The Economic Impact of Treatment Sequencing in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Canada Using Venetoclax plus Obinutuzumab.

Background: Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis) represent an advancement in chronic lymphocytic leukemia; however, these agents are administered continuously until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, raising concerns about their affordability. Venetoclax in combination with obinutuzumab (VO) is a fixed-duration (12-month) treatment, approved in Canada in 2020. This study estimated the total cumulative cost of different treatment sequences and evaluated the economic impact of introducing treatment sequences with/without VO, from a Canadian health care system perspective.

Early access for innovative oncology medicines: a different story in each nation.

Background: As innovative oncology medicines are rapidly developed, there is increasing pressure on payers to offer patients timely access to life-saving therapies. The uncertainty surrounding these therapies when phase III clinical trials are pending has necessitated new, adapted pathways to market access, with timelines that greatly vary by country. Understanding differences between pathways may identify opportunities to expedite patient access universally.