COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF CONNECTED INJECTION DEVICE FOR PAEDIATRIC GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY IN UNITED KINGDOM: A SCENARIO-BASED MICROSIMULATION ANALYSIS USING REAL-WORLD DATA
Author(s)
Charlotte Wright, BSc1, Falko Boehm, PhD2, Andrew Turner, BSc Hons, PGCert1, Stamatia T. Alexopoulos, BSc, MSc1, Roberta Longo, MSc, PhD3, Indi Banerjee, MBBS, MD, FRCPCH4, Ritika R. Kapoor, MRCPCH, FRCPCH, PhD5, Paul Dimitri, MBChB, FRCPCH, PhD6.
1Merck Serono, Feltham, United Kingdom, 2Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, 3AESARA, Corsano, Italy, 4Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom, 5King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, 6Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
1Merck Serono, Feltham, United Kingdom, 2Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, 3AESARA, Corsano, Italy, 4Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom, 5King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, 6Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the connected electronic device, Easypod® for recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH), compared to a blended non-connected comparator in the treatment of paediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in the UK.
METHODS: A microsimulation model of 10,000 children with GHD aged 2 - 15 years was developed from the perspective of the UK health system using a time horizon based on bone maturation age (17 years for boys; 16 years for girls). The model combined a decision tree with a 6-month cycle Markov model with health states based on response and adherence. Easypod® and non-connected adherence data were sourced from an observational study and real-world evidence study (DOI:10.1530/EC-18-0172, DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1450573).
Cost data was sourced from UK published sources. Drug costs assume 100% of the prescribed dose is used regardless of adherence, as three clinical experts advised that the NHS funds the full dose.
Outcomes were height gain and cost per cm gained, with a 3.5% annual discount.
RESULTS: Easypod® achieved a superior height gain of 2.59-3.99cm compared to non-connected devices. Using real-world evidence adherence data, at Easypod® and mean non-connected list price, cost per cm gained was lower for r-hGH administered via Easypod® (£4,788 per cm gained) in comparison to non-connected devices (£4,892 per cm gained). In a scenario where both arms used non-commercial list price, r-hGH administered via Easypod® (£3,817 per cm gained) had a lower cost per cm gained than non-connected devices.
CONCLUSIONS: Easypod® was associated with greater height gain and lower cost per cm height gain. The connected device may facilitate early detection of non-adherence helping clinicians identify low responders, prevent unnecessary dose escalations and optimise treatment in paediatric GHD. These findings enhance research in demonstrating the value of digital health solutions and support broader adoption of innovative digital devices to optimise care in paediatric GHD (DOI:10.2147/CEOR.S195265, DOI:10.3389/fendo.2024.1436778).
METHODS: A microsimulation model of 10,000 children with GHD aged 2 - 15 years was developed from the perspective of the UK health system using a time horizon based on bone maturation age (17 years for boys; 16 years for girls). The model combined a decision tree with a 6-month cycle Markov model with health states based on response and adherence. Easypod® and non-connected adherence data were sourced from an observational study and real-world evidence study (DOI:10.1530/EC-18-0172, DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1450573).
Cost data was sourced from UK published sources. Drug costs assume 100% of the prescribed dose is used regardless of adherence, as three clinical experts advised that the NHS funds the full dose.
Outcomes were height gain and cost per cm gained, with a 3.5% annual discount.
RESULTS: Easypod® achieved a superior height gain of 2.59-3.99cm compared to non-connected devices. Using real-world evidence adherence data, at Easypod® and mean non-connected list price, cost per cm gained was lower for r-hGH administered via Easypod® (£4,788 per cm gained) in comparison to non-connected devices (£4,892 per cm gained). In a scenario where both arms used non-commercial list price, r-hGH administered via Easypod® (£3,817 per cm gained) had a lower cost per cm gained than non-connected devices.
CONCLUSIONS: Easypod® was associated with greater height gain and lower cost per cm height gain. The connected device may facilitate early detection of non-adherence helping clinicians identify low responders, prevent unnecessary dose escalations and optimise treatment in paediatric GHD. These findings enhance research in demonstrating the value of digital health solutions and support broader adoption of innovative digital devices to optimise care in paediatric GHD (DOI:10.2147/CEOR.S195265, DOI:10.3389/fendo.2024.1436778).
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
RWD119
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), Pediatrics