Initiation of biosimilar pegfilgrastim helps reduce cost, financial pressure on healthcare system

The introduction of pegfilgrastim biosimilar may lower the cost and lessen some of the financial pressure on the healthcare system, suggests a study in France.

A team of investigators assessed the economic impact of initiating biosimilar pegfilgrastim compared to the current standard granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) practice in France. They developed a budge impact model to examine the biosimilar’s impact over 5 years.

The model analysed drug acquisition costs, ambulatory costs, and costs associated with poor outcomes. It also compared the current standard practice of long- and short-acting G-CSF to a revised practice including the biosimilar in addition to standard practice treatments.

Finally, the investigators analysed the cost of switching to pegfilgrastim biosimilar in a pharmacy setting within the model using data from a survey of French pharmacists.

Based on the model, a cost saving of €51,007,531 could be gained over 5 years by switching from the current standard practice to pegfilgrastim biosimilar.

In a sensitivity analysis that accounted for variation in pegfilgrastim biosimilar uptake of 1) 15 percent in year 1 and 1 percent in years 2–5 and 2) 15 percent in years 1­–5, the estimated savings ranged between €29,377,784 and €79,847,194, respectively.

Further analysis predicted cost savings amounting to €287,344,835 over 5 years with the extension of pegfilgrastim biosimilar, at an uptake of 15 percent in year 1 and 7 percent in years 2–4, to both long- and short-acting G-CSF groups relative to unchanged current practice.