How Can Intravitreal Aflibercept 8 mg Impact Treatment Burden and Costs in European Patients With Diabetic Macular Edema? From Clinical Trials to Clinical Practice
Author(s)
Izabella Lunk, Msc, Megan Druce, PhD, Joao Carrasco, MPH, MSc.
Bayer Consumer Care AG, Basel, Switzerland.
Bayer Consumer Care AG, Basel, Switzerland.
OBJECTIVES: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) have become the standard of care for treating diabetic macular edema (DME). Yet the high treatment burden remains an obstacle, hindering adherence to treatment and impacting resource use and treatment costs. Newer anti-VEGF agents, such as aflibercept (AFL) 8mg, may offer a reduction in overall treatment burden. Nevertheless, real-world effectiveness needs to be further characterized. The aim of this research is to estimate the potential reduction in the treatment burden and overall treatment costs associated with the use of AFL 8mg in DME patients in clinical practice.
METHODS: Injection intervals (IVT) for DME patients that were switched from another anti-VEGF agent to AFL 8mg, were characterized using real-world data from the IRIS Registry and VESTRUM databases. Treatment burden was evaluated considering the resources used for anti-VEGF IVT administration and disease monitoring. Direct costs included costs of medication and healthcare resource use and indirect costs included patient travel. The analysis estimated the potential impact for clinical practice in Germany, UK, France, Spain and Italy.
RESULTS: Mean IVT interval before the switch to AFL 8mg was 51 days (IRIS, n=1321). Pre-switch patients received on average 9.86 (± 4.48) IVTs over 52 weeks of treatment. After switching to AFL 8mg, mean IVT interval was 67 days, and patients received on average 6.19 (±6.03) IVTs over 52 weeks. This corresponded to a mean reduction of 3.67 IVTs per patient treated. This lower number of IVTs could translate in a reduction in costs in each country annually: €960 (Germany), £815 (UK), €524 (France), €1,038 (Spain) and €1,057 (Italy), per patient.
CONCLUSIONS: DME patients treated with AFL 8mg reported longer injection intervals and lower treatment burden. Patients received fewer injections and had estimated lower treatment costs. Decreased treatment burden associated with fewer injections may also contribute to indirect costs associated with patient out-of-pocket expenses.
METHODS: Injection intervals (IVT) for DME patients that were switched from another anti-VEGF agent to AFL 8mg, were characterized using real-world data from the IRIS Registry and VESTRUM databases. Treatment burden was evaluated considering the resources used for anti-VEGF IVT administration and disease monitoring. Direct costs included costs of medication and healthcare resource use and indirect costs included patient travel. The analysis estimated the potential impact for clinical practice in Germany, UK, France, Spain and Italy.
RESULTS: Mean IVT interval before the switch to AFL 8mg was 51 days (IRIS, n=1321). Pre-switch patients received on average 9.86 (± 4.48) IVTs over 52 weeks of treatment. After switching to AFL 8mg, mean IVT interval was 67 days, and patients received on average 6.19 (±6.03) IVTs over 52 weeks. This corresponded to a mean reduction of 3.67 IVTs per patient treated. This lower number of IVTs could translate in a reduction in costs in each country annually: €960 (Germany), £815 (UK), €524 (France), €1,038 (Spain) and €1,057 (Italy), per patient.
CONCLUSIONS: DME patients treated with AFL 8mg reported longer injection intervals and lower treatment burden. Patients received fewer injections and had estimated lower treatment costs. Decreased treatment burden associated with fewer injections may also contribute to indirect costs associated with patient out-of-pocket expenses.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE520
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)