Expensive New Drugs: Are They Worth It? David Orentlicher, MD, JD Indiana University Schools of Law and Medicine May 7, 2010 (With thanks to Paul R. Helft, MD Indiana University School of Medicine)

Cancer treatment as a particular area of concern Cancer treatment in the US cost more than $90 billion in 2006 Cancer treatment in the US cost more than $90 billion in 2006 Just under 5% of total US spending on medical care Just under 5% of total US spending on medical care From 1990 to 2008, overall costs of treating cancer more than tripled in nominal dollars and more than doubled in inflation-adjusted dollars From 1990 to 2008, overall costs of treating cancer more than tripled in nominal dollars and more than doubled in inflation-adjusted dollars Elkin and Bach. Cancer’s Next Frontier: Addressing High and Increasing Costs. JAMA 2010;303:

Copyright restrictions may apply. Elkin and Bach. Cancer’s Next Frontier: Addressing High and Increasing Costs. JAMA 2010;303: Nominal and Inflation-Adjusted Direct Medical Spending Attributed to Cancer,

Cost of treatment for metastatic colon cancer (Schrag D. NEJM. 2004;351: )

Reasons for increasing costs of cancer treatment Overall increase in spending for cancer care reflects increases in both price and quantity of care Overall increase in spending for cancer care reflects increases in both price and quantity of care Between 1991 and 2002, the proportion of breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and the average cost of the chemotherapy both roughly doubled. Similar trends have been observed for other types of cancer. Between 1991 and 2002, the proportion of breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and the average cost of the chemotherapy both roughly doubled. Similar trends have been observed for other types of cancer. The increases in price and quantity reflect the introduction of new medical technology The increases in price and quantity reflect the introduction of new medical technology Newer cancer therapies are more expensive than the prior standard of care; they also expand the pool of treatment candidates (e.g., because of broader indications, reduced side effects). Newer cancer therapies are more expensive than the prior standard of care; they also expand the pool of treatment candidates (e.g., because of broader indications, reduced side effects). Elkin and Bach. Cancer’s Next Frontier: Addressing High and Increasing Costs. JAMA 2010;303:

Pharmaceutical cost increases also raise concerns Spending on drugs rose from $40.3 billion in 1990 to $216 billion in 2006 (more than a three-fold increase in real dollars) Spending on drugs rose from $40.3 billion in 1990 to $216 billion in 2006 (more than a three-fold increase in real dollars) Drug spending about 10 percent of total health care expenditures but has been growing faster than costs for physicians’ services or hospital care Drug spending about 10 percent of total health care expenditures but has been growing faster than costs for physicians’ services or hospital care Kaiser Family Foundation, Prescription Drug Trends, September 2008, Kaiser Family Foundation, Prescription Drug Trends, September 2008,

What drives increased spending on pharmaceuticals? Number of prescriptions dispensed (42%) Number of prescriptions dispensed (42%) Average prescriptions per capita increased from 7.9 to 12.4 between 1994 and 2006 Average prescriptions per capita increased from 7.9 to 12.4 between 1994 and 2006 Types of prescriptions (34%) Types of prescriptions (34%) newer, higher-priced drugs replacing older, less- expensive drugs Manufacturer price increases for existing drugs (25%) Manufacturer price increases for existing drugs (25%) Kaiser Family Foundation, Prescription Drug Trends. May 2007 and October 2004,

Is increased spending on drugs bad? Prescription drugs can treat—or prevent—serious illnesses Prescription drugs can treat—or prevent—serious illnesses Consider, for example, statins to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart attacks, insulin to control blood sugar But there is considerable over-prescribing—many people receive But there is considerable over-prescribing—many people receive Prescriptions when they don’t need a drug (e.g., methylphenidate) A brand-name drug when a generic could be taken, An expensive drug when a less expensive alternative would work as well (e.g., esomeprazole for heartburn), or A very costly drug that provides little benefit (? bevacizumab) Covering very expensive drugs may be done for only some, and at the same time divert limited funds from more effective health care, particularly for the poor

Can we afford these drugs? Bevacizumab (Avastin) (monoclonal antibody to block blood vessel growth) = $4,000-$9,000/month Bevacizumab (Avastin) (monoclonal antibody to block blood vessel growth) = $4,000-$9,000/month For treating metastatic colon cancer; also lung and breast cancer For treating metastatic colon cancer; also lung and breast cancer Cetuximab (Erbitux) (monoclonal antibody to block cell growth) = $17,000/month Cetuximab (Erbitux) (monoclonal antibody to block cell growth) = $17,000/month For treating metastatic colon cancer; also head and neck cancer For treating metastatic colon cancer; also head and neck cancer Ibritumomab (Zevalin) (monoclonal antibody that binds a radioactive isotope) = $24,000/month Ibritumomab (Zevalin) (monoclonal antibody that binds a radioactive isotope) = $24,000/month For treating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma For treating non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma SIR-Spheres (radioactive microspheres) = $14,000/dose, with an overall cost = $150,000? SIR-Spheres (radioactive microspheres) = $14,000/dose, with an overall cost = $150,000? For treating liver metastases from colon cancer For treating liver metastases from colon cancer Depends on their benefit—commonly measured in QALYs Depends on their benefit—commonly measured in QALYs

QALYs QALY = quality adjusted life year QALY = quality adjusted life year A treatment provides one QALY if it prolongs life for one additional year in perfect health A treatment provides one QALY if it prolongs life for one additional year in perfect healthperfect healthperfect health A treatment provides 10 QALYs if it provides 10 extra years of life in perfect health or if it provides 20 extra years of life at a quality of life that’s half that of perfect health A treatment provides 10 QALYs if it provides 10 extra years of life in perfect health or if it provides 20 extra years of life at a quality of life that’s half that of perfect health Allows comparison of treatments for different medical problems (e.g., hemodialysis and coronary artery bypass surgery) Allows comparison of treatments for different medical problems (e.g., hemodialysis and coronary artery bypass surgery) Cost-effectiveness can be measured by calculating how much it costs per QALY of benefit for a particular treatment Cost-effectiveness can be measured by calculating how much it costs per QALY of benefit for a particular treatment

When is a treatment cost-effective? “Expensive” more than $100,000/QALY NICE rarely accepts above $45,000 Steinbrook R, NEJM. 359;19: “Reasonable” up to $50,000/QALY NICE may accept up to $45,000 “Very Efficient” less than $25,000/QALY NICE accepts when no more than $30,000 Most writers use $50-100,000 as upper limit of good value, but public preferences suggest upper limit over $250,000 Hirth RA, et al., Medical Decision Making. 2000;20:

Some sample QALYs (2002 dollars) Harvard Public Health Review (Fall 2004) < $0 (If the cost per QALY is less than zero, the intervention actually saves money) Flu vaccine for the elderly < $0 (If the cost per QALY is less than zero, the intervention actually saves money) Flu vaccine for the elderly Under $10,000 Beta-blocker drugs post-heart attack in high-risk patients Under $10,000 Beta-blocker drugs post-heart attack in high-risk patients $10,000 to $20,000 Combination antiretroviral therapy for certain patients infected with the AIDS virus $10,000 to $20,000 Combination antiretroviral therapy for certain patients infected with the AIDS virus $15,000 to $20,000 $15,000 to $20,000 Colonoscopy every five to 10 years for women age 50 and up $20,000 to $50,000 Antihypertensive medications in adults age with high blood pressure but no coronary heart disease $20,000 to $50,000 Antihypertensive medications in adults age with high blood pressure but no coronary heart disease Lung transplant in UK (Anyanwu AC et al. Lung transplant in UK (Anyanwu AC et al. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002;123: ) $50,000-$100,000 Dialysis for patients with end-stage kidney disease $50,000-$100,000 Dialysis for patients with end-stage kidney disease Antibiotic prophylaxis during dental procedures for persons at moderate to high risk of bacterial endocarditis ($88,000) ( Med Decis Making. 2005;25(3):308-20) Over $500,000 CT and MRI scans for children with headache and an intermediate risk of brain tumor Over $500,000 CT and MRI scans for children with headache and an intermediate risk of brain tumor

Condition/Treatment Cost per QALY Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction$6,400/QALY * Physician Counseling for Smoking $7,200/QALY Total Hip Replacement$9,900/QALY * Outreach for Flu and Pneumonia $13,000/QALY Treatment of Major Depression$20,000/QALY Gastric Bypass Surgery$20,000/QALY Treatment for Osteoporosis$38,000/QALY * Screening For Colon Cancer $40,000/QALY Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator $75,000/QALY Lung-Volume Reduction Surgery$98,000/QALY Tight Control of Diabetes$154,000/QALY * Treating Elevated Cholesterol ( + 1 risk factor) $200,000/QALY Resuscitation After Cardiac Arrest$270,000/QALY Left Ventricular Assist Device$900,000/QALY COST/QALY: Selected Medicare services

The example of bevacizumab 2007 sales of $2.3 billion in US ($3.5 billion worldwide) to treat about 100,000 patients with advanced lung, colon or breast cancer 2007 sales of $2.3 billion in US ($3.5 billion worldwide) to treat about 100,000 patients with advanced lung, colon or breast cancer Genentech price: $4,000-$9,000 a month Genentech price: $4,000-$9,000 a month Cost to private insurers: As high as $100,000 a year Cost to private insurers: As high as $100,000 a year NY Times, July 6, 2008 NY Times, July 6, 2008 What’s the benefit? What’s the benefit?

Phase III trial of bevacizumab in metastatic colon cancer Median survival: 15.6 vs 20.3 mo ( HR=0.66, P<0.001) Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals Hurwitz H, et al. N Eng J Med. 2004;350: Percent surviving Duration of survival (mo) Treatment Group IFL + placebo (n=411) IFL + Avastin (n=402) 246 Median survival benefit: 4.7 months or 30% increase

Examining the cost and cost-effectiveness of adding bevacizumab to chemo in metastatic colon cancer Randomized trial compared chemotherapy alone vs. chemotherapy + bevacizumab Randomized trial compared chemotherapy alone vs. chemotherapy + bevacizumab Bevacizumab regimen prolonged median survival from 15.6 to 20.3 months (p<0.001) Bevacizumab regimen prolonged median survival from 15.6 to 20.3 months (p<0.001) Cost of extra 4.7 months? Cost of extra 4.7 months? $101,500 (assuming $5,000 per month for bevacizumab) $101,500 (assuming $5,000 per month for bevacizumab) $259,149 per year of life gained (not quality adjusted) $259,149 per year of life gained (not quality adjusted) Other studies have found a cost per QALY between $143,000 and $171,000 for bevacizumab Other studies have found a cost per QALY between $143,000 and $171,000 for bevacizumab Howard DH, et al. Arch Intern Med 2010;170: Howard DH, et al. Arch Intern Med 2010;170: NICE decided not to recommend for NHS coverage NICE decided not to recommend for NHS coverage

Randomized trial compared chemotherapy alone vs. chemotherapy + bevacizumab Randomized trial compared chemotherapy alone vs. chemotherapy + bevacizumab Bevacizumab regimen prolonged median survival from 10.2 to 12.5 months (p=0.007) Bevacizumab regimen prolonged median survival from 10.2 to 12.5 months (p=0.007) Cost of extra 2.3 months? Cost of extra 2.3 months? $66,270-$80,343 $66,270-$80,343 $345,762 per year of life gained (assuming $66,270 cost) $345,762 per year of life gained (assuming $66,270 cost) Grusenmeyer PA, Gralla RJ. J. Clin. Oncology. 2006;24(18S):6057. Grusenmeyer PA, Gralla RJ. J. Clin. Oncology. 2006;24(18S):6057. Examining the cost and cost-effectiveness of adding bevacizumab to chemo in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Do oncologists believe bevacizumab offers good value? Survey of 139 academic med oncologists at two hospitals in Boston; 90 responded (65% of sample) Survey of 139 academic med oncologists at two hospitals in Boston; 90 responded (65% of sample) Designed to estimate cost-effectiveness of bevacizumab. Participants asked: How much of a survival benefit would be needed to justify a drug that costs $70,000 a year more than standard therapy? Does bevacizumab offer “good value” for the money? Designed to estimate cost-effectiveness of bevacizumab. Participants asked: How much of a survival benefit would be needed to justify a drug that costs $70,000 a year more than standard therapy? Does bevacizumab offer “good value” for the money? Mean implied cost-effectiveness threshold for bevacizumab was $320,000/QALY (median at $280,000). Mean implied cost-effectiveness threshold for bevacizumab was $320,000/QALY (median at $280,000). Only 25 percent of the oncologists thought bevacizumab provides a good value—those who thought it did not provide good value tended to underestimate survival benefit or overestimate costs Only 25 percent of the oncologists thought bevacizumab provides a good value—those who thought it did not provide good value tended to underestimate survival benefit or overestimate costs Nadler E, Eckert B, Neumann PJ. The Oncologist 2006;11:90-95

believe bevacizumab offers good value? Do patients believe bevacizumab offers good value? Study of willingness to pay and consumer value for five high-cost drugs Study of willingness to pay and consumer value for five high-cost drugs Bevacizumab, trastuzumab, rituximab, imatinib-mesylate, erlotinib Bevacizumab, trastuzumab, rituximab, imatinib-mesylate, erlotinib A 25 percent reduction in out-of-pocket costs to patients increases by 5 percent the likelihood that patients will initiate treatment A 25 percent reduction in out-of-pocket costs to patients increases by 5 percent the likelihood that patients will initiate treatment Value to the patients was four times the total cost to patients and insurers of the drugs. However, the value- cost ratio was lower for the oral drugs (for which cost sharing is lower and for which the ratio was less than one for more than half of the patients) Value to the patients was four times the total cost to patients and insurers of the drugs. However, the value- cost ratio was lower for the oral drugs (for which cost sharing is lower and for which the ratio was less than one for more than half of the patients) Goldman DP et al., Health Sciences Res. 2010;45: Goldman DP et al., Health Sciences Res. 2010;45:

Is it cost-effective to add erlotinib to gemcitabine in advanced pancreatic cancer? Cost effectiveness analysis of erlotinib in pancreatic cancer Cost effectiveness analysis of erlotinib in pancreatic cancer Study enrolled 569 patients and compared gemcitabine alone versus gemcitabine plus erlotinib Study enrolled 569 patients and compared gemcitabine alone versus gemcitabine plus erlotinib Median survival improved from 6.0 to 6.4 months Median survival improved from 6.0 to 6.4 months Cost of extra 0.4 months? Cost of extra 0.4 months? Erlotinib adds $16,613 retail for six months or Erlotinib adds $16,613 retail for six months or $498,379 per year of life gained ($332,252 per year of life gained for a 4 month course of therapy) $498,379 per year of life gained ($332,252 per year of life gained for a 4 month course of therapy) Grubbs SS et al., J. Clin. Oncology. 2006;24(18S):6048

Cost-effectiveness analysis of trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting for treatment of HER2+ breast cancer Trastuzumab (a monoclonal antibody) associated with a 52% reduction in disease recurrence and 33% reduction in death. Romond EH, et al. NEJM. 2005;353: Romond EH, et al. NEJM. 2005;353: Over a lifetime, cost per QALY $27,800 (range $18-39,000) Over a lifetime, cost per QALY $27,800 (range $18-39,000) Garrison LP et al. J Clin Oncology. 2006;24(18S):6023

Expensive new drugs and the poor Cost pressures are similar for privately insured and publicly insured (or uninsured), but the pressures are accentuated with the poor Cost pressures are similar for privately insured and publicly insured (or uninsured), but the pressures are accentuated with the poor Program and personal budgets are tighter Program and personal budgets are tighter Trade-offs are more tangible—when a state’s Medicaid budget rises, spending on other public services (e.g., schools) may decline, and this can pit poor against other taxpayers Trade-offs are more tangible—when a state’s Medicaid budget rises, spending on other public services (e.g., schools) may decline, and this can pit poor against other taxpayers

Growth in Medicaid spending (Medicaid expenditures as percentage of total state spending) Iowa Indiana Ohio Illinois New York All States

Medicaid expenditures ($ billions) for outpatient prescription drugs In 2003, Medicaid spent $33.7 billion on drugs (19% of national spending for drugs and more than 10% of the Medicaid budget).

Expensive new drugs and the poor Difficult to protect the poor when it’s only the poor whose interests are at stake Difficult to protect the poor when it’s only the poor whose interests are at stake Political decisions driven by interest group advocacy, and the poor often fare poorly in such a system (but sometimes their interests coincide with those of more effective advocates—see formulary restrictions) Political decisions driven by interest group advocacy, and the poor often fare poorly in such a system (but sometimes their interests coincide with those of more effective advocates—see formulary restrictions) Need to link the fortunes of the poor to those of others (Medicaid versus Medicare) and need other systemic reforms to address the wasteful spending problems Need to link the fortunes of the poor to those of others (Medicaid versus Medicare) and need other systemic reforms to address the wasteful spending problems

Impact of 2010 health care legislation Health care disparities should be narrowed because of expanded access to care. However, Health care disparities should be narrowed because of expanded access to care. However, The maintenance of a multi-tiered system will preserve a good deal of the disparity between rich and poor. The maintenance of a multi-tiered system will preserve a good deal of the disparity between rich and poor. Most of the newly-insured poor will receive coverage through Medicaid Most of the newly-insured poor will receive coverage through Medicaid Not enough done to counteract the incentives for inefficient spending on health care Not enough done to counteract the incentives for inefficient spending on health care Still largely maintains the fee-for-service model Still largely maintains the fee-for-service model

Need to reduce over-prescribing Important social pressures The identifiable victim versus saving statistical lives (low osmolar contrast media and the Canadian experience) The identifiable victim versus saving statistical lives (low osmolar contrast media and the Canadian experience) Physician relationships with industry (consulting fees for opinion leaders) Physician relationships with industry (consulting fees for opinion leaders) Physician reimbursement (more generous reimbursement leads to more costly regimens for metastatic cancer) Physician reimbursement (more generous reimbursement leads to more costly regimens for metastatic cancer) Patient desire for a prescription (direct-to-consumer advertising and cyclyooxygenase-2-inhibitors (coxibs) for arthritis (e.g., rofecoxib)) Patient desire for a prescription (direct-to-consumer advertising and cyclyooxygenase-2-inhibitors (coxibs) for arthritis (e.g., rofecoxib)) Counter-regulation is critical (e.g., preferred drug lists, global budgets), but some regulations cause more harm than good (e.g., prescription caps) Counter-regulation is critical (e.g., preferred drug lists, global budgets), but some regulations cause more harm than good (e.g., prescription caps)

QALYs 01 Dead Perfect health Major stroke Recurrent stroke Writing a grant proposal