IMS Health (NYSE: RX), the world's leading provider of market
intelligence to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, today
announced expanded capabilities and expertise to support clients'
growing need for comprehensive, clinically rich insights into the
global oncology market. Supported by the company's strong foundation
of information assets, advanced analytics, and consulting
capabilities, IMS's team of oncology experts is helping clients make
critical, evidence-based decisions--from the pre-clinical stage
through the entire product lifecycle. IMS's strategic support to
pharmaceutical and biotech clients in oncology includes market
assessment, forecasting and competitive intelligence, pricing,
reimbursement, and health economics and outcomes research.
Oncology, the second largest and fastest growing therapeutic class
in the world, is expected to become the leading class by 2010 with
annual sales doubling to $66 billion. With nine new oncology products
slated to launch in 2007 and more than 90 products in Phase III
clinical trials or pre-approval stage, growth in this market shows no
sign of slowing.
"IMS has been working aggressively to broaden our oncology
information assets and consulting expertise to address our clients'
compelling need to better understand this growing and dynamic market,"
said Gilles Pajot, executive vice president, IMS. "Today, we have the
clinical depth, commercial breadth, and global reach in oncology that
can guide and drive our clients' commercial decisions in ways no one
else can."
Following the acquisition of several companies that include the
Centre for Outcomes Research, Health Outcomes Research Europe, and
Strategic Analysis Inc. to expand the range of its oncology and health
economics expertise, IMS announced its alliance with IntrinsiQ
Research, the premiere provider of U.S. oncology information. The
alliance provides an exclusive license to incorporate IntrinsiQ's
U.S.-based anonymized patient-level oncology information into IMS's
multi-country oncology offering, Oncology Analyzer(R). With the
integration of U.S. information, clients have a complete view of
cancer care into seven major countries--covering 85 percent of the
world oncology market--through one of the largest commercially
available resources for insights on chemotherapy treatments. These
strategic moves have enabled IMS to offer clients unparalleled data
assets and expertise in managing their oncology franchises.
IMS has completed more than 140 engagements related to oncology
over the past 18 months, and has provided pricing and market access
strategic advisory consulting for nine of the top 10 oncology products
introduced over the past two years.
Today, IMS has more than 60 professionals with deep oncology
experience in market access, pricing and reimbursement, product and
portfolio development, competitive intelligence, and forecasting. The
global oncology team includes MDs, PharmDs, and PhDs in virology,
biochemistry, molecular biology, gene therapy and other disciplines.
IMS also has built substantial expertise in health economics and
outcomes research to support the industry's growing need for evidence
of the clinical value, safety and benefit of oncology medicines.
"All stakeholders in oncology face critical challenges in
addressing the issues that are surfacing due to increasing
availability of more effective, innovative drugs," said Mary Beth
Lawrence, global head of Launch and Brand Management, IMS. "This
innovation is fueling a demand for therapies that is increasingly
incompatible with today's available healthcare budgets and resources,
and the debate on what represents value to justify incremental expense
is heating up. IMS has become a valued partner in helping demonstrate
the clinical and economic benefits of these new medicines."
IMS's robust global oncology information, combined with its other
core data assets, offers clients unmatched insights into patient
treatment history as well as oncology product uptake--what products
are most often prescribed in various markets, their effectiveness in
treating certain types of cancer, and the length of those treatments.
The integration of this information is increasingly important to
clients in order to gain a complete understanding of this highly
complex therapeutic class.
Said Pajot, "We are building on an already strong foundation of
capabilities and expertise, helping pharmaceutical and biotech clients
support their strategic decisions at the headquarters level, and
execute more effective operational plans locally. IMS brings a level
of credibility and knowledge of this market to clients that is
world-class--enabling us to become their partner of choice as they
launch and manage their products in an evolving market."
For more information visit IMS Health's oncology web site at:
http://www.imshealth.com/oncology
About IMS
Operating in more than 100 countries, IMS Health is the world's
leading provider of market intelligence to the pharmaceutical and
healthcare industries. With $1.8 billion in 2005 revenue and more than
50 years of industry experience, IMS offers leading-edge business
intelligence products and services that are integral to clients'
day-to-day operations, including portfolio optimization capabilities;
launch and brand management solutions; sales force effectiveness
innovations; managed care and over-the-counter offerings; and
consulting and services solutions that improve ROI and the delivery of
quality healthcare worldwide. Additional information is available at
http://www.imshealth.com.
