Biosimilars Can Free Up Costs For Expensive Cancer Treatments

Research at the ASH 2017 Annual Meeting & Exposition found that switching lymphoma patients to a biosimilar could free up budget money in order to cover the cost of expensive cancer therapies.

“Prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced (febrile) neutropenia with biosimilar [Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz; Sandoz)] may generate cost-savings over reference Neupogen (filgrastim; Amgen) and [Neulasta (pegfilgrastim; Amgen)],” Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, and colleagues wrote. “Such savings could be reallocated on a budget-neutral basis to provide other treatments to the same or different patients, including expensive, recently approved novel cancer therapies.”

The researchers estimated cost-savings that would be generated by switching neutropenia prophylaxis from Neupogen or Neulesta to biosimilar Zarxio, then simulated a redistribution of those savings toward therapeutic care for follicular lymphoma patients with Gazyva (obinutuzumab; Genentech). Data were extrapolated to simulate cost savings for a 20,000 patient panel, estimating the budget impact of redistributing these savings. 

Study results showed that switching patients from a reference product to Zarxio saved $327 for a 5-day cycle, $457.80 for a 7-day cycle, $719.40 for an 11-day cycle, and $915.60 for 14 days of treatment. When extrapolated to a 20,000 patient panel, cost-savings ranged from  $6540,000 for a 5-day cycle to $18,312,000 for a 14-day cycle.

Dr McBride and colleagues found that savings generated by switching to Zarxio provided access to Gazyva for 5-days to 60 patients and to 169 patients for 14 days. 

On the 20,000 patient population level, savings provided expanded access to Gazyva treatment to 516 patients for 5-day cycles.  

“Considering the rising costs of novel cancer treatment (including [Gazyva]), conversion to biosimilar growth factors for prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia in large payer panels can create significant savings that could enable more patients with hematological malignancies to be treated without additional cost to payers,” Dr McBride and colleagues concluded.

—David Costill