REAL WORLD ECONOMIC BURDEN AND TREATMENT PATTERNS IN IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS: UNDERUTILIZATION OF GENERIC PIRFENIDONE DESPITE LOWER COST BURDEN - A RETROSPECTIVE U.S. CLAIMS STUDY
Author(s)
Geetanjan Singh Ahluwalia, BTech., PGPM1, Sri Saikumar, B.E., M.S., M.B.A2, Maxine Diehl, BA2, Dushyant Katariya, BTech1;
1Trinity Life Sciences, Gurugram, India, 2Trinity Life Sciences, Waltham, MA, USA
1Trinity Life Sciences, Gurugram, India, 2Trinity Life Sciences, Waltham, MA, USA
OBJECTIVES: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease associated with high mortality. This study aimed to describe the impact of brand and generic (post launch) antifibrotic treatment on healthcare resource utilization(HCRU) and cost burden.
METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive claims analysis was conducted using Komodo Healthcare Map™ cost of care data between 1st January 2023-30th June 2025. Treated patients were included in the study at the initiation (index) of antifibrotic therapy (2+ scripts) while untreated patients at the IPF index diagnosis during the study period, with a requirement of 12 months continuous enrollment both before and after index date. HCRU and costs, from index to 12 months post-index, were compared across three cohorts: “Ofev only treated”, “Pirfenidone(Generic) only treated”, and “Untreated”. Analysis was restricted to claims with complete cost information.
RESULTS: Among 11,535 IPF patients meeting study criteria 33.7% were treated with Ofev only, 11.8% were treated with pirfenidone(generic) only, and a majority(54.5%) were untreated with any antifibrotic therapy. Median all-cause costs for Ofev only patients were highest($138K) compared to pirfenidone(generic) ($34K) and untreated cohort being lowest($16K). The overall costs for Ofev treated cohort was primarily driven by high pharmacy costs (median) $117K vs $20K and $2K amongst pirfenidone(generic) and untreated cohorts respectively. The median medical costs were higher for the untreated cohort vs treated cohorts($11K vs $9K).Outpatient/office costs were higher for untreated patients compared to those treated cohorts(Untreated:$2.4K-7K versus Treated:$1.5K-6K) with relatively higher hospitalization costs for Ofev treated cohort. Higher inpatient/ER visit rate was observed for untreated cohort compared to treated cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS: In the real-world IPF cohort assessed, many patients remain untreated. Despite lower cost burden and comparable efficacy, only ~12% of patients were treated with pirfenidone(generic) vs nintedanib. Increased patient & provider awareness and optimized access to affordable generics is essential to align clinical outcomes with economic burden.
METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive claims analysis was conducted using Komodo Healthcare Map™ cost of care data between 1st January 2023-30th June 2025. Treated patients were included in the study at the initiation (index) of antifibrotic therapy (2+ scripts) while untreated patients at the IPF index diagnosis during the study period, with a requirement of 12 months continuous enrollment both before and after index date. HCRU and costs, from index to 12 months post-index, were compared across three cohorts: “Ofev only treated”, “Pirfenidone(Generic) only treated”, and “Untreated”. Analysis was restricted to claims with complete cost information.
RESULTS: Among 11,535 IPF patients meeting study criteria 33.7% were treated with Ofev only, 11.8% were treated with pirfenidone(generic) only, and a majority(54.5%) were untreated with any antifibrotic therapy. Median all-cause costs for Ofev only patients were highest($138K) compared to pirfenidone(generic) ($34K) and untreated cohort being lowest($16K). The overall costs for Ofev treated cohort was primarily driven by high pharmacy costs (median) $117K vs $20K and $2K amongst pirfenidone(generic) and untreated cohorts respectively. The median medical costs were higher for the untreated cohort vs treated cohorts($11K vs $9K).Outpatient/office costs were higher for untreated patients compared to those treated cohorts(Untreated:$2.4K-7K versus Treated:$1.5K-6K) with relatively higher hospitalization costs for Ofev treated cohort. Higher inpatient/ER visit rate was observed for untreated cohort compared to treated cohorts.
CONCLUSIONS: In the real-world IPF cohort assessed, many patients remain untreated. Despite lower cost burden and comparable efficacy, only ~12% of patients were treated with pirfenidone(generic) vs nintedanib. Increased patient & provider awareness and optimized access to affordable generics is essential to align clinical outcomes with economic burden.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE176
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory), STA: Generics