting in an opportunity for key players in this market.

Datamonitor believes that the recently published NICE guidelines will only have a modest impact on Alzheimer's disease drug sales in the UK. From looking at survey reported current prescribing trends and relating this to adherence with previous NICE Alzheimer's disease drug guidelines, prescribers do not appear to guideline-prescribe.

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