When is cholesterol fighting a game of six of one, half dozen of the other? Could be when the contest is between Amgen ($AMGN) and its PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab, and Sanofi ($SNY) and Regeneron's ($REGN) rival alirocumab. Despite some dramatic new data from the latter team--and a first-up filing with the FDA by Amgen--analysts figure on a dead heat once the drugs hit the market.
In fact, based on the results of a physician survey and their own number-crunching, Leerink Partners analysts figure that evolocumab and alirocumab will split the PCSK9 market even-steven. Both could achieve peak sales of $4.3 billion, base case, and up to $6.8 billion in the rosiest scenario, the analysts predict.
What happens if and when Pfizer ($PFE) and Eli Lilly ($LLY) roll out their PCSK9 meds? Not a lot, the analysts say; the first two to market will each keep a 40% share, under their analysis. Read more from FiercePharmaMarketing >>