First-year treatment costs among new initiators of topical prostaglandin analogs: pooled results

Jordana K Schmier¹, David W Covert²

¹Managing Scientist, Exponent Inc., Alexandria, VA, USA; ²Associate Director, Health Economics, Alcon Research Ltd., Ft. Worth, TX, USA

Objective: To estimate first-year treatment costs among new initiators of topical prostaglandin analogs in a managed care population.

Research design and methods: A model was developed to estimate first-year medical costs. Model inputs were based on weighted results from three previous studies. Treatment patterns were derived from a claims database analysis. Published studies were used to estimate visit-related resource use. Costs were obtained from standard sources.

Results: Across studies, 27,809 patients met study criteria, 44.2% of whom remained on their index therapy for 12 months. Adjunctive therapy was needed in 22.5%, 18.5%, and 11.9% of bimatoprost, latanoprost, and benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-free travoprost patients, respectively. Median days to initiating adjunctive therapy were 64, 67, and 127 for bimatoprost, latanoprost, and BAK-free travoprost patients. Estimated first-year medical costs were $1,945, $1,803, and $1,730 for patients initiating therapy with bimatoprost, latanoprost, and BAK-free travoprost. Findings were consistent through sensitivity analysis.

Conclusions: A BAK-free prostaglandin analog may permit longer duration of monotherapy and be associated with lower first-year treatment costs. Use of a claims database and the selection of new initiators of prostaglandin analogs limit the ability to project findings to all glaucoma patients.

Keywords: costs and cost analysis, drug therapy, combination, glaucoma, prostaglandin analogs