Organizational Impact Model Associated With Switching From Intravenous (IV) to Subcutaneous (SC)

CONTEXT:

A new formulation of natalizumab subcutaneous has been recently authorized in highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), offering two routes of administration for individual patient needs (SC and IV). This new presentation might enhance convenience to patients and HCP’s by saving hospital resources and patient time.

OBJECTIVES:

The objective of this model is to quantify the organizational impact of switching administration from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC). Impact is measured in terms of human resources saved, infusion chair freed up and patient time saved.

METHODS:

We designed a model to estimate organizational outcomes of SC vs IV administration at hospital level. The model simulates incremental SC adoption for a population treated with natalizumab over a three-year time horizon. It is populated with data from product label, literature and can be self-adjusted to each hospital's characteristics.

RESULTS:

Considering 50 monthly patients treated by natalizumab with SC adoption rate increasing from 30% to 50 % on year 1, outcomes saved monthly are 2.2 staff full days, 181 hours of infusion chairs, and up to 4 hours of patient time.

At year 3 and with SC adoption rate increasing from 30% to 80%, outcomes saved monthly are 5.4 full staff days, 453 hours of infusion chairs, and up to 9 hours of patient time.

CONCLUSIONS:

Besides the potential benefits of convenient administration, improving work-life balance and quality of life for patients, differing adoption rate scenarios consistently showed SC Natalizumab was associated with positive outcomes by reducing treatment time and freed up infusion chairs.

This tool might highlight resources savings in a budgetary constrained context and tight hospital capacity.