Background: Chemotherapy-induced anaemia is a common and significant complication of chemotherapy\r\ntreatment. Blood transfusion and administration of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs) either alone or in\r\ncombination with iron are the most widely used therapeutic options. In Greece, ESAs are among the top ten\r\ntherapeutic groups with the highest pharmaceutical expenditure, since they are fully reimbursed by social security\r\nfunds. The objective of the study is to determine potential cost savings related with the use of biosimilar over\r\noriginator ESAs for the management of the newly diagnosed chemotherapy-induced anemic patients.\r\nMethods: A budget impact analysis has been carried through the elaboration of national epidemiological, clinical\r\nand economic data. Epidemiological data derived from WHO (GLOBOCAN) and the European Cancer Anaemia\r\nSurvey. Clinical data reflect oncology patientsââ?¬â?¢ disease management. ESAs consumption was based on data from\r\nthe biggest social security fund (IKA). The administration of ESAs under different dosing schemes and time periods\r\nhas been estimated by separating them in originators and biosimilars as well as by classifying anaemic patients in\r\nresponders and non-responders. Cost analysis is based on newly diagnosed patientsââ?¬â?¢ alternative treatment\r\nscenarios. Treatment costs and prices are used in 2012 values. The Social Security Fundsââ?¬â?¢s perspective was\r\nundertaken.\r\nResults: Based on the annual incidence rates, 2.551 newly diagnosed chemotherapy-induced anemic patients are\r\nexpected to be treated with ESAs. Average cost of treatment on originators ESAs for responders is ââ??¬2.887 for the\r\n15-week ESAs treatment and ââ??¬5.019 for non-responders, while on biosimilars ââ??¬2.623 and ââ??¬4.009 respectively.\r\nTreatment cost on biosimilars is 10.1% lower than originators for responders and 25.2% for non-responders. Budget\r\nimpact estimates show that treating anemic patients with originator ESAs was estimated at ââ??¬10.084.800 compared\r\nto ââ??¬8.460.119 when biosimilar ESAs were used, leading to an overall 19,20% cost reduction favoring biosimilars.\r\nConclusion: In Greece, the treatment on biosimilar ESAs seems to be a cost saving option over originators for the\r\nnewly diagnosed chemotherapy-induced anemic patients, since it corresponds to 5% of the annual overall\r\nconsumption and expands patientsââ?¬â?¢ access to ESAs treatment. Health care decision making should rely on evidence\r\nbased treatments in order to achieve social fundsââ?¬â?¢ sustainability in an era of economic recession.
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