Surgeons Positive About Xiaflex Drug Launch

Auxilium Pharma AUXL new drug Xiaflex had been largely gated by concerns of reimbursement rather than clinical ones and anticipate an inflection in sales in 2011. In a research note, Jefferies & Company writes, "We spoke to 16 hand surgeons at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) meeting for feedback on the Xiaflex launch to date. Ten of 16 surgeons to whom we spoke had used Xiaflex (1-24 pts) since the drug's launch in March. Of the 10 adopters, seven were favorable about continued use of Xiaflex, with three reserving Xiaflex only when patients specifically request the drug.Aside from NA advocates, reimbursement remained the most commonly cited barrier to more aggressive Xiaflex adoption, as expected. Eight surgeons mentioned concerns with reimbursement (six who described it as a hassle, and four who were concerned about the amount)." AUXL closed Friday at $26.57