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Financial Impact of Switching From Abiraterone to Generic Therapeutics for Patients With Prostate Cancer in the Oncology Care Model
Therapeutic interchange from brand to generic abiraterone in The US Oncology Network generated significant savings for the Oncology Care Model (OCM), according to a study presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting.
Puneeth Indurlal, MD, The US Oncology Network, McKesson, The Woodlands, TX, presented data that demonstrate therapeutic interchange of lower-cost generic products offers significant cost savings to payers and patients while maintaining equivalent quality of care.
This study described the utilization and the financial impact of abiraterone therapeutic interchange in The US Oncology Network during OCM performance period 8. Patients were enrolled in this study from January 2, 2020, to July 1, 2020.
Researchers used data on prescription drug dispense for the 14 US Oncology Network practices participating in OCM. The cost of the generic drug was compared to the estimated cost of the brand name drug to measure the impact of therapeutic interchange on total cost of care.
Study findings revealed therapeutic interchange resulted in an increase in generic abiraterone use from prior performance periods. Generic abiraterone increased from 0% in performance period 4 to 24% in performance period 5, 55% in performance period 6, 67% in performance period 7, and 80% in performance period 8 within The US Oncology Network.
The difference in the actual cost vs estimated cost led to a savings of $4.37 million in performance period 6, $6.34 million in performance period 7, and $9.37 million in performance period 8 by using generic vs brand abiraterone alone.
“Continued shift towards lower cost generics will increase savings to CMS in the Oncology Care Model,” wrote Dr Indurlal and colleagues.
Study investigators also estimated that 100% Network adoption of the generic abiraterone could save nearly 1.25% of the total cost of care compared to continued use of the brand name drug.
Source:
Indurlal Puneeth, Ives Hope, Garey Jody S., et al. Financial impact of generic therapeutic interchange of abiraterone in the oncology care model for the U.S. Oncology Network. Abstract presented at: ASCO Annual Meeting; June 3-7, 2022; Chicago, IL, and virtual. Abstract e17019.
