Once again, AbbVie dominates doctors’ ranking of makers of immunology meds.
Just like last year, the Skyrizi and Rinvoq maker scored the highest by far in ZoomRx’s analysis of how healthcare providers view immunology drug makers. More than 50 doctors were asked to rate 15 pharmas in a variety of measures across five core factors—reputation, HCP-centricity, innovation, patient-centricity and promotion—all of which contribute to an overall perception score.
AbbVie topped the rankings in all five areas, with at least 50% of doctors surveyed placing it among the top three companies for each category.
In a composite score tallying up each pharma’s performance across the five categories, out of a total 100 points, ZoomRx gave AbbVie a group-leading 59—well above second-place finisher Johnson & Johnson’s 36.
In its analysis of AbbVie’s “total perception dominance,” ZoomRx noted that the company has not only offset plummeting Humira revenues with newer blockbusters like Skyrizi and Rinvoq, but also has continued to expand its work in immunology through partnerships and acquisitions like its Nimble and Aliada buys.
Doctors surveyed were quoted highlighting their long-term relationships with AbbVie, as well as the diversity, safety, efficacy and broad insurance coverage of the company’s drugs.
Though it trailed AbbVie by a sizable margin in overall perception score, J&J’s second-place ranking marked an improvement for the company, after it slipped to No. 3 last year.
Tremfya maker J&J jumped ahead of the rest of the pack with the second-highest marks in the reputation and promotion categories. It tied for second in HCP-centricity and innovation and took fourth in patient-centricity—all together, according to ZoomRx, indicating a lack of differentiation that suggests “a need to convert perception into deeper stakeholder engagement.”
Rounding out the top five immunology drugmakers perceived to be the best by doctors were Pfizer, Sanofi and Novartis, with composite scores of 34, 33 and 26, respectively.
Pfizer took second place last year, but its lasting placement in the top three indicates “stability,” even if not “standout innovation,” ZoomRx said. Sanofi, meanwhile, climbed one spot, which the analysts attributed to major approvals last year for Dupixent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis.
Novartis made the biggest moves on the year’s list, jumping from No. 8 in last year’s survey to fifth place this year. Though the Swiss pharma lagged behind its list-topping peers on every measure but promotion—where it ended up in a three-way tie for third—ZoomRx highlighted its “rising favor” with doctors thanks to improvements in patient focus and HCP collaboration, plus solid performance by meds like Cosentyx and Xolair.