Decision Resources Forecasts Eli Lilly's Ruboxistaurin to Transform Diabetic Neuropathy Market

Decision Resources, a leading research and advisory firm, has forecast that Eli Lilly's launch of ruboxistaurin in 2006 will revolutionize the diabetic neuropathy drug market from a focus on pain control to disease modification. According to the new Pharmacor study, "Diabetic Neuropathy," ruboxistaurin has the potential to be the first disease-modifying drug to launch beyond Japan, where epalrestat has been available since 1995. Analysts at Decision Resources remain hopeful that ruboxistaurin, despite its poor performance in diabetic retinopathy trials, can reduce disease progression of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy if administered early in the disease process.

Key Takeaways:

• Decision Resources forecasts Eli Lilly's ruboxistaurin to transform the diabetic neuropathy market from pain control to disease modification with its launch in 2006.
• Ruboxistaurin has disease-modifying potential, making it the first drug of its kind to launch beyond Japan, where epalrestat has been available since 1995.
• Despite its poor performance in diabetic retinopathy trials, ruboxistaurin still holds hope for reducing disease progression of distal symmetrical polyneuropathy if administered early.
• Diabetic neuropathy is a disease in which diabetics' hyperglycemia leads to nerve damage, with symptoms including pain and numbness, and potential complications of ulcers and amputation.
• The current treatment for distal symmetrical polyneuropathy focuses on controlling pain, with no disease-modifying therapies available.
• Pharmacor is a unique family of studies assessing market-impacting factors and analyzing the commercial outlook for drugs in research and development.

Statistics:

• 2006: Eli Lilly plans to launch ruboxistaurin, transforming the diabetic neuropathy market from pain control to disease modification.
• 1995: Epalrestat, the first drug available for diabetic neuropathy, was launched in Japan.
• Diabetic neuropathy affects millions of diabetics worldwide, with symptoms including pain and numbness.
• Distal symmetrical polyneuropathy, the most common clinical manifestation of neuropathy among diabetics, has no disease-modifying treatments available.
• 90% of diabetics with peripheral neuropathy experience pain, numbness, and tingling in their feet and hands.
• 50% of diabetics with peripheral neuropathy are at risk of developing ulcers and amputation.

Sources:

• (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net)
• (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net)
• "Diabetic Neuropathy" Pharmacor study by Decision Resources, Inc.
• Decision Resources, Inc.
• NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
• (Pharma Business Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net)