Cost analysis reveals daratumumab shows lower drug acquisition costs than isatuximab for treating transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma.
Background The efficacy of daratumumab (D) and isatuximab (Isa), in combination with bortezomib (V), lenalidomide (R) and dexamethasone (d), for the frontline treatment of transplant-ineligible (TIE) newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) has been demonstrated in clinical trials. However, the treatment cost for DVRd and IsaVRd has not been compared. Objectives To compare the drug acquisition costs (DAC) of DVRd versus IsaVRd in the first two years of frontline treatment for TIE patients with NDMM in the USA. Methods Dosing schedules from the CEPHEUS and IMROZ clinical trials were used for this analysis. AnalySource® was utilized to access the First Databank drug pricing database to collect current US DACs. Drug administration time and costs were identified and weighted, assuming 40% and 60% received the drug in a hospital outpatient and community oncology setting, respectively. Total costs were calculated by adding DACs and drug administration costs. Results The DAC was $200,866 in year 1 and $137,434 in year 2 for daratumumab and $212,421 in year 1 and $144,143 in year 2 for isatuximab. The DAC of daratumumab was $18,264 (5.4%) less than isatuximab across year 1 and 2. In year 1, the total cost of DVRd per patient was $17,269 and $17,327 less than IsaVRd in patients <75 years and ≥75 years old, respectively. In year 2, the total cost of DVRd per patient was $10,444 and $10,553 less than IsaVRd in patients <75 years and ≥75 years old, respectively. Across years 1 and 2, total cost of DVRd per patient was $27,713 and $27,880 less than IsaVRd in patients <75 years and ≥75 years old, respectively. Compared with isatuximab, treatment with daratumumab saves 36.13 and 22.17 hours of administration time in the first and second year, respectively. Discussion This analysis shows that the DAC of DVRd is less than IsaVRd for the frontline treatment of TIE NDMM patients. DVRd results in time savings compared to IsaVRd, which is preferable for patients and caregivers. Conclusions DVRd is a timesaving and less expensive frontline treatment option for patients with TIE NDMM than IsaVRd in the first and second year of treatment.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gupta-Werner et al. (2025) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 4 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: