TREATMENT BURDEN AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SWITCHING TO FARICIMAB IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: A REAL-WORLD STUDY IN PORTUGAL
Author(s)
Cláudia Silva, MSc1, Diogo Cabral, MD1, Armando Alcobia, MSc1, Inês Mendo, MD1, Pedro Carreira, MD1, Miguel Gouveia, PhD2.
1ULS Almada-Seixal, Almada, Portugal, 2Catolica Lisbon School Business & Economics, Lisboa, Portugal.
1ULS Almada-Seixal, Almada, Portugal, 2Catolica Lisbon School Business & Economics, Lisboa, Portugal.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the real-world impact of switching from intravitreal aflibercept 2 mg to faricimab on annual treatment frequency, visual acuity, and healthcare costs in adult patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in Portugal.
METHODS: A retrospective, observational real-world study was conducted at a Portuguese hospital, including nAMD patients in a treat & extend regimen who switched from aflibercept 2 mg to faricimab, between July and August 2024. Anonymized clinical data were extracted for pre- and post-switch periods. Key variables included treatment intervals, annual treatment frequency, and visual acuity (logMAR). Healthcare costs were estimated from the public payer perspective, including drug acquisition, administration, consultations, and diagnostic examinations. Patient transportation costs were also estimated and factored into economic analysis. Break-even and system productivity analyses (capacity- and cost-based) were performed to assess National Health Service (NHS) capacity and budget impact.
RESULTS: Sixty consecutive patients (60 eyes; mean age 79.4 years) were included. After switching to faricimab, mean annual treatment frequency decreased from 11.73 to 6.98 treatments per patient-year. Visual acuity remained clinically stable post-switch, with no statistically significant change. Mean annual treatment costs per patient decreased from €4,170.73 (aflibercept 2 mg) to €2,529.22 (faricimab), representing a reduction of €1,641.52 (-39.4%). Factoring in transportation, total annual savings reached €1,705.96 per patient. Break-even analysis showed that cost parity for the NHS cannot be achieved without a 101% aflibercept 2 mg price discount. Switching allows treating approximately 68.2% more patients with the same clinical capacity, or 64.9% more patients within a fixed budget.
CONCLUSIONS: Switching from aflibercept 2 mg to faricimab in nAMD patients demonstrated a significant reduction in treatment burden and overall healthcare costs, primarily driven by extended treatment intervals. This approach maintained visual acuity while substantially improving healthcare system capacity and budget efficiency, with relevant implications for NHS resource allocation.
METHODS: A retrospective, observational real-world study was conducted at a Portuguese hospital, including nAMD patients in a treat & extend regimen who switched from aflibercept 2 mg to faricimab, between July and August 2024. Anonymized clinical data were extracted for pre- and post-switch periods. Key variables included treatment intervals, annual treatment frequency, and visual acuity (logMAR). Healthcare costs were estimated from the public payer perspective, including drug acquisition, administration, consultations, and diagnostic examinations. Patient transportation costs were also estimated and factored into economic analysis. Break-even and system productivity analyses (capacity- and cost-based) were performed to assess National Health Service (NHS) capacity and budget impact.
RESULTS: Sixty consecutive patients (60 eyes; mean age 79.4 years) were included. After switching to faricimab, mean annual treatment frequency decreased from 11.73 to 6.98 treatments per patient-year. Visual acuity remained clinically stable post-switch, with no statistically significant change. Mean annual treatment costs per patient decreased from €4,170.73 (aflibercept 2 mg) to €2,529.22 (faricimab), representing a reduction of €1,641.52 (-39.4%). Factoring in transportation, total annual savings reached €1,705.96 per patient. Break-even analysis showed that cost parity for the NHS cannot be achieved without a 101% aflibercept 2 mg price discount. Switching allows treating approximately 68.2% more patients with the same clinical capacity, or 64.9% more patients within a fixed budget.
CONCLUSIONS: Switching from aflibercept 2 mg to faricimab in nAMD patients demonstrated a significant reduction in treatment burden and overall healthcare costs, primarily driven by extended treatment intervals. This approach maintained visual acuity while substantially improving healthcare system capacity and budget efficiency, with relevant implications for NHS resource allocation.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE733
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Budget Impact Analysis
Disease
Biologics & Biosimilars, No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)