A COST-CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR T-CELL THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH RELAPSED OR REFRACTORY LARGE B-CELL LYMPHOMA IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Author(s)
Ajlan Al Zaki, MD, PhD1, Emmanouil Nikolousis, MD,PhD,FRCP,FRCPath,MBA2, Wessam Mereani, PharmD3, Graeme Ball, PhD4.
1Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2Yas Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 3Gilead/Kite, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 4Gilead Sciences, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
1Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2Yas Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 3Gilead/Kite, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 4Gilead Sciences, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
OBJECTIVES: The treatment landscape has dramatically changed for patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL) since the introduction of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. However, limited availability of CAR-T centers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has necessitated healthcare abroad referrals for eligible patients. The aim of this study was to assess projected economic consequences of adopting a local UAE CAR-T treatment pathway compared to referrals to the United States (US) for R/R LBCL patients in the UAE.
METHODS: A cost-consequence analysis was conducted to compare referral scenarios. The model incorporated annualized direct medical costs (drug acquisition, administration, and resource utilization costs) and direct non-medical costs including transportation and daily allowances. Resource utilization and treatment-related costs (reported in USD) were sourced from medical bills, the TAMM DOH Approved Drugs Database (2025), Daman insurance tariffs, and local clinical experts. One-way sensitivity analyses were conducted to account for uncertainty in input parameters.
RESULTS: Over a 1-year period, 10 R/R LBCL patients were referred (for CAR-T?) abroad from the UAE. Average per patient cost was $1,728,900 for US referral (drug acquisition: $433,900; direct medical: $1,207,000; non-medical: $88,000). Comparable average per patient costs for local UAE CAR-T treatment were estimated at $452,977 (drug acquisition: $415,150; direct medical: $37,827; non-medical: $0), The observed cost savings associated with establishing a local UAE CAR-T treatment pathway are driven predominantly by reductions in direct medical costs, followed by the elimination of non-medical expenditures. Adopting a local UAE pathway may help health authorities realize substantially reduced referral expenditures for CAR-T-eligible R/R LBCL patients.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that local CAR-T treatment in the UAE may be cost-efficient approach compared to referrals to the US. Adoption of local UAE CAR-T services could potentially enable more patients within the UAE to receive treatment with the same budget spending.
METHODS: A cost-consequence analysis was conducted to compare referral scenarios. The model incorporated annualized direct medical costs (drug acquisition, administration, and resource utilization costs) and direct non-medical costs including transportation and daily allowances. Resource utilization and treatment-related costs (reported in USD) were sourced from medical bills, the TAMM DOH Approved Drugs Database (2025), Daman insurance tariffs, and local clinical experts. One-way sensitivity analyses were conducted to account for uncertainty in input parameters.
RESULTS: Over a 1-year period, 10 R/R LBCL patients were referred (for CAR-T?) abroad from the UAE. Average per patient cost was $1,728,900 for US referral (drug acquisition: $433,900; direct medical: $1,207,000; non-medical: $88,000). Comparable average per patient costs for local UAE CAR-T treatment were estimated at $452,977 (drug acquisition: $415,150; direct medical: $37,827; non-medical: $0), The observed cost savings associated with establishing a local UAE CAR-T treatment pathway are driven predominantly by reductions in direct medical costs, followed by the elimination of non-medical expenditures. Adopting a local UAE pathway may help health authorities realize substantially reduced referral expenditures for CAR-T-eligible R/R LBCL patients.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that local CAR-T treatment in the UAE may be cost-efficient approach compared to referrals to the US. Adoption of local UAE CAR-T services could potentially enable more patients within the UAE to receive treatment with the same budget spending.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE65
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Technology Assessment, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Budget Impact Analysis
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Oncology, Personalized & Precision Medicine