ABSTRACT
Background: Biologic agents have demonstrated efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis (UC); however, treatment failure to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) is common in the real world. Data on preferential sequencing in clinical practice after failure remain limited. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate real-world outcomes of patients cycling to TNFis or switching to non-TNFi biologics following first-line failure with TNFis. Design: Retrospective cohort study in Germany. Methods: Adult patients with UC were identified using administrative claims data from 1 May 2014 to 30 June 2022 provided by a statutory sickness fund. Patients newly initiating first-line therapy with TNFis and then switching to another agent were identified. Patients were defined as within-class switched (WCS), if they cycled to another TNFi, or outside-class switchers (OCS), if they switched to a non-TNFi biologic [ustekinumab (UST) or vedolizumab (VDZ)] and followed from index (switch date) to death, insurance end, or study end on 30 June 2022. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was performed to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between groups, and weighted Cox regression models were used to compare primary (time to discontinuation and second treatment switch) and secondary outcomes (corticosteroid-free drug survival). Results: We identified 166 patients initiating TNFis and switching to a subsequent treatment (mean age: 42.9 years, 49.4% female). Following IPTW, there were 71 and 76 patients in the WCS and OCS groups, respectively. Compared to OCS, WCS were more likely to discontinue the new therapy [hazard ratio (HR), 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14-2.89, p = 0.012], and switch a second time (HR, 3.46, 95% CI, 1.89-6.36, p < 0.001). Moreover, WCS showed an increased likelihood of initiating prolonged corticosteroid therapy (HR, 1.42, 95% CI, 0.77-2.59, p = 0.260); however, the results were not significant. Conclusion: Following first-line TNFi failure, this study suggests that real-world outcomes among patients with UC are less favorable when cycling to another TNFi, compared to switching to a non-TNFi such as UST or VDZ.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Budget impact and cost-effectiveness analysis are often required by payers when discussing drug reimbursement. We hereby present a cost-minimization (CMA) and budget impact analysis (BIA) regarding the incorporation of certolizumab pegol (CZP) for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease, a debilitating condition that affects the digestive tract. Methods: Considering that the scientific literature demonstrates CZP as effective as the alternatives (infliximab and adalimumab), a CMA was conducted, including a Markov 10-year time horizon modeling. Focusing on the assumptions for both CMA and BIA, a total of 36 stakeholders from the private sector were surveyed regarding treatment and disease-related costs. For the BIA, drug acquisition costs, administration costs, no population growth and an immunobiologic drug (bDMARD) switching rate of 5% were also considered. We assumed that CZP would gradually gain market share until it reaches 20% of new or switching patients in the fourth year. In addition, probability sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: In the cost-minimization, the calculated costs for 10-year treatment were BRL149k (infliximab); BRL118k (adalimumab) and BRL83k (CZP). Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted with 1,000 random simulations, with CZP being less costly than its comparators in all simulations. Additionally, the BIA result indicates that CZP is a cost-saving intervention, with a predicted five-year impact of BRL317k for every 100-patient cohort. Conclusions: Certolizumab pegol was shown to be not only effective but also a cost-saving drug when compared to other anti-TNF drugs available for the Brazilian private healthcare system.
Objetivos: Análises de impacto orçamentário e de custo-efetividade são, com frequência, exigidas por pagadores para a decisão sobre incorporação de drogas. Por esse motivo, apresentaremos uma análise de custo-minimização e de impacto orçamentário do certolizumabe pegol (CZP) para o tratamento de pacientes com doença de Crohn, doença crônica e debilitante que afeta o trato digestivo. Métodos: Trinta e seis pagadores privados foram entrevistados para que fosse possível compreender os custos de tratamento e aqueles relacionados à doença. Para a análise de impacto orçamentário, foram assumidos: custos de aquisição e administração das drogas, nenhuma taxa de crescimento populacional, taxa de troca de medicamento biológico (bDMARD) de 5% e market share de 20% para o CZP em seu pico. Visto que o CZP é tão eficaz e seguro quanto os comparadores disponíveis, optou-se pela análise de custo-minimização, assumindo horizonte temporal de 10 anos. Resultados: A análise de impacto orçamentário mostra que o CZP é capaz de gerar redução de custos no valor de R$ 317 mil em cinco anos, para cada cem pacientes. Para a custo-minimização, os custos calculados no horizonte de dez anos foram: R$ 149 mil para o infliximabe; R$ 118 mil para o adalimumabe e R$ 83 mil para o CZP. A análise de sensibilidade probabilística mostrou CZP menos custoso em 100% das 1.000 simulações. Conclusões: Certolizumabe pegol mostrou-se não apenas efetivo, mas também uma opção que pode gerar redução de custos quando comparada às outras drogas biológicas no Brasil sob a perspectiva do pagador privado.