OBJECTIVES: To describe treatment patterns among patients treated with nabiximols and compare HRU and costs for patients treated with nabiximols versus other anti-spasticity medications (ASMs).

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study of the German NeuroTransData (NTD) MS registry included patients with ≥1 MS diagnosis and ≥1 nabiximols dispensation on/after July 1, 2011. The index date was the date of nabiximols initiation. ASM and disease-modifying treatment (DMT) patterns prior to and after receiving nabiximols were summarized using descriptive statistics. HRU (estimated using negative binomial regression) and associated costs (estimated using linear regression) were compared for patients treated with nabiximols versus propensity score-matched (1:1) controls who received ≥1 dispensation for an ASM that was not nabiximols. HRU and costs were calculated per patient as the total number of events or costs divided by the duration of the treatment episode, for the full cohort and for patients with ≥8 weeks of nabiximols exposure.

RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 50.9 (10.0) years, and 63.4% of patients were female (n=967). In the 12-month pre-index period, baclofen was the most common ASM (41%) of the total 1165 unique ASM dispensation instances, whereas 34% of cases had no prior ASM. Nabiximols was initiated as monotherapy, add-on, or combination therapy with a new ASM in 55%, 40%, and 5% of patients, respectively. All HRU and cost outcomes were numerically lower in patients treated with nabiximols regardless of treatment exposure. For patients with ≥8 weeks of nabiximols exposure (n=369) versus matched controls, average annual HRU and costs were significantly lower (each P < 0.05) for outpatient visits (3.0 vs 4.7; €514 vs €805), additional aid units (0.9 vs 1.5), and sick-leave days (0.2 vs 0.5; €144 vs €378).

CONCLUSIONS: Lower annual HRU and costs were associated with nabiximols versus matched controls in this real-world German registry cohort of patients with MS.