Economic burden of treatment failure in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.

Objective: This study assessed healthcare costs of first-line treatment failure (TF) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Methods: Pre-diagnosis treatment-naïve adults with ≥2 CLL diagnoses initiated on an antineoplastic agent (index date) after their first CLL diagnosis with ≥12 and ≥6 months of continuous observation pre- and post-index, respectively, were selected from the Truven Health MarketScan Research Databases. Patients had no solid malignancies in the pre-index period nor selected blood malignancies at any time.

Budgetary impact on a U.S. health plan adopting abiraterone acetate plus prednisone for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: Abiraterone acetate, an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor, received FDA approval in 2011 for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients who have received prior chemotherapy containing docetaxel.

Objective: To estimate the projected budgetary impact of adopting abiraterone for mCRPC patients from a U.S.

Hematologic outcomes and blood utilization in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) pre- and post-national coverage determination (NCD): results from a multicenter chart review.

Purpose: In July 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) limited coverage of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) through a National Coverage Determination (NCD). The primary objective of this study was to compare transfusion rates in patients with CIA with lung, breast, or colorectal cancer before and after the NCD.

Methods: Adult Medicare patients with CIA treated at 49 community oncology clinics were selected from two time periods based on clinics' NCD implementation date.

Outcomes of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.

Purpose: To assess the clinical and economic outcomes among patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) treated with United States Food and Drug Administration-approved fixed dosing regimens of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA).

Methods: Data were employed from the Dosing and Outcomes Study of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Therapies (DOSE) registry to evaluate CIA patients who were initiated on either epoetin alfa (EPO) 40,000 Units (U) or darbepoetin alfa (DARB) 500 micrograms (mcg) between January 1, 2006 and May 8, 2009. Study measurements included ESA treatment dose and dose ratio, changes in hemoglobin (Hb) levels from baseline, and cumulative ESA costs.

Drug utilization and cost for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in a long-term care resident population with chronic kidney disease.

Objective: To compare drug-utilization patterns and costs in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), not on dialysis, yet receiving epoetin alfa (EPO) or darbepoetin alfa (DARB) in a long-term care setting.

Design: A retrospective analysis of pharmacy dispensing from January 2007 through March 2009, was conducted using the AnalytiCareSM LTC database.

Setting: Long-term care.