COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH FINER DOSING INCREMENTS THROUGH THE USE OF NORDITROPIN NORDIFLEX IN THE UNITED STATES

Author(s)

Joshi AV1, Gore T1, Russell MW21 Novo Nordisk Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA; 2 Boston Health Economics, Inc, Waltham, MA, USA

Fixed dosing increments in injectable devices may lead to potential inefficiencies such as overdosing in weight-based regimens. Finer dosing increments can reduce product wastage and translate into cost savings. OBJECTIVE: To compare overdosage and wastage (therefore cost) due to Norditropin NordiFlex® 5mg to that of other somatropin (human growth hormone, rDNA origin) delivery systems (Norditropin NordiPen® 5mg, Genotropin® 5mg, Humatrope® 6mg, and Nutropin® 10mg) in children. METHODS:Total recommended daily dose of somatropin was calculated over a range of body weights and weight-based (mg/kg) dosing regimens. Only body weights resulting in a daily dose up to the maximum allowable dose for each delivery system were considered. The amount of product dispensed at each dose was determined based on dosing increments for each delivery system. Dosing increments for Norditropin NordiFlex® were 0.025 mg, compared to 0.05 – 0.2 mg for other delivery systems. The amount of somatropin administered by Norditropin NordiFlex® and associated annual costs were compared with other somatropin delivery systems. Drug costs were based on current wholesale acquisition costs (WAC). RESULTS: At a daily dose of 0.030 mg/kg, product wastage in Norditropin NordiFlex® was 5.3%, 3.8%, 3.8%, and 1.8% lower than Humatrope®, Nutropin®, Genotropin® and Norditropin NordiPen®, respectively. The annual cost due to Norditropin NordiFlex® was estimated at $14,580, and was $811, $570, $390, and $265 lower than Humatrope®, Nutropin®, Genotropin®, and Norditropin NordiPen®, respectively. Greater savings (7.3%) were seen in lower body-weight groups. At a higher daily dose of 0.043 mg/kg, product wastage (and corresponding annual cost) in Norditropin NordiFlex® was 6.1% ($1,006), 4.2% ($684), 4.2% ($491), and 2.2% ($358) lower than Humatrope®, Nutropin®, Genotropin®, and Norditropin NordiPen® respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared to other delivery systems, Norditropin NordiFlex® reduces overdosage and wastage of growth hormone, consequently resulting in meaningful cost savings.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2005-05, ISPOR 2005, Washington, DC, USA

Value in Health, Vol. 8, No. 3 (May/June 2005)

Code

PEN1

Topic

Economic Evaluation

Topic Subcategory

Cost-comparison, Effectiveness, Utility, Benefit Analysis

Disease

Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders

Explore Related HEOR by Topic


Your browser is out-of-date

ISPOR recommends that you update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on ispor.org. Update my browser now

×