Real-world cost of care and site of care in patients with multiple sclerosis initiating infused disease-modifying therapies.

AIM

Evaluate the real-world costs over two years and costs by site of care for ocrelizumab (OCR), natalizumab (NTZ), and alemtuzumab (ATZ) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS

This retrospective study used HealthCore Integrated Research Database and included continuously enrolled adults with MS initiating OCR, NTZ, and ATZ between April 2017 and July 2019 (i.e. patient identification period). Annual total cost of care (pharmacy and medical costs) was evaluated for the first- and second-year of follow-up, further stratified by site of care. Costs were measured using health plan allowed amount and adjusted to 2019 US dollars. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in patients who completed yearly dosing schedule according to Food and Drug Administration approved prescribing information.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,058, 166, and 46 patients were included in OCR, NTZ, and ATZ cohorts, respectively. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) total cost of care during first- and second-year follow-up were $125,597 ($72,274) and $109,618 ($75,085) for OCR, $117,033 ($57,102) and $106,626 ($54,872) for NTZ, and $179,809 ($97,530) and $108,636 ($77,973) for ATZ. Infusible drug cost was the main driver in all three cohorts accounting for >78% of the total costs. Annual total cost of care increased substantially after patients started/switched to infusible DMTs. Across site of care, hospital outpatient infusion was common (OCR 58%, NTZ 37%, ATZ 49%) and expensive followed by physician office infusion (OCR 28%, NTZ 40%, ATZ 16%); home infusion was the least common (<10%) and least expensive.

LIMITATIONS

The results were limited to commercially insured patients (specifically those with Anthem-affiliated health plans).

CONCLUSIONS

Real-world costs increased after patients started/switched to infusible DMTs. Drug cost is the main driver for the total costs, which varied substantially by site of care. Controlling drug cost markups and using home setting for infusion can reduce costs in the treatment of MS patients.