Cost-efficiency and expanded access modeling of conversion to biosimilar bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in Medicare.

BACKGROUND

Biosimilars to originator bevacizumab (Avastin), such as bevacizumab-bvzr (Zirabev), can deliver substantial savings and/or expanded access to biologic therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal (mCRC) and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). The objective of this study is to explore the cost-efficiency and budget-neutral expanded access of bevacizumab-bvzr in mCRC and mNSCLC in Medicare.

METHODS

We developed a Medicare payer perspective simulation model of patients treated for mCRC and mNSCLC to estimate cost-savings from converting bevacizumab (originator) to bevacizumab-bvzr or alternative biosimilars such as bevacizumab-awwb, -maly, and -abcd. The target patient population receiving annual first-line systemic therapy was calculated using Medicare enrollment data, SEER cancer incidence rates in patients age ≥65, and an assumption that 39.3% and 77.2% of new diagnoses receive systemic therapy for mCRC and mNSCLC respectively based on recent evidence. 76.0% of systemically treated mCRC patients and 11.4% of incident mNSCLC patients were expected to be treated with bevacizumab-based regimens based on recent evidence. Costs were derived from the 2024 Average Sales Price (ASP). Results include per-patient per-month (PPPM) cost savings (vs. originator), total monthly savings in the cohort, and number needed to convert (NNC) to biosimilar to fund the treatment of an additional 100 patients.

RESULTS

PPPM savings from conversion to bevacizumab-bvzr were $4,205 in mCRC and $8,410 in mNSCLC. In 100% conversion scenarios, full cohort monthly savings were $27,664,432 in mCRC ( = 6,579) and $32,319,323 in mNSCLC ( = 3,843), respectively. At 100% conversion, monthly savings from biosimilar conversion could fund up to 13,887 additional mCRC patient-months of treatment with bevacizumab-bvzr + FOLFOX, and up to 8,959 additional mNSCLC patient-months of treatment with bevacizumab-bvzr + paclitaxel + carboplatin. In mCRC and mNSCLC the biosimilar NNC from the originator was 47 and 43, respectively. The biosimilar NNC from other biosimilars ranged from 60-4,564 and 55-4,422 for mCRC and NSCLC, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In the first cost-efficiency and expanded access study of biosimilar bevacizumab in mCRC and mNSCLC, we find that bevacizumab-bvzr-based regimens can result in substantial cost savings relative to originator-based first line treatment in Medicare. These cost savings could be reinvested to treat a substantial number of additional patients with mCRC or mNSCLC, or fund other costs of care in Medicare, on a budget-neutral basis.