Biogen Avonex new patients: 50% are treatment-naive, CEO Vincent tells Hambrecht & Quist.
Executive Summary
BIOGEN AVONEX SALES GROWTH: TREATMENT-NAIVE PATIENTS ACCOUNT FOR 50% of new prescriptions for Avonex (interferon beta-1a), Biogen CEO James Vincent said Jan. 7 at the Hambrecht & Quist health care conference in San Francisco. About one-third of new scripts are for patients switching from Chiron/Berlex Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) and about one-fifth are for patients who used Betaseron but quit, Vincent said. "Approximately two-thirds of our sales are expanding the total market of patients on drug," he stated.