TITLE- THE IMPACT OF THE RADS ASSESSMENT- CAN FEWER INJECTIONS WITH INTRAVITREAL AFLIBERCEPT TRANSLATE TO LOWER OVERALL TREATMENT BURDEN AND COSTS IN WAMD WHEN COMPARED WITH INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB?
Author(s)
Eriksson M1, Hagelund L2, Olsen J2, Heemstra H3, Carrasco J3
1Bayer AB, Solna, Sweden, 2Incentive A/S, Holte, Denmark, 3Bayer Consumer Care AG, Basel, Switzerland
OBJECTIVES: Intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) and ranibizumab have proven to be effective in treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Despite their effectiveness, debate is ongoing on how to maximize treatment outcomes while optimizing resource use. The Danish Council for the Use of Expensive Medicines (RADS) has concluded that, in the Danish setting, 17% fewer IVT-AFL injections than ranibizumab injections are required to reach similar treatment outcomes during first year of treatment. This study assessed, from the Danish perspective, the impact on the non-drug costs associated with different frequency for injections with IVT-AFL and ranibizumab. METHODS: We performed an analysis applying the RADS guidelines. The analysis focused on healthcare resource use & direct healthcare costs. Administration costs in the hospital were estimated using national tariffs. Costs for preparation of medication from vials were taken into account. RESULTS: The 17% lower number of required injections for IVT-AFL translates to 6 injections for IVT-AFL in the first year compared to 7 injections for ranibizumab. The lower number of visits resulted in total costs of 8267 DKK for patients treated with IVT-AFL and 9530 DKK for ranibizumab treated patients. Costs for preparation of vials added 64 DKK for IVT-AFL in the first year. Costs for patients’ transport to the hospital were 3570 DKK for IVT-AFL compared to 4164 DKK for ranibizumab. Total non-drug cost savings for IVT-AFL treatment were 1794 DKK per patient in the first year. CONCLUSIONS: For the same outcome, IVT-AFL was associated with a reduced treatment burden, fewer injections, and less use of resources in Denmark. The reduction in resource utilization resulted in lower non-drug costs compared to ranibizumab, a potential savings of 1794 DKK per patient treated. Impact on resource utilization with IVT-AFL may be considered in addition to the savings in drug costs of one fewer injection.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2017-11, ISPOR Europe 2017, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Vol. 20, No. 9 (October 2017)
Code
PSS10
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost-comparison, Effectiveness, Utility, Benefit Analysis
Disease
Sensory System Disorders