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Cost savings from anemia management with biosimilar epoetin alfa and increased access to targeted antineoplastic treatment: a simulation for the EU G5 countries

    Ivo Abraham

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: abraham@pharmacy.arizona.edu

    Center for Health Outcomes & PharmacoEconomic Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, 1295 N Martin Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

    Department of Pharmacy Practice & Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Matrix45, Tucson, AZ, USA

    ,
    Lucy Han

    Arizona Center on Aging, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    ,
    Diana Sun

    Center for Health Outcomes & PharmacoEconomic Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, 1295 N Martin Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

    , &
    Matti Aapro

    Institut Multidisciplinaire d'Oncologie, Clinique de Genolier, Genolier, Switzerland

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.14.43

    ABSTRACT: 

    Aim: We simulated the budget impact of biosimilar erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) in EU G5 countries. Materials & methods: Three models were built to estimate the number of patients who could be provided with antineoplastic therapy with rituximab, bevacizumab or trastuzumab from cost savings of biosimilar erythropoietin use in a hypothetical panel of 100,000 patients. The associated number of patients needed to convert to biosimilar ESA to provide such treatments was also calculated. Results: Under fixed dosing, the savings from 100% conversion were €110,592,159, translating into an additional 9770 rituximab, 3912 bevacizumab, or 3713 trastuzumab treatments. Under weight-based dosing, the savings from 100% conversion were €146,170,333, corresponding to an additional 12,913 rituximab, 5171 bevacizumab or 4908 trastuzumab treatments. The number of patients needed to convert ranged from four to 51. Conclusion: Using biosimilar ESA for supportive cancer care yields significant savings and increases accessibility to primary antineoplastic therapy in a budget neutral way.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest •• of considerable interest.

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