OBJECTIVES: A BIM was developed using Microsoft Excel to assess the financial impact of increasing TearCare^® market share in treating meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-associated dry eye disease (DED) in patients aged 22 years and older, from a US healthcare payor's perspective. Adhering to the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines, the BIM evaluated the economic impact of TearCare^® compared to prescription eye drops for moderate to severe MGD-associated DED over two years.

METHODS: The BIM assumed a healthcare plan population of 1 million lives, and the patient flow was based on the anticipated number of eligible patients over two years. Model inputs were determined, including population characteristics, treatment allocation, market share, and treatment persistence. Prescription eye drops (cyclosporine 0.05% and 0.09% and lifitegrast) were used as comparators in the model. The model assumed a 40% increase in TearCare^® market share, incorporating treatment costs and healthcare resource use (HCRU) to calculate total per member per month (PMPM) and total per member per year (PMPY) costs over two years.

RESULTS: The model showed a cost reduction over two years, with PMPM savings of $5.85 and PMPY savings of $70.20. A one-way sensitivity analysis was conducted by applying a ± 20% variation to the default values of the main model inputs. The analysis indicated that the results were most sensitive to the proportion of moderate DED patients using prescription eye drops, the incidence of moderate to severe DED, and cyclosporine 0.05% costs. In a scenario where 10% of patients discontinuing drops did not switch to TearCare^®, the model resulted in a $68.89 PMPY difference and a $5.74 PMPM reduction over two years.

CONCLUSIONS: This BIM suggested that increasing TearCare^® market share in treating moderate to severe MGD-associated DED resulted in cost reductions, yielding savings over two years.