Decision Resources: J&J, Merck chemotherapy drugs will emerge as go-to second-line treatments

BURLINGTON, Mass. — Chemotherapy drugs made by Johnson & Johnson and Merck will become the standard second-line treatment for ovarian cancer within the decade, replacing a treatment made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and generic versions, according to a new report by market research firm Decision Resources.

The report projected that by 2019, combinations of the chemotherapy drug carboplatin with J&J’s Doxil or Merck’s Caelyx, both formulations of doxorubicin hydrochloride, will replace Bristol’s Paraplatin (paclitaxel) combined with carboplatin in several developed countries; paclitaxel also is available in generic form.

“Experts we interviewed believe that such gains in addressing unmet need will most likely come from novel targeted agents,” Decision Resources analyst Niamh Murphy said. “As such, the need exists to identify other genetic characteristics ... that will lead to the development of novel, molecularly targeted drugs [that] will benefit patients with ovarian cancer.”