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Biotech / Medical : Pharma News Only (pfe,mrk,wla, sgp, ahp, bmy, lly) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (1152)	11/25/1998 5:46:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1722

158 Million Pediatric Office Visits; Kids' Rx Market Reaches $3.4 Billion November 24, 1998 2:30 PM NEWTOWN, Pa.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 24, 1998--Pediatricians received 158 million visits from children between September 1997 and August 1998. Routine health exams (21%), otitis media (9%) and acute upper respiratory infections (6%) led the reasons for these visits, according to Scott-Levin's Physician Drug and Diagnosis Audit (PDDA). Pediatricians generated about $3.4 billion in retail prescription sales during the year ending August 1998, 6% more than in the prior 12-month period. Top Companies and Products The top five companies competing in the pediatric market included Schering-Plough ($443 million), Bristol-Myers Squibb ($352 million), SmithKline Beecham ($330 million), Pfizer ($207 million) and Glaxo Wellcome ($170 million). For Schering, Claritin and albuterol provided the bulk of pediatric sales; for BMS, Cefzil; for SmithKline Beecham, Augmentin; for Pfizer, Zithromax and Zyrtec; and for Glaxo, Ceftin and Zantac. Pediatricians in Demand According to Scott-Levin's Personal Selling Audit, pediatricians received about 8% of all product presentations by pharmaceutical sales representatives in the 12 months ending August 1998, making children's specialists the third-most detailed physician group, trailing just GP/FP/DOs (33%) and internists (22%). Pediatricians wrote about 130 million prescriptions during the year ending August 1998, a 1% drop from the previous 12-month span, for an average of 2,200 prescriptions per physician, based on data from Scott-Levin's Source(TM) Prescription Audit. Emphasis on Antibiotics Four of the top 10 therapeutic classes prescribed by pediatricians were categories of antibiotics (amoxicillins were first, cephalosporins second, extended-spectrum macrolides fourth and the increased beta-lactam activity class sixth). Compared with the prior year, retail prescription volume in the 12 months ending August 1998 declined for amoxicillins (-10.3%) and cephalosporins (-9.7%). Information from PDDA shows that physicians frequently replaced amoxicillins and cephalosporins with extended-spectrum macrolides (Biaxin, Zithromax, etc.) during this period. Of the 20 therapeutic classes most often prescribed by pediatricians in the year ending August 1998, antihistamines exhibited the highest growth (66%); this gain was primarily driven by Claritin (+82%). Analeptics ranked third in prescription volume among pediatricians, who wrote 4.6 million prescriptions, valued at $165 million, for generic methylphenidate (Ritalin); and 742,000 prescriptions, worth $24 million, for Shire Richwood's Adderall. In the August 1998 period, pediatricians most often prescribed liquid formulations (45%) of prescription products, followed by oral solid formulations (31%). Amoxicillin and albuterol dominated the top 10 drugs prescribed by children's specialists; each chemical was the active ingredient in three products on the top 10 list. For more information, please contact Kevin McFadden at 215/860-0440; fax: 215/860-5477. Or e-mail him at email@scottlevin.com. Scott-Levin's Source(TM) Prescription Audit tracks prescriptions dispensed to patients by U.S. retail pharmacies. The Physician Drug and Diagnosis Audit monitors patient visits to doctors and treatment associated with those visits. The Personal Selling Audit tracks details to physicians in office settings. Scott-Levin, a division of PMSI/Scott-Levin Inc., provides consulting and communication services to pharmaceutical companies worldwide. For daily news updates, visit Scott-Levin on the World Wide Web at scottlevin.com. CONTACT: Scott-Levin, Newtown Kevin McFadden, 215/860-0440 Fax: 215/860-5477 email@scottlevin.com 14:16 EST NOVEMBER 24, 1998 BW0161 NOV 24,1998 11:16 PACIFIC 14:16 EASTERN