Bayer/Onyx' renal cell carcinoma treatment Nexavar "is a very competitive offering compared to [Pfizer's] Sutent ," Bayer Healthcare Chair Arthur Higgins said during the firm's first quarter earnings call April 27.

Although Bayer said it is too early to provide full year sales guidance for the multikinase inhibitor, Higgins noted, "We're very pleased with the performance in the quarter." Nexavar generated Q1 sales of approximately $25.2 mil. (€20 mil.).

Nexavar (sorafenib) received full approval for refractory and first-line use in advanced renal cell carcinoma in December (¹ Also see "Bayer/Onyx’ Nexavar Approved For Kidney Cancer" - Pink Sheet, 20 December, 2005.).

Approval of Pfizer's Sutent (sunitinib) for the same indication followed shortly thereafter. Sutent received accelerated approval in January for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and full approval for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor after disease progression or intolerance to Novartis' Gleevec .

For the kidney cancer indication, Sutent has a small dosing advantage and is priced slightly below Nexavar (² Also see "Pfizer's Sutent Receives Dual Approvals For Kidney Cancer & Stomach Cancer" - Pink Sheet, 26 January, 2006.).

During the company's annual meeting with shareholders April 28, Bayer CEO Werner Wenning said there are numerous additional indications being pursued for nexavar, including treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic melanoma (³ Also see "Next For Nexavar: Bayer/Onyx Initiate Phase III Lung Cancer Trial" - Pink Sheet, 16 February, 2006.).

Nexavar and Sutent, which share the small population of renal cell carcinoma patients, have been cited as an example of products whose sales potential could be negatively affected by increasing competition among biotech drugs.

-Janet Aker

Nexavar “Very Competitive” With Pfizer’s Sutent, Bayer Says

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