OBJECTIVES: Acne is the most common skin condition in the US. A novel triple-agent fixed-dose combination (FDC) of 1.2% clindamycin phosphate, 0.15% adapalene, and 3.1% benzoyl peroxide topical gel was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of acne vulgaris in adult and pediatric patients (≥12 years). The objective of this study was to assess the budget impact after introducing the triple agent topical FDC for patients with moderate-to-severe acne vulgaris treated with topical drugs with/without systemic drugs in the US from a third-party commercial payer perspective.

METHODS: A budget impact model over a 3-year time horizon was developed using Microsoft® Excel comparing the total costs required to treat patients with moderate-to-severe acne in two scenarios: with and without triple-agent FDC topical gel. A cost-of-illness approach accounting for all-cause outpatient, inpatient, emergency department visits, and acne-related and non-acne related pharmacy costs was used. One-way sensitivity and scenario analyses were conducted as per the ISPOR 2014 Budget Impact Analysis Best Practice Guidelines.

RESULTS: In the base case, at a wholesale acquisition cost of $950 per 50g pump, the total plan level budget impact associated with the triple-agent topical FDC topical gel was estimated to be $470,242 per million members, with a per member per month (PMPM) impact estimated to be less than four cents. One-way sensitivity analysis suggested that PMPM impact was between two to six cents. Scenario analysis demonstrated that the PMPM impact remained below five cents under alternative model assumptions.

CONCLUSIONS: The budget impact analysis showed that introducing the triple-agent FDC topical gel will likely result in a minimal budget impact to a US commercial health plan budget. Sensitivity and scenario analyses suggested that the results were relatively robust with the PMPM budget impact remaining below six cents.