BioTrends Releases Quarterly TreatmentTrends(TM): Nephrology Report Highlighting Market Trends for Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hyperpara...( EXTON Pa. July 25 /- BioTrends Re...)

EXTON, Pa., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- BioTrends Research Group, Inc. released its 10th quarterly Nephrology TreatmentTrends(TM) publication, a syndicated report offering comprehensive insight into the management of renal anemia and bone and mineral metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Dialysis. The report provides information from 182 US Nephrologists -- data were collected through an online survey fielded in June 2008.

In the renal anemia market, while the use of ESAs remains consistent in hemodialysis patients compared to the same quarter last year, for the second quarter in a row, Nephrologists report a significant decrease in the percent of Stage 3 and Stage 4 CKD patients treated with ESAs compared to the previous year. And, approximately one-third of Nephrologists report that their ESA use has decreased specifically due to managed care policies. While there have been no significant changes in market share year over year (Amgen's Epogen remains the market leader in dialysis and Ortho Biotech's Procrit and Amgen's Aranesp continue to battle for market leader position in CKD), there are indicators of brand switching, particularly related to office stocking and managed care reimbursement. Despite the decreased use of ESAs in CKD, Nephrologists do not expect any significant change in treatment prevalence with ESAs in the next three months.

Unlike the use of ESAs in CKD, the use of IV Iron has not changed significantly since last year -- but treatment prevalence with IV iron in CKD remains much lower than treatment prevalence with ESAs. In part, this seems related to the fact that very few Nephrologists stock IV iron (36% compared to the 73% who stock ESAs) -- primary reasons for not stocking IV iron are "limited staffing resources" and "logistics of buying and billing." While American Regent's Venofer continues to hold its position as market leader in both dialysis and CKD, the majority of Nephrologists continue to view Venofer and Wats
'/>"/>