New Drugs from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, NicOx, and Pain

New Drugs from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, NicOx, and Pain
therapeutics Will Restore Market for Treatment of Arthritic Pain.

Emerging Agents That Include Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) Inhibitors Will
Invigorate Market, According to a New Report from Decision Resources

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, Inc.,

One of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and health care issues, finds that new drugs from GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis,NicOx, and Pain Therapeutics will restore the drug market for the treatment of arthritic pain following the highly-publicized withdrawals of Merck's Vioxx (rofecoxib) and Pfizer's Bextra (valdecoxib) due to safety concerns.

According to a new Pharmacor report entitled Arthritic Pain, the market
for arthritic pain treatments will sustain extensive losses in 2005 followed by a 5% annual average decline through 2009. However, from 2009 to 2014, the market will rebound to approximately 6% annual growth due to the arrival of new therapies that will offer incremental improvements over currently-available drugs.

These new therapies will include two COX-2 inhibitors, GlaxoSmithKline's GW-406381 and Novartis's Prexige, as well as NicOx's NO-naproxen (a COX inhibiting nitric oxide donator), and Pain Therapeutics' oxycodone/naltrexone combination, OxyTrek. Factors driving the market rebound will include the premium pricing of these new therapies compared with current options, most of
which will be available generically by the time the new drugs are launched.

"Improving on the significant side effects of analgesics is the near-term opportunity for drug developers, as it has been for many years, and a few companies will succeed in providing incremental improvements in safety or tolerability, despite the recent dramatic changes in the regulatory landscape," said Michelle Grady, therapeutic area director, Pain Management, at Decision Resources, Inc. "But these agents are not expected to command the high prices once garnered by COX-2 inhibitors because drug makers, payors, and
regulators are all wary."

About Pharmacor from Decision Resources
Pharmacor is a unique family of studies that assesses a host of market-impacting factors and analyzes the commercial outlook for drugs in research and development.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (http://www.decisionresources.com) is a world
leader in market research publications, advisory services, and consulting
designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their
chosen markets.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE Decision Resources, Inc.
Web Site:http://www.decisionresources.com


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