[Costs of intravenous vs. subcutaneous administration of trastuzumab in peruvian patients with HER2-positive breast cancer - An observational analysis of direct and indirect costs]

ANTECEDENT AND OBJECTIVE

In Peru, the presentation of TZM-IV and TZM-SC is carried out. But there is no comparative cost data by route of administration. The objective of our study was to know the costs of patients with breast cancer, comparing the routes of administration in a regional cancer center in Peru.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 2020, patients who were prescribed TZM treatment were prospectively recorded clinical, demographic and transport data, and medical costs were obtained from medical history and pharmacy records. With these data, the simulation was performed in 100 patients who received 18 cycles of the drug.

RESULTS

The main contributor to the cost of the difference was the cost of the drug itself, being S/. 4,711.11 (1,323.35 USD) and S/. 4,680.30 (1,314.69 USD) for TZM-IV and TZM-SC, respectively. The administration costs to treat 100 patients with complete cycles of TZM-IV and TZM-SC were S/. 334,488.53 (93,957.45 USD) and S/.207,455.33 (58,873.97 USD), respectively. Indirect costs indicate that patients lost in total, S/. 1,123.28 (315.53 USD) and S/. 1,148.60 (322.64 USD) in TZM-IV and TZMSC per patient, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of TZM-SC is recommended, in the scenario of a lower cost of the drug and a shorter duration of administration time. Especially in a country with low funding, which only allows subsidizing the direct costs of cancer treatment.