REAL-WORLD FARICIMAB DOSING INTERVALS DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: IMPACT ON HEALTHCARE RESOURCE USE, COSTS, AND TRAVEL-RELATED CARBON EMISSIONS
Author(s)
Silvia Cornejo Uixeda1, Nuria Monteagudo MArtinez, Ph Pharmady1, Virginia Merino Sanjuan, Ph Pharmacy2, Leonor Perez Gil, Ph Ophtalmology3, Raquel BURGGRAAF SANCHEZ DE LAS MATAS, Ph Ophtalmology3, Ainhoa Mejías Agut, Pharmacy Student2, Pablo Carrion Brisa, Pharmacy Student2, Joaquin Borrás Blasco, Ph Pharmacy4.
1Pharmacy Department, Hospital de Sagunto, Port de Sagunt, Spain., Puerto de Sagunto, Spain, 2Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain, 3Ophtalmology Department, Hospital de Sagunto, Port de Sagunt, Spain., Puerto de Sagunto, Spain, 4Pharmacy Department, Hospital de Sagunto, Port de Sagunt, Spain., Valencia, Spain.
1Pharmacy Department, Hospital de Sagunto, Port de Sagunt, Spain., Puerto de Sagunto, Spain, 2Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain, 3Ophtalmology Department, Hospital de Sagunto, Port de Sagunt, Spain., Puerto de Sagunto, Spain, 4Pharmacy Department, Hospital de Sagunto, Port de Sagunt, Spain., Valencia, Spain.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate reduction in hospital visits, direct healthcare costs, and travel-related carbon emissions associated with real-world maintenance dosing intervals achieved with intravitreal faricimab in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), compared with a hypothetical fixed 8-week maintenance regimen.
METHODS: Retrospective resource-use, cost-offset and environmental impact observational study was conducted in DME patients treated with intravitreal faricimab (January 2024-January 2026) in a Spanish hospital. Patients were classified: treatment-naïve or previously treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. Maintenance dosing intervals were categorized: <8, 8-12, or ≥12 weeks based on the last documented maintenance interval during follow-up. Reductions in hospital visits with interval extension versus a hypothetical fixed 8-week regimen were calculated. Direct healthcare cost offsets were estimated by applying unit acquisition cost of faricimab and unit cost of intravitreal administration visits to the estimated avoided administrations. Travel-related CO2 emissions were estimated by modeling avoided hospital visits, patient travel distance to hospital, and private-car transport assumptions.
RESULTS: 36 patients(49 eyes) were included; mean age 70 years, 58% men, 10% treatment-naïve, and 90% prior anti-VEGF therapy. In the overall cohort, 20% had maintenance intervals <8 weeks, 53% 8-12-week, and 27% ≥12 weeks. Among treatment-naïve patients, proportions were 0%, 60%, and 40%, respectively; among previously treated patients, 23%, 52%, and 25%. Applying a faricimab unit acquisition cost of €938.17, avoided administrations yielded estimated acquisition cost offsets of €16,887. Using an intravitreal administration visit cost of €130, avoided visits yielded additional estimated cost offsets of €2,340. Total estimated direct healthcare cost offsets were €19,227. Versus a hypothetical fixed 8-week regimen, interval extension reduced patient travel of 700Km and 147 Kg of CO2 emissions.
CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world DME cohort, faricimab maintenance interval extension was associated with lower estimated direct healthcare costs, and reduced travel-related CO₂ emissions compared with a hypothetical fixed every-8-week regimen.
METHODS: Retrospective resource-use, cost-offset and environmental impact observational study was conducted in DME patients treated with intravitreal faricimab (January 2024-January 2026) in a Spanish hospital. Patients were classified: treatment-naïve or previously treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. Maintenance dosing intervals were categorized: <8, 8-12, or ≥12 weeks based on the last documented maintenance interval during follow-up. Reductions in hospital visits with interval extension versus a hypothetical fixed 8-week regimen were calculated. Direct healthcare cost offsets were estimated by applying unit acquisition cost of faricimab and unit cost of intravitreal administration visits to the estimated avoided administrations. Travel-related CO2 emissions were estimated by modeling avoided hospital visits, patient travel distance to hospital, and private-car transport assumptions.
RESULTS: 36 patients(49 eyes) were included; mean age 70 years, 58% men, 10% treatment-naïve, and 90% prior anti-VEGF therapy. In the overall cohort, 20% had maintenance intervals <8 weeks, 53% 8-12-week, and 27% ≥12 weeks. Among treatment-naïve patients, proportions were 0%, 60%, and 40%, respectively; among previously treated patients, 23%, 52%, and 25%. Applying a faricimab unit acquisition cost of €938.17, avoided administrations yielded estimated acquisition cost offsets of €16,887. Using an intravitreal administration visit cost of €130, avoided visits yielded additional estimated cost offsets of €2,340. Total estimated direct healthcare cost offsets were €19,227. Versus a hypothetical fixed 8-week regimen, interval extension reduced patient travel of 700Km and 147 Kg of CO2 emissions.
CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world DME cohort, faricimab maintenance interval extension was associated with lower estimated direct healthcare costs, and reduced travel-related CO₂ emissions compared with a hypothetical fixed every-8-week regimen.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE736
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)