COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF CONNECTED INJECTION DEVICE FOR PEDIATRIC GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY IN ARGENTINA: A SCENARIO-BASED MICROSIMULATION ANALYSIS USING REAL-WORLD DATA
Author(s)
MACARENA ALVAREZ, Biomedical Engineer1, Maria Lourdes Crespo, Doctor of Medicine1, Falko Boehm, PhD2, Cristina Masseria, Ph.D. Economics3, Roberta Longo, Ph.D. Economics3.
1Merck S.A., Argentina, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany, 3Aesara Europe, Zug, Switzerland.
1Merck S.A., Argentina, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany, 3Aesara Europe, Zug, Switzerland.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the connected electronic device, Easypod®, for recombinant human growth hormone, compared to Genotropin and Norditropin, non-connected devices, in the treatment of pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in Argentina.
METHODS: A microsimulation model of 10,000 children aged 2-13 years was developed from the perspective of the Argentinian Health System, using a time horizon based on bone maturation age (18 years for boys; 15 for girls). The model combined a decision tree with a 6-month cycle Markov model (adherence states: continuous, intermittent, discontinuation). Adherence data for the connected device were sourced from Spanish real-world evidence (RWE) study[1]. The analysis considered only direct medical costs, discounted at 3% annually. For non-connected devices, estimates from the RWE1 study and KOL insights were used to assess a range of adherence scenarios. Outcomes were height gain (cm) until adulthood and cost per cm gained.
[1] de Arriba A et al. Front. Endocrinol 2024. 15:1450573.
RESULTS: Easypod®, allowing adherence improvement, achieved a superior height gain of 4.05 cm compared to non-connected devices. However, better adherence implied higher treatment costs when compared with Norditropin, partly compensated by lower costs related to unnecessary dose increases and fewer clinical visits. When compared to Genotropin, Easypod® was cost-saving. The cost per height gained was lower for connected versus for non-connected devices (difference range $1,141 - $3,311). Results were mostly sensitive to the reduction in height gains per year for intermittent treatment, the proportion of treatment cost attributed to intermittent treatment and age of treatment initiation.
CONCLUSIONS: In Argentina, Easypod® has proven to be a viable option for managing pediatric GHD with real-time monitoring improving outcomes and lowering cost per cm of height gained. Early initiation and sustained adherence drive effectiveness. These findings support broader adoption of innovative digital devices to optimize care.
METHODS: A microsimulation model of 10,000 children aged 2-13 years was developed from the perspective of the Argentinian Health System, using a time horizon based on bone maturation age (18 years for boys; 15 for girls). The model combined a decision tree with a 6-month cycle Markov model (adherence states: continuous, intermittent, discontinuation). Adherence data for the connected device were sourced from Spanish real-world evidence (RWE) study[1]. The analysis considered only direct medical costs, discounted at 3% annually. For non-connected devices, estimates from the RWE1 study and KOL insights were used to assess a range of adherence scenarios. Outcomes were height gain (cm) until adulthood and cost per cm gained.
[1] de Arriba A et al. Front. Endocrinol 2024. 15:1450573.
RESULTS: Easypod®, allowing adherence improvement, achieved a superior height gain of 4.05 cm compared to non-connected devices. However, better adherence implied higher treatment costs when compared with Norditropin, partly compensated by lower costs related to unnecessary dose increases and fewer clinical visits. When compared to Genotropin, Easypod® was cost-saving. The cost per height gained was lower for connected versus for non-connected devices (difference range $1,141 - $3,311). Results were mostly sensitive to the reduction in height gains per year for intermittent treatment, the proportion of treatment cost attributed to intermittent treatment and age of treatment initiation.
CONCLUSIONS: In Argentina, Easypod® has proven to be a viable option for managing pediatric GHD with real-time monitoring improving outcomes and lowering cost per cm of height gained. Early initiation and sustained adherence drive effectiveness. These findings support broader adoption of innovative digital devices to optimize care.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
RWD93
Topic
Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Distributed Data & Research Networks, Reproducibility & Replicability
Disease
SDC: Pediatrics, SDC: Rare & Orphan Diseases