Exploring the Impact of Dupilimab on the Patient Care Pathways: GHG Emissions of Patients With Moderate-to-Severe COPD In France
Author(s)
Anne-Lise VATAIRE, PhD1, Priscille de la tour, PharmD2, Véronique Marcade-Fulcrand, PharmD1, Stanislas Perrier, PharmD1, Lea Antoniali, PharmD1, Floriane Huret, PharmD1, Edouard Desrumaux, PharmD3, Thierry Rigoine de Fougerolles, PharmD4.
1Sanofi, Gentilly, France, 2Sanofi, Lisbon, France, 3CVA, London, United Kingdom, 4CVA, Paris, France.
1Sanofi, Gentilly, France, 2Sanofi, Lisbon, France, 3CVA, London, United Kingdom, 4CVA, Paris, France.
OBJECTIVES: Healthcare system contributes to ~8% of net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in France. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is among the respiratory illnesses worsened by climate change, driving increased healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), thus higher patient care pathway (PCP)-related emissions. This study evaluates PCP emissions in moderate-to-severe COPD patients in France and estimates the impact of a pharmaceutical intervention using dupilumab—a novel biologic added to standard of care (SoC)—which showed significantly reduced exacerbation rates and improved lung function in two phase III studies.
METHODS: The PCP was mapped for both SoC and the dupilumab intervention, including the following HCRU events: primary care visits, hospitalisation days, intensive care unit admissions, respiratory physiotherapy, and oxygen therapy. Health economic study outcomes were used to quantify HCRU impact. A model applied GHG emission factors to the number of HCRU events, factoring in emissions from the production and distribution of dupilumab via its life cycle assessment (LCA). Emission factors from France were used where possible, while adjusted UK data were used to bridge local data gaps.
RESULTS: For the SoC, the annual GHG emissions associated with the remaining burden in COPD patients in France are estimated at ~1,055 kg CO₂eq. An intervention with dupilumab adds 73 kg CO₂eq/year in part due to its LCA emissions, but reduces HCRU-related emissions by ~65 kg CO₂eq/year. This results in a net increase of ~8 kg CO₂eq/year per patient—equivalent to the emissions of 0.6 kg of red meat for improved outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates how PCP-related emissions can be estimated for innovative biologics based on their HCRU impact and highlights the importance of integrating both LCA and PCP emissions in evaluating the GHG footprint of pharmaceutical interventions. Thanks to its clinical benefit, GHG emissions related to the addition of dupilumab are found to be negligible in this study.
METHODS: The PCP was mapped for both SoC and the dupilumab intervention, including the following HCRU events: primary care visits, hospitalisation days, intensive care unit admissions, respiratory physiotherapy, and oxygen therapy. Health economic study outcomes were used to quantify HCRU impact. A model applied GHG emission factors to the number of HCRU events, factoring in emissions from the production and distribution of dupilumab via its life cycle assessment (LCA). Emission factors from France were used where possible, while adjusted UK data were used to bridge local data gaps.
RESULTS: For the SoC, the annual GHG emissions associated with the remaining burden in COPD patients in France are estimated at ~1,055 kg CO₂eq. An intervention with dupilumab adds 73 kg CO₂eq/year in part due to its LCA emissions, but reduces HCRU-related emissions by ~65 kg CO₂eq/year. This results in a net increase of ~8 kg CO₂eq/year per patient—equivalent to the emissions of 0.6 kg of red meat for improved outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates how PCP-related emissions can be estimated for innovative biologics based on their HCRU impact and highlights the importance of integrating both LCA and PCP emissions in evaluating the GHG footprint of pharmaceutical interventions. Thanks to its clinical benefit, GHG emissions related to the addition of dupilumab are found to be negligible in this study.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH107
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Methodological & Statistical Research
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)