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