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Lipitor's Superior Effect on Mortality Over Sales-Leading Plavix is Driving Prescribing Decisions for the Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease

WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 11 PRNewswire — Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that surveyed vascular and angiology specialists say that a therapy's effect on mortality is the attribute that most influences their prescribing decisions in peripheral arterial disease. Data and the opinions of interviewed thought leaders indicate that Pfizer's Lipitor (also branded as Tahor/Sortis/Torvast/Cardyl) has advantages over sales-leading Sanofi- Aventis/Bristol-Myers Squibb's Plavix (also branded as Bristol-Myers Squibb's Iscover) on this attribute. Lipitor's most favorable overall product score is driven entirely by its superior efficacy. This is because statins are the most effective drug class at addressing the primary goal of peripheral arterial disease treatment: reducing morbidity and mortality due to atherothrombotic events. In addition, statins are partially able to meet the secondary goal providing some improvement in walking performance.

"Statins are unique in peripheral arterial disease therapy because they tackle both treatment objectives. Lipitor beats Merck's Zocor (also branded as Banyu's Lipovas) in efficacy measures because of the perception among experts that Lipitor is a more powerful corrector of the abnormal lipids that promote the atherosclerosis underlying the disease," said Mary Argent-Katwala, Ph.D., analyst at Decision Resources. "Currently, there is no therapy in development for peripheral arterial disease to displace Lipitor as the clinical gold standard for this indication. While some therapies in development for the disease hold promise, most have efficacy, safety and tolerability, and/or delivery features that merit inferior scores compared with Lipitor."

According to the new report entitled: Peripheral Arterial Disease: Developers Should Aim to Decrease Morbidity and Mortality; Improved Walking Ability Not of High Value to Physicians, deCode Genetics' DG-041 may be positioned to replace the leading antiplatelet agent, clopidogrel. Physicians in the United States and Europe acknowledge that cost is a significant obstacle to prescribing clopidogrel. Additionally, with clinical trial data showing DG-041's superior platelet inhibition activity, compared with aspirin and clopidogrel, DG-041 is likely to find its niche in treatment of clopidogrel-intolerant symptomatic patients. DG-041 will launch in the United States and Europe in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

About the Report

Peripheral Arterial Disease: Developers Should Aim to Decrease Morbidity and Mortality; Improved Walking Ability Not of High Value to Physicians is a DecisionBase 2008 report from Decision Resources. DecisionBase 2008 combines market forecasts with clinical and commercial end points to assess market share projections in 35 indications. These outputs are driven by quantitative and qualitative primary research. DecisionBase 2008 provides detailed market share, patient share, and price-per-day projections for emerging drugs in development. The market share projections are based on prescriber surveys that compare physicians' expectations of a potential target product profile with an emerging product profile of the leading drugs in development.

The report can be purchased by contacting Decision Resources. Members of the media may request an interview with an analyst.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc. (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in market research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets. Decision Resources is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. For more information, contact: Elizabeth Marshall Decision Resources, Inc. 781-296-2563 emarshall@dresources.com

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