Monthly parts a and b costs by service and line of therapy for FDA-approved/NCCN category 1 treatments for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Abstract

e18365 Background: Real-world evidence is lacking regarding costs for FDA-approved/NCCN Category 1 treatments for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (m-PANC). We analyzed costs by service in the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) population by chemotherapy regimen and line of therapy (LOT). Methods: Patients with m-PANC were identified using ICD-9/10 diagnosis codes in the 2013-2017 Medicare 100% Limited Data Set claims, which include all Medicare paid FFS claims, except professional services, for 45 million Medicare FFS beneficiaries. We studied mean monthly costs by service category, regimen, and LOT. Patients in our study had two or more claims with a pancreatic cancer (PANC) diagnosis more than 30 days apart and one or more claims with a secondary malignancy (metastasis) diagnosis on or after the first PANC diagnosis date. We defined index date as the earliest metastasis diagnosis date. We excluded patients with pre-index non-PANC malignancies and those without 6 months pre-index and 3 months (or until death, if earlier) post-index Medicare FFS enrollment. LOTs were assigned based on therapies used. LOTs ended the day before a new chemotherapy began, 28 days after the last chemotherapy (if no new chemotherapy), or upon death. We analyzed the FDA-approved/NCCN Category 1 treatments used most commonly in first line (1L): gemcitabine monotherapy, gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, and FOLFIRINOX; and in second or third line (2L, 3L): liposomal irinotecan. Results: Mean monthly Parts A and B (excluding professional) costs for 1L gemcitabine monotherapy were lower than gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel or FOLFIRINOX ($5,267, $9,116, and $8,046, respectively). Part B drug costs other than chemotherapy were higher for FOLFIRINOX than gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel or gemcitabine monotherapy ($3,881, $1,155, and $827, respectively). Inpatient services were similar across 1L regimens ($2,721-$3,303). Despite disease progression, mean monthly 2L and 3L costs for liposomal irinotecan were $10,809 and $12,225, respectively. Part B drugs other than chemotherapy ($2,133-$2,509) were comparable to 1L regimens, but inpatient services ($2,306-$2,405) were lower. Conclusions: The mean monthly cost increased by LOT for m-PANC FDA-approved/NCCN category 1 regimens. Interestingly, Part A inpatient costs decreased in 2L and 3L, while Part B drug costs other than chemotherapy were comparable.