Nov. 6, 2009 (PR Newswire) -- SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- MedPredict Market Research, a global provider of pharmaceutical competitive intelligence and market research, has published a new report providing critical strategic insight for companies with a stake in the market for rheumatology therapies, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and lupus.

"Of all the diseases rheumatologists treat, lupus still has the highest unmet need," according to MedPredict president Jeffrey Berk. "While many more people have RA than have lupus, lupus kills, and RA doesn't. There are a plethora of good therapies for RA, but few for lupus. This expert panel weighs in on the leading B-cell inhibitors that are in development for lupus, and provides insight into how different lupus trial designs have thus far driven clinical outcomes."

To develop this analysis, entitled "Thought Leader Insight & Analysis: Rheumatology," MedPredict conducted primary interviews with U.S.-based rheumatology thought leaders around the time of the recent American College of Rheumatology 2009 conference.

Some of the issues analyzed in this report:

--  Reactions to pivotal Phase III data supporting GlaxoSmithKline's
Benlysta (belimumab) in systemic lupus erythemetosis (SLE).
--  Impact of the FDA's complete response letter rejecting Genentech's
application for Rituxan (rituximab) in RA patients who have previously
failed DMARD therapy - do thought leaders think PML safety concerns
apply to all B-cell inhibitors?
--  Insight into rheumatologists' decision-making process for selecting
treatment for RA.  How will anti-TNF newcomers fit into the
rheumatologist's armamentarium?

--  Role of other mechanisms, including CTLA4, IL-6, IL-17, JAK, Syk,
TNF/PDE4, BTK, MEK, and S1P.

Companies/Partnerships mentioned in this report include: Abbott, Alder, Amgen/Pfizer, Arana, Array, AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Centocor/Schering-Plough, Cytopia, Genentech/Roche, Genentech/Roche/Chugai, GlaxoSmithKline/Genmab, GSK/Human Genome Sciences, Incyte, Lexicon, Lilly, Merck, Merck Serono/ZymoGenetics, Novartis, Pharmacyclics, Rigel, UCB, UCB/Immunomedics, Pfizer/Trubion.

This report can be purchased by contacting MedPredict.

About MedPredict

MedPredict (www.medpredict.com) maintains a proprietary database of over 1,000 global physician thought leaders, including 40+ specialties in 30+ therapeutic categories. Based on primary interviews with these thought leaders, MedPredict publishes periodic reports in each category to keep clients up-to-date on emerging trends and competitive activity. The reports include thought leader reactions to recent publications and medical conferences, as well as clinical, regulatory and marketing activity.

SOURCE MedPredict