1. The economic impact of the transition from branded to generic oncology drugs.
- Author
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Cheung WY, Kornelsen EA, Mittmann N, Leighl NB, Cheung M, Chan KK, Bradbury PA, Ng RCH, Chen BE, Ding K, Pater JL, Tu D, and Hay AE
- Subjects
- Antineoplastic Agents therapeutic use, Cetuximab economics, Cetuximab therapeutic use, Cisplatin economics, Cisplatin therapeutic use, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Cytarabine economics, Cytarabine therapeutic use, Deoxycytidine analogs & derivatives, Deoxycytidine economics, Deoxycytidine therapeutic use, Dexamethasone economics, Dexamethasone therapeutic use, Drug Costs, Drugs, Generic therapeutic use, Erlotinib Hydrochloride economics, Erlotinib Hydrochloride therapeutic use, Humans, Lung Neoplasms drug therapy, Lymphoma drug therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Vinorelbine economics, Vinorelbine therapeutic use, Gemcitabine, Antineoplastic Agents economics, Drugs, Generic economics, Lung Neoplasms economics, Lymphoma economics
- Abstract
Background: Economic evaluations are an integral component of many clinical trials. Costs used in those analyses are based on the prices of branded drugs when they first enter the market. The effect of genericization on the cost-effectiveness (ce) or cost-utility (cu) of an intervention is unknown because economic analyses are rarely updated using the costs of generic drugs., Methods: We re-examined the ce or cu of regimens previously evaluated in Canadian Cancer Trials Group (cctg) studies that included prospective economic evaluations and where genericization has occurred or is anticipated in Canada. We incorporated the new costs of generic drugs to characterize changes in ce or cu. We also determined acceptable cost levels of generic drugs that would make regimens reimbursable in a publicly funded health care system., Results: The four randomized controlled trials included (representing 1979 patients) were cctg br.10 (early lung cancer, adjuvant vinorelbine-cisplatin vs. observation, n = 172), cctg br.21 (metastatic lung cancer, erlotinib vs. placebo, n = 731), cctg co.17 (metastatic colon cancer, cetuximab vs. best supportive care, n = 557), and cctg ly.12 (relapsed or refractory lymphoma, gemcitabine-dexamethasone-cisplatin vs. cytarabine-dexamethasone-cisplatin, n = 619). Since the initial publication of those trials, the genericization of vinorelbine, erlotinib, cetuximab, and cisplatin has taken place or is expected in Canada. Costs of generics improved the ces and cus of treatment significantly. For example, genericization of erlotinib ($1460.25 per 30 days) resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (icer) of $45,746 per life-year gained compared with $94,638 for branded erlotinib. Likewise, genericization of cetuximab ($275.80 per 100 mg) produced an icer of $261,126 per quality-adjusted life-year (qaly) gained compared with $299,613 for branded cetuximab. Decreases in the cost of generic cetuximab to $129.39 and $63.51 would further improve the icer to $150,000 and $100,000 per QALY respectively., Conclusions: Genericization of a costly oncology drug can modify the ce and cu of a regimen significantly. Failure to revisit economic analyses with the costs of generics could be a missed opportunity for funding bodies to optimize value-based allocation of health care resources. At current levels, the costs of generics might not be sufficiently low to sustain publicly funded health care systems., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES We have read and understood Current Oncology’s policy on disclosing conflicts of interest, and we declare that we have none.
- Published
- 2019
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