BioTrends Releases Two Publications - TreatmentTrends(TM): Nephrologists and TreatmentTrends(TM): Renal Dietitians - Highlighting Market Trends for Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hyperpara...( EXTON Pa. May 6 /- BioTrends Rese...)

EXTON, Pa., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BioTrends Research Group, Inc. released two Nephrology TreatmentTrends(TM) Publications, both syndicated reports offering comprehensive insight into the management of renal anemia and bone and mineral metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Dialysis. These reports provide information from 105 clinical Nephrologists and 195 Renal Dietitians in the US -- data were collected through an online survey fielded in March 2008. Renal Dietitians are an integral part of the dialysis patient care team and report a high level of influence in managing bone and mineral metabolism.

In the renal anemia market, safety concerns with ESAs seem to have had more of an impact on use in CKD than in dialysis with use of ESAs in CKD Stage 4 decreasing significantly from 54% in Q107 to 42% in Q108. Despite the decrease in use, ESAs still tend to be the first renal related product initiated in CKD. While Nephrologists perceive Amgen's Aranesp and Ortho Biotech's Procrit to be very similar, there are significant differences in the perceived benefits of each product with Procrit claiming an advantage in safety and reimbursement and Aranesp claiming an advantage in dosing intervals. The two continue to battle for market leader position with an almost even share split, unlike the dialysis market, where Amgen's Epogen is the clear market leader.

Despite decreased use of ESAs in CKD, the use of IV Iron has not changed significantly since last year. While the majority of hemodialysis patients are treated with IV Iron, only 15% of Stage 4 CKD and 9% of Stage 3 CKD receive therapy. Nephrologists, however, project a significant increase in the percent of CKD Stage 3 and 4 patients on IV Iron in the next three months. The majority of Nephrologists continue to view American Regent's Venofer and Watson's Ferrlecit as interchangeable. Venofer and Ferrlecit are perceived to be identical on the most important IV Iron attributes. A new ent
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