Adverse events, resource use, and economic burden associated with mantle cell lymphoma: a real-world assessment of privately insured patients in the United States

Assessing unmet need among elderly Medicare Beneficiaries with Mantle cell lymphoma: an analysis of treatment patterns, survival, healthcare resource utilization, and costs

Studies evaluating real-world outcomes and health care utilization for mantle cell lymphoma are limited. We utilized national Medicare claims (2009-2019) to examine treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, costs, and survival in 3664 elderly patients receiving 1 L treatment for MCL. Over a median follow-up of 2.8 years, 40.3% received at least 2 L treatment. The most common 1 L regimen was bendamustine-rituximab (50.1%), with increased use of BTKi-based regimens observed in 2 L (39.4%). Half (51.8%) of patients had an all-cause hospitalization within 12 months of initiating 1 L; hospitalization rates were higher in later lines. Healthcare costs were substantial and most costs (>80%) were MCL-related. Overall survival was poorer among later lines of treatment (median OS from initiation of 1 L: 53.5 months; 2 L: 22.0 months; 3 L: 11.8 months; 4 L: 7.8 months). These results suggest a large unmet need and future work should evaluate whether novel therapies have improved outcomes among elderly patients with MCL.

Health resource utilization and costs of care for adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma in the United States: a retrospective claims analysis

OBJECTIVES

We assessed real-world healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among US patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (R/R MCL) by line of therapy (LoT).

METHODS

We selected patients from MarketScan® (1/1/2016-12/31/2020): ≥1 claims of MCL-indicated first line (1L) therapies, ≥1 diagnoses of MCL pre-index date (1L initiation date), ≥6-month continuous enrollment pre-index date, second line (2L) therapy initiation, ≥18 years old at 2L, and no clinical trial enrollment. Outcomes included time to next treatment (TTNT), all-cause HRU, and costs.

RESULTS

The cohort (N = 142) was 77.5% male, aged 62 years (median). Sixty-six percent and 23% advanced to 3L and 4L+, respectively. Mean (median) TTNT was 9.7 (5.9), 9.3 (5.0), and 6.3 (4.2) months for 2L, 3L, and 4L+, respectively. Mean (median) per patient per month (PPPM) costs were $29,999 ($21,313), $29,352 ($20,033), and $30,633 ($23,662) for 2L, 3L, and 4L+, respectively. Among those who received Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mean (median) PPPM costs were $24,702 ($17,203), $31,801 ($20,363), and $36,710 ($25,899) for 2L, 3L, and 4L+, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

During the period ending in 2020, patients relapsed frequently, incurring high HRU and costs across LoTs. More effective treatments with long-lasting remissions in R/R MCL may reduce healthcare burden.

Tackling Mantle Cell Lymphoma in Europe

An expert panel convened by the European Alliance for Personalized Medicine (EAPM) reflected on achievements and outstanding challenges in Europe in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Through the prism of member state experience, the panel noted advances in outcomes over the last decade, but highlighted issues constituting barriers to better care. The list notably included availability of newer treatments, infrastructure and funding for related testing, and shortages of relevant skills and of research support. The prospect of improvements was held to reside in closer coordination and cooperation within and between individual countries, and in changes in policy and scale of investment at both national and EU levels.

Treatment patterns among patients with mantle cell lymphoma and comparison of healthcare resource utilization and costs among relapsed/refractory patients treated with ibrutinib or chemoimmunotherapy: A real-world retrospective study

PURPOSE

This study assessed treatment patterns in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and compared health care resource utilization (HRU) and costs of ibrutinib with or without rituximab (I ± R) versus chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL.

METHODS

For this retrospective cohort study, adults with MCL observed between May 13, 2013, and June 30, 2019, were identified using Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database. Treatment patterns were described among patients who received ≥1 line of therapy (LOT). HRU and costs (payer's perspective) were compared between patients treated with I ± R and CIT in the second or later line (2L+) of therapy. To account for differences in baseline characteristics between the 2 cohorts, inverse probability of treatment weighting was used. Monthly HRU and costs starting from I ± R or CIT treatment initiation (index date) were compared during the first Oncology Care Model (OCM) episode (ie, first 6 months) postindex and during the observed duration of I ± R or CIT LOT (index LOT) using rate ratios (RRs) and mean monthly cost differences (MMCDs), respectively.

FINDINGS

Among 1346 patients with ≥1 LOT (median follow-up, 15.3 months), 870 (64.6%) were treated with CIT in the first line. Only 348 (25.9%) had a 2L of therapy, of whom 110 (31.6%) were treated with CIT and 98 (28.2%) with an ibrutinib-based therapy. A total of 300 patients were included for the comparison of HRU and costs between 2L+ I ± R and 2L+ CIT. The weighted cohorts (after inverse probability of treatment weighting) included 149 patients treated with I ± R (mean age, 71.6 years; 73.7% men) and 151 treated with CIT (mean age, 71.5 years; 76.2% men). During the first OCM episode and during the index LOT, the I ± R cohort had significantly fewer monthly days with outpatient services compared to the CIT cohort (OCM, RR = 0.63 [P < 0.001]; index LOT, RR = 0.73 [P = 0.004]). Compared to the CIT cohort, the I ± R cohort incurred significantly higher monthly pharmacy costs (MMCDs: OCM, 9938 US dollars [USD] [P < 0.001]; index LOT, 8920 USD [P < 0.001]) that were fully offset by lower monthly medical costs (MMCDs: OCM, -19,373 USD [P < 0.001]; index LOT, -13,548 USD [P < 0.001]), resulting in monthly total health care cost savings (MMCDs, OCM, -9435 USD [P < 0.001]; index LOT , -4628 USD [P = 0.01]).

IMPLICATIONS

Over a median follow-up of 15.3 months, most patients with MCL were treated with CIT in the first line, and only one fourth had a 2L therapy. Patients with relapsed/refractory MCL treated with I ± R had significantly fewer days with outpatient services and lower monthly total health care costs versus those treated with CIT during the first OCM episode and the index LOT.

Real World Treatment Practices for Mantle Cell Lymphoma in Japan: An Observational Database Research Study (CLIMBER-DBR)

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) accounts for approximately 3% of all cases of malignant lymphoma in Japan. The CLIMBER-DBR (Treatment practices and patient burden in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma patients in the real world: An observational database research in Japan) study examined the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and healthcare resource utilization of MCL in a real-world clinical setting in Japan. Using the Japanese Medical Data Vision database, we extracted data for 1130 patients with MCL (ICD-10 code C83.1) registered between March 1, 2013 and February 28, 2018. The date of first MCL diagnosis was taken as the index date. The mean (standard deviation) age, body weight, and modified Charlson Comorbidity Index were 71.4 (10.9) years, 58.3 (11.7) kg, and 1.9 (1.6), respectively, and 24.6% were ≤65 years old. The median follow-up period was 654 days (first–third quartile 290.5–1049 days). A total of 802 patients (71.0%) underwent first-line treatment. The most common first-line treatment was bendamustine/rituximab (BR; 27.8%), followed by rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisolone (R-CHOP; 15.6%) and rituximab/tetrahydropyranyl-adriamycin/cyclophosphamide/vincristine/prednisolone (R-THP-COP; 6.5%). The median (95% confidence interval) times to initial (first-line), second-line, and third-line treatments were 45 (36–62), 687 (624–734), and 1188 (1099–1444) days, respectively. Treatment practices for MCL in Japan are consistent with trends observed in Western countries. Our study can serve as a benchmark to assess future MCL treatments in Japan.

Real-world evidence on survival, adverse events, and health care burden in Medicare patients with mantle cell lymphoma

Most data on overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs) in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are from controlled trials; therefore, in this population-based study, we retrospectively assessed treatment patterns, OS, and AEs in MCL patients initiating systemic treatment during 2013-2015 using the United States Medicare claims database. Among 1390 eligible patients (median age = 74 years), chemoimmunotherapy with bendamustine/rituximab (BR) was the preferred choice in first-line (35.3%), followed by ibrutinib (33.5%), rituximab (9.1%), and rituximab/cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine (R-CHOP) (6.8%). Twenty-four-month OS was 73% for BR; 47%, ibrutinib; 72%, rituximab; and 71%, R-CHOP. For the four most commonly used regimens, neutropenia, anemia, hypertension, and infection were the most frequent AEs. Patients with ≥3 AEs had nearly four times higher monthly costs than those with 0-2 AEs in the first observed therapy line. Findings demonstrate a substantial increase in the economic burden as the number of AEs increased among the Medicare MCL patients.

Overall survival, adverse events, and economic burden in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia receiving systemic therapy: Real-world evidence from the medicare population

Background

Information on overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is mostly available from clinical trials. We therefore conducted a population‐based retrospective cohort study to assess OS, incidence of AEs, and economic burden in real‐world practice among Medicare patients treated for CLL.

Methods

Patients with CLL receiving ≥1 systemic therapy from 2013 to 2015 were selected from the Medicare claims database and followed from the start of first observed systemic therapy (index date) through December 2016 or death. OS for patients receiving each of the most commonly observed treatments was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. AEs were assessed among patients receiving these treatments across all observed lines of therapy. All‐cause direct medical costs were assessed from the Medicare system perspective.

Results

Among 7,965 eligible patients across all observed therapy lines, ibrutinib monotherapy (Ibr; n = 2,708), chlorambucil monotherapy (Clb; n = 1,620), and bendamustine/rituximab (BR; n = 1,485) were the most common treatments. For first observed therapy, 24‐month OS estimates for Ibr, Clb, and BR recipients were 69% (95% CI = 68%–71%), 68% (95% CI = 65%–71%), and 79% (95% CI = 77%–81%) respectively. The most frequently recorded AEs in patients receiving these treatments in any observed line of therapy were neutropenia, hypertension, anemia, and infection. For all patients, the mean monthly all‐cause cost during the follow‐up period was $8,974 (SD = $11,562); cost increased by the number of AEs, from $5,144 (SD = $5,409) among those with 1–2 AEs to $10,077 (SD = $12,542) among those with ≥6 AEs.

Conclusion

Over two‐thirds of patients survived at least 2 years after starting their first observed therapy for CLL. Our findings highlight considerable susceptibility to AEs and unmet medical need in Medicare patients with CLL treated in routine practice. Medicare incurred substantial economic burden following initiation of systemic therapy, and patients with greater numbers of AEs accounted disproportionately for the high overall cost of CLL management.

Minimal Residual Disease and Survival Outcomes in Patients with Mantle Cell Lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Minimal residual disease (MRD) has shown the prognostic value in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). To quantify the relationships between progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with MRD status in MCL, we conducted this meta-analysis. Methods: We searched databases including Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library up to July 15th, 2020. Data of patients' characteristics, MRD assessment and survival outcomes were extracted and analyzed. Results: Ten articles were included. For the impact of post-induction MRD status on survival outcomes, MRD positive status was associated with worse PFS (HR=1.44; 95%CI 1.27-1.62; P<0.00001) and OS (HR=1.30; 95%CI 1.03-1.64; P=0.03) compared with MRD negative status. Regarding the impact of post-consolidation MRD status on survival outcomes, MRD positivity predicted shorter PFS (HR=1.84; 95%CI 1.49-2.26; P<0.00001) and OS (HR=2.38; 95%CI 1.85-3.06; P<0.00001) than MRD negativity. Conclusions: This study indicated that MRD positivity after induction and consolidation treatments was associated with worse PFS and OS for MCL. MRD-based treatment strategies should be further explored in clinical trials and real-world practice.

Rituximab biosimilars in hematologic malignancies: the need for a real-world approach

The introduction of rituximab biosimilars into healthcare systems can potentially help to control healthcare costs for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. However, there are currently several barriers to the uptake of biosimilars. This review discusses barriers to the adoption of rituximab biosimilars by stakeholders including patients and healthcare providers. We outline the importance of utilizing real-world evidence in providing additional clinical experience on rituximab biosimilars in hematologic malignancies to improve stakeholder confidence regarding their efficacy and safety. We conclude by offering recommendations for designing and conducting effective real-world studies. Such studies can provide evidence to help achieve lower-priced biologics and improved patient access to help sustain the treatment of hematologic malignancies with biologics, including rituximab biosimilars.

Treatment patterns, adverse events, healthcare resource use and costs among commercially insured patients with mantle cell lymphoma in the United States

INTRODUCTION

There are limited data on treatment patterns, adverse events (AEs), and economic burden in younger, commercially insured patients treated for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

METHODS

Adults with ≥1 treatment for MCL between 1 November 2013-31 December 2017 were identified from IQVIA Real-World Data Adjudicated Claims-US; index date was first treatment. Patients carried ≥1 MCL diagnosis, were newly treated, and were enrolled continuously for ≥12 months prior to and ≥30 days following index. Patients receiving the four most common MCL regimens were included. Measures included frequency of incident AEs, resource use, and costs overall and by number of AEs. Adjusted logistic regression and generalized linear modeling evaluated risk of hospitalization and all-cause costs per patient per month (PPPM).

RESULTS

Two thousand five hundred and nine treated patients had a drug-specific code and were classified to a specific treatment regimen. Of those patients, 1785 patients received at least one of the four most commonly used MCL regimens (R-CHOP, rituximab monotherapy, B-R, and ibrutinib) at some point over follow-up (median 23 months). R-CHOP was the most common regimen observed in the first line (26%), followed by rituximab monotherapy (19%), B-R (15%), and ibrutinib (5%). The median age was 57 years; median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 0. Among patients receiving the four most common regimens, 63% of patients experienced ≥1 incident AE (R-CHOP 77%, B-R 58%, and ibrutinib 52%). An increasing number of incident AEs was associated with increased hospitalization risk (odds ratio = 2.4; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.1-2.7) and increased mean costs PPPM (cost ratio = 1.1; 95% CI 1.1-1.2).

DISCUSSION

This is the largest study describing treatment patterns and clinical and economic impact of MCL treatment. The most common regimens were R-CHOP, rituximab monotherapy, B-R, and ibrutinib. The majority of treated patients experienced at least one incident AE, with hospitalization risk and all-cause costs increasing as the number of AEs increased.

Evaluating Acalabrutinib In The Treatment Of Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Design, Development, And Place In Therapy

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an incurable intermediate-grade lymphoma representing 5-6% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas diagnosed in the United States. The introduction of inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) into targeted therapy for MCL has significantly improved outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. Since the initial approval of the first-generation inhibitor, ibrutinib, several second-generation inhibitors have been explored. Acalabrutinib, a second-generation BTK inhibitor, has demonstrated impressive efficacy in clinical trials along with a safety profile that thus far appears improved compared to ibrutinib. The results of a Phase II trial in patients with R/R MCL led to the approval of acalabrutinib in this patient population while fueling further exploration of acalabrutinib in several ongoing clinical trials.