Drug Survival, Switching Pattern, and Costs of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Patients Treated With Biologics in China
Author(s)
Xiaoyang Xu, Master1, Xiaoning He, PhD1, Xingzhi Wang, PhD2, Jing Wu, PhD1.
1School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 2Bristol Myers Squibb, Shanghai, China.
1School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 2Bristol Myers Squibb, Shanghai, China.
OBJECTIVES: Biologics have significantly improved the treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. However, data regarding their treatment patterns and economic implications remain scarce, impeding clinical decision-making and patient management. This study aimed to compare drug survival, switching pattern, healthcare rescource utilization (HCRU) and costs among patients treated by secukinumab (SEC), adalimumab (ADA), ustekinumab (UST), and ixekizumab (IXE).
METHODS: Adult psoriasis patients who initiated biologics between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, were identified from the EMR of more than 80 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Tianjin. Discontinuation was defined as a prescription gap exceeding 180 days. Drug survival was considered as continuous treatment without discontinuation, and switching was defined as the initiation of a new biologic prescription within 180 days after discontinuation. Psoriasis-related HCRU and costs were assessed over a one-year follow-up.
RESULTS: A total of 1646 patients (mean age 43.7 ± 14.0 years; 67.0% male) were included. Among them, there were 1306, 182, 98, and 60 patients-initiated treatment with SEC, ADA, UST, and IXE, respectively. UST had the highest cumulative survival rates at 12 months (65.9%), followed by IXE (64.7%), SEC (32.3%), and ADA (10.4%). About 3.0% (N=49) of patients switched to second-line biologics, and only 0.3% (N=5) progressed to third-line biologics. 12.6% and 2.0% patients switched to second-line biologics in ADA and SEC groups, respectively. SEC and ADA patients predominantly used outpatient services, while UST and IXE groups had a higher frequency of hospitalization. Annual costs for UST, SEC, ADA, and IXE groups were ¥22,478 ± 10,909, ¥19,771 ± 13,175, ¥16,994 ± 12,389, and ¥16,506 ± 8,510, respectively, with drug cost accounting for the 68.0% to 79.1% of the total costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Marked differences exist in drug survival and economic burdens among different biologics. Despite of the availability of biologics, the unmet needs remain in psoriasis management.
METHODS: Adult psoriasis patients who initiated biologics between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2022, were identified from the EMR of more than 80 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Tianjin. Discontinuation was defined as a prescription gap exceeding 180 days. Drug survival was considered as continuous treatment without discontinuation, and switching was defined as the initiation of a new biologic prescription within 180 days after discontinuation. Psoriasis-related HCRU and costs were assessed over a one-year follow-up.
RESULTS: A total of 1646 patients (mean age 43.7 ± 14.0 years; 67.0% male) were included. Among them, there were 1306, 182, 98, and 60 patients-initiated treatment with SEC, ADA, UST, and IXE, respectively. UST had the highest cumulative survival rates at 12 months (65.9%), followed by IXE (64.7%), SEC (32.3%), and ADA (10.4%). About 3.0% (N=49) of patients switched to second-line biologics, and only 0.3% (N=5) progressed to third-line biologics. 12.6% and 2.0% patients switched to second-line biologics in ADA and SEC groups, respectively. SEC and ADA patients predominantly used outpatient services, while UST and IXE groups had a higher frequency of hospitalization. Annual costs for UST, SEC, ADA, and IXE groups were ¥22,478 ± 10,909, ¥19,771 ± 13,175, ¥16,994 ± 12,389, and ¥16,506 ± 8,510, respectively, with drug cost accounting for the 68.0% to 79.1% of the total costs.
CONCLUSIONS: Marked differences exist in drug survival and economic burdens among different biologics. Despite of the availability of biologics, the unmet needs remain in psoriasis management.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-09, ISPOR Real-World Evidence Summit 2025, Tokyo, Japan
Value in Health Regional, Volume 49S (September 2025)
Code
RWD248
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
STA: Biologics & Biosimilars