Comparison of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costs Incurred by Patients and Caregivers Related to Intravitreal Injections for Retinal Vein Occlusion
Author(s)
Shade Olatunde, MSc1, Nisan Kavak, MSc1, Sohel Somani, MD, FRCSC, DABO2, Andrei Szigiato, MD, FRCSC, DABO3, Parth Shah, MD4.
1Roche, Mississauga, ON, Canada, 2Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, U Vision Group, Toronto, ON, Canada, 3Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal, Montreal Sacred Heart Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada, 4Toronto Retina Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
1Roche, Mississauga, ON, Canada, 2Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, U Vision Group, Toronto, ON, Canada, 3Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal, Montreal Sacred Heart Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada, 4Toronto Retina Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
OBJECTIVES: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second-most-common cause of vision loss related to retinal vascular conditions, affecting approximately 28 million adults worldwide. Standard management involves frequent intravitreal (IVT) injections with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Each therapy entails a patient-specific dosing regimen with maintenance injection frequencies varying from every (q) 4 to 16 weeks, placing a substantial burden on patients, their families, caregivers, and healthcare systems. A time-driven activity-based costing study quantified the total financial burden associated with IVT injections for Canadian patients with RVO and their caregivers.
METHODS: A patient journey was modeled to capture activities associated with RVO treatment over three years. Factors affecting patients and/or caregivers including lost productivity (appointment, travel, waiting, treatment, and recovery time), ancillary costs (gas, parking), and treatment costs (list price) were quantified in Canadian dollars using publicly available data. Costs related to anxiety, stress, and adverse events were excluded given variability in reporting, costing, and/or limited differential impact across regimens. Visit frequencies for IVT injections were considered per Health Canada-approved (aflibercept 2mg, faricimab, ranibizumab originator/biosimilar) or commonly used (bevacizumab, off label) dosing regimen(s) (n=8).
RESULTS: Among therapies with regimens requiring 22 visits over three years, the total financial burden was lowest with bevacizumab ($51,598) and highest with ranibizumab originator ($74,830). Of all drugs and regimens considered, faricimab administered at a maintenance interval of q16 weeks (14 visits in three years) had the lowest total financial burden ($45,687).
CONCLUSIONS: IVT injection frequency and drug costs impact the burden experienced by patients with RVO and their caregivers. This study demonstrated that faricimab dosed at q16 weeks (maintenance interval) resulted in the lowest total financial burden. Longer-duration therapies such as faricimab can effectively reduce the economic burden experienced by patients and caregivers, highlighting the potential value of such treatments in clinical practice.
METHODS: A patient journey was modeled to capture activities associated with RVO treatment over three years. Factors affecting patients and/or caregivers including lost productivity (appointment, travel, waiting, treatment, and recovery time), ancillary costs (gas, parking), and treatment costs (list price) were quantified in Canadian dollars using publicly available data. Costs related to anxiety, stress, and adverse events were excluded given variability in reporting, costing, and/or limited differential impact across regimens. Visit frequencies for IVT injections were considered per Health Canada-approved (aflibercept 2mg, faricimab, ranibizumab originator/biosimilar) or commonly used (bevacizumab, off label) dosing regimen(s) (n=8).
RESULTS: Among therapies with regimens requiring 22 visits over three years, the total financial burden was lowest with bevacizumab ($51,598) and highest with ranibizumab originator ($74,830). Of all drugs and regimens considered, faricimab administered at a maintenance interval of q16 weeks (14 visits in three years) had the lowest total financial burden ($45,687).
CONCLUSIONS: IVT injection frequency and drug costs impact the burden experienced by patients with RVO and their caregivers. This study demonstrated that faricimab dosed at q16 weeks (maintenance interval) resulted in the lowest total financial burden. Longer-duration therapies such as faricimab can effectively reduce the economic burden experienced by patients and caregivers, highlighting the potential value of such treatments in clinical practice.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE145
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)