OBJECTIVES: Despite effective treatment options, follicular lymphoma (FL) is still incurable and is associated with relapses and, consequently, multiple lines of treatment for most patients. Recent research, however, showed that obinutuzumab significantly prolongs progression-free survival (PFS) and reduces the risk for an early relapse compared to the current standard of care therapy with rituximab. Longer PFS, in turn, yields economic and social gains as it enables patients to pursue their every-day activities and participate in the labor market. In this study, we quantify the aggregate productivity gains in both paid and unpaid activities of FL patients in Germany when obinutuzumab-based therapy is used as first line (1L) treatment. Furthermore, we analyze to what extent improvements in the 1L therapy can reduce costs for further treatment.

METHODS: We built an open cohort dynamic population model covering the years 2017 to 2030. The gains in PFS associated with the use of obinutuzumab are thus projected to the overall FL patient population in Germany. Using German administrative employment data and information from time use surveys, we translate these PFS advantages into activity and productivity gains. Cost calculations consider both costs for the 1L treatment as well as cost-offsets in later therapy lines.

RESULTS: Through 2030, about 7,635 overall progression-free years can be gained by utilizing obinutuzumab as compared to rituximab-based therapy. These correspond to direct productivity gains of about EUR 357 million in paid and unpaid work. Furthermore, our results show that higher treatment costs for 1L treatment with obinutuzumab are partly offset by lower average costs for further therapies

CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the benefits of the use of obinutuzumab in the 1L treatment of FL extend beyond clinical advantages. Due to longer PFS, this treatment also yields positive economic effects in form of higher productivity and reduced cost of further treatments.