Post-infusion Costs Associated with Idecabtagene Vicleucel Treatment for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma in the KarMMa Trial.

Introduction: Patients with triple-class exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) have poor outcomes with substantial healthcare costs. Idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel), a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, showed deep, durable responses in patients with RRMM in the pivotal phase 2 KarMMa trial (NCT03361748). Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs were estimated for ide-cel-treated patients in the KarMMa trial.

3D Printed Skull Cap and Benchtop Fabricated Microwire-Based Microelectrode Array for Custom Rat Brain Recordings.

Microwire microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been a popular low-cost tool for chronic electrophysiological recordings and are an inexpensive means to record the electrical dynamics crucial to brain function. However, both the fabrication and implantation procedures for multi-MEAs on a single rodent are time-consuming and the accuracy and quality are highly manual skill-dependent. To address the fabrication and implantation challenges for microwire MEAs, (1) a computer-aided designed and 3D printed skull cap for the pre-determined implantation locations of each MEA and (2) a benchtop fabrication approach for low-cost custom microwire MEAs were developed.

Switch rates and total cost associated with apremilast and biologics in biologic-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Real-world treatment data for psoriatic arthritis are limited. We evaluated switch rates, adherence, and costs for patients initiating apremilast versus tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and interleukin inhibitor (ILi) among biologic-naive psoriatic arthritis patients. This retrospective analysis used IBM MarketScan claims data to assess treatment switches, adherence and costs.

Switch Rates and Total Cost of Care Associated with Apremilast and Biologic Therapies in Biologic-Naive Patients with Plaque Psoriasis.

Purpose: Compare treatment switching rates and costs among biologic-naive psoriasis patients initiating apremilast or biologics.

Methods: This retrospective claims analysis used IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases to identify patients who initiated apremilast or a biologic (ie, tumor necrosis factor [TNF] or interleukin [IL] inhibitor) for psoriasis treatment between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016. A 1:1 propensity score matching was used to adjust for possible selection bias and maximize the number of patients available for analysis.

Real-world switch patterns and healthcare costs in biologic-naive psoriasis patients initiating apremilast or biologics.

Treatment switching and healthcare costs were compared among biologic-naive psoriasis patients initiating apremilast or biologics with ≥12 months pre-/post-index continuous enrollment in Optum Clinformatics™ Data Mart. After propensity score matching, switch rates (new therapy post-index) and days between index and switch were assessed. Total and per-patient per-month costs by service type were assessed.

Treatment Switch Patterns and Healthcare Costs in Biologic-Naive Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis.

Introduction: We compared treatment switch patterns and healthcare costs among biologic-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who initiated apremilast or biologics.

Methods: A 1:2 propensity score match was used to adjust administrative claims data for adults initiating apremilast or biologics from January 1, 2014, to September 30, 2016, for possible selection bias. Patients had at least 12 months of pre- and post-index continuous enrollment in the Optum Clinformatics™ Data Mart database.

Lenalidomide maintenance post-transplantation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: real-world outcomes and costs.

To compare real-world outcomes and costs among patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma receiving lenalidomide-only maintenance (Len-Mt) versus no maintenance after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Time to next treatment (TTNT) was evaluated; costs were calculated for 0-12, 12-24 and 24-36 months postindex date. Len-Mt cohort had longer TTNT (HR: 0.

Treatment patterns and healthcare costs among biologic-naive patients initiating apremilast or biologics for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis: results from a US claims analysis.

Information on treatment costs for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be valuable for payers and providers who make treatment and formulary decisions. This study compared real-world treatment patterns and healthcare costs among biologic-naive patients with PsA initiating apremilast or biologics. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Optum Clinformatics™ claims database.

Real-world treatment patterns and healthcare costs among biologic-naive patients initiating apremilast or biologics for the treatment of psoriasis.

Objective: This study compared real-world treatment patterns and healthcare costs among biologic-naive psoriasis patients initiating apremilast or biologics.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Optum Clinformatics™ claims database. Patients with psoriasis were selected if they had initiated apremilast or biologics between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2015; had 12 months of pre-index and post-index continuous enrollment in the database; and were biologic-naive.

Comparative Effectiveness of nab-Paclitaxel Plus Gemcitabine vs FOLFIRINOX in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Nationwide Chart Review in the United States.

Introduction: nab-Paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (nab-P + G) and FOLFIRINOX (FFX) are among the most common first-line (1L) therapies for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (MPAC), but real-world data on their comparative effectiveness are limited.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study compared the efficacy and safety of 1L nab-P + G versus FFX, overall and under specific treatment sequences. Medical records were reviewed by 215 US physicians who provided information on MPAC patients who initiated 1L therapy with nab-P + G or FFX between April 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015.

Assessing the Effect of Adherence on Patient-reported Outcomes and Out of Pocket Costs Among Patients With Multiple Myeloma.

Background: The present study characterized the effect of multiple myeloma (MM) on work productivity, health care resource usage, and out of pocket costs (OOPCs) and examined the association of adherence with quality of life (QoL) and productivity loss.

Materials And Methods: The present cross-sectional study included 162 patients categorized by their 4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4) score (4 vs. ≤ 3).

Performance-Based Risk-Sharing Arrangements: U.S. Payer Experience.

Background: As a result of global concern about rising drug costs, many U.S. payers and European agencies such as the National Health Service have partnered with pharmaceutical companies in performance-based risk-sharing arrangements (PBRSAs) by which manufacturers share financial risk with health care purchasing entities and authorities.

The Affordable Care Act, health care reform, prescription drug formularies and utilization management tools.

The U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (hence, Affordable Care Act, or ACA) was signed into law on March 23, 2010.