Real-world palbociclib dosing patterns and implications for drug costs in the treatment of HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. (13th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Nanxin; Du, Ella X.; Chu, Lihao; Peeples, Miranda; Xie, Jipan; Barghout, Victoria; Tang, Derek H.
• Is Part Of: Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy. Volume 18:Number 12(2017)
• Page Start: 1167
• Page End: 1178
• Publication Date: 2017-08-13
• Subjects: Costs -- dosing patterns -- drug wastage -- HR+/HER2- -- metastatic breast cancer -- palbociclib -- real-world; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.5805
• DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2017.1351947
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-6566

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : This study described real-world palbociclib dosing patterns and associated impacts on treatment costs for HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC) in the US. Methods : Postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2- mBC who initiated palbociclib-based therapy (initiation date = index date) between 02/03/2015 (palbociclib approval) and 02/29/2016, and continuous quarterly activity 1 year before and 6 months after the index date, were identified in the Symphony Health Solutions database. Rates of 1) dose reduction (≥25 mg dose decrease/daily), and 2) reduction or interruption (>60 day gap in continuous drug supply) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Drug wastage cost was estimated based on overlapping days between two prescription fills: the last original dose fill and the first reduced dose fill. Results : 1, 242 patients initiated palbociclib-based therapy (mean age = 62.7 years, median follow-up = 8.7 months). During the 12-month post-index period, across the first four lines, dose reduction rates were 31.9–33.7% and dose reduction/interruption rates were 63.5–80.9%. A total of 411 (33.1%) patients changed dose, among whom 128 (31.1%) experienced prescription fill overlap (average = 11.1 days). Mean potential drug wastage cost among patients with fill overlap was $5, 471. Conclusions : Most patients receiving palbociclib experienced dose reduction or interruption early in treatment; the associated drug wastage may lead to considerable costs.