Insurance approval rates for collagenase clostridium histolyticum prior to discontinuation: a Canada-wide analysis

Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCh), the first approved non-surgical treatment for Peyronie's disease (PD), was withdrawn from the European, Canadian, and Asian markets due to poor demand and lack of government reimbursement options. We sought to assess insurance approval rates and usage of CCh across Canada to understand the factors that led to its withdrawal. Data on patients prescribed CCh for PD or Dupuytren's contracture was obtained through collaboration with BioScript Solutions to assess the association of variables with insurance approval and prescription filling. We identified 3297 insurance coverage applications for Xiaflex® from April 2018 to June 2020. Of all applications for PD, 92.9% applications were approved while 7.1% were rejected. Despite the withdrawal of CCh from Canadian markets, coverage application approval rates for 2018, 2019, and 2020 were 86.5%, 90.1%, and 89.1%, respectively. Of 2921 approved applications, 88.8% prescriptions were filled. For the 376 rejected applications, 66.4% of prescriptions were filled. Overall, 90% of the cost of Xiaflex® was covered in Canada among those with extended health benefits, with an out-of-pocket expense of $210.4. Insurance coverage requests for Xiaflex® were approved at a high rate in Canada with approved patients being very likely to proceed with therapy, despite interprovincial variation.

Canadian provider perspectives on Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum for the treatment of Peyronie's disease and the impact of its discontinuation

Intralesional Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCh) was the first non-surgical therapy approved for Peyronie's disease (PD). However, CCh's cost and poor market uptake has led to its discontinuation in Europe and Canada. In Canada, Xiaflex® is the trade name for CCh and it is produced by Paladin Labs Inc, an operating company of Endo International. The paper aims to better understand Canadian CCh providers' perspectives regarding its treatment efficacy and the potential impact of its discontinuation. All Xiaflex®-approved Canadian providers were asked to complete an anonymous 21-question survey using an online platform. Analysis consisted of descriptive statistics. Outcomes of interest included previous experience with CCh, protocols utilized, experience with insurance coverage, clinical and patient-reported outcomes, and provider perspectives on the discontinuation of CCh. Overall response rate was 48.3% (29/60). A total of 89% of respondents were male, 61% were in practice more than 10 years, 32% were in an academic practice, and 46% had completed an Andrology/Sexual Medicine fellowship. A total of 93% of respondents felt that CCh was superior to other intralesional therapies for PD. In all, 86% reported a patient satisfaction rate of at least 50%, and the majority (75%) saw a clinically meaningful response. Only 7% expressed difficulty obtaining insurance coverage, with many providers (71%) achieving an insurance approval rate between 75 and 100%. Only 54% of respondents reported that they would continue treating PD in light of CCh's discontinuation, and 96% felt that CCh's discontinuation represents a loss to Canadian patients. In light of CCh's discontinuation, most (79%) are now more likely to offer surgical treatment. In conclusion, most CCh providers found CCh to be effective and were dismayed by its discontinuation. The survey demonstrated that due to the withdrawal of CCh from Canada, physicians' abilities to offer effective medical therapy may become limited, with more providers offering surgical options for PD.