Cost of care in first line advanced NSCLC patients: Chemotherapy vs targeted therapy

Background

Targeted therapies have increasingly placed drug cost in the spotlight. This represents only one aspect of cancer treatment cost. To provide a comprehensive view, we analyzed first-year drug costs, procedures and acute care interventions for a NSCLC patients on chemo vs TT in the 1L setting.

Methods

Using Inovalon's MORE² Registry^® US claims data, aNSCLC pts were identified by International Classification of Diseases-9 codes from July 2013 to June 2014. Inclusion: aNSCLC pts >18 years who received 1L systemic therapy within 6 months (mo) of diagnosis. Exclusion: pts with small-cell lung cancer or secondary malignancies, clinical trial pts, pts with

Results

Of 5319 1L pts, 1070 (20%) had ≥12 mo of follow-up and were included in the analysis. Of those, 23% received TT (242 pts); 62% (659 pts) incurred inpatient costs. Results of the analysis are presented in the table.

^aMay not have been related to a NSCLC

Conclusions

The study showed considerable TC in 1L aNSCLC, with systemic therapy representing a significant share. Pts with inpatient care incurred higher TC, and chemo pts had a higher share of inpatient costs vs TT pts. Alternatives to traditional chemo may allow for savings across non-drug-related outpatient and inpatient costs.

Clinical trial identification

Legal entity responsible for the study

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Funding

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Disclosure

J. Radtchenko: Participation in funded or unfunded research on a technology, process, or product development or are the principal investigator for a project related to research from Cardinal Health, analyst and study director. B. Korytowsky, K. Tuell: Employment and Stock or Other Ownership from BMS. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.