Evaluation of patient support program and adherence to long-acting injectable aripiprazole for patients utilizing injection local care centers

Abstract

Objective: Patient support programs, such as the ASSURE Program for long-acting injectable aripiprazole, are designed to help support access to medications, including long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics for patients with schizophrenia. This study was conducted to evaluate adherence to long-acting injectable aripiprazole among patients utilizing the program local care centers (LCC).

Methods: Data collected from participating LCC between October 2014 and February 2018 were utilized. Characteristics of patients receiving injections at LCC and participating in additional support services of the program, types of program offering utilized and patient cost share for long-acting injectable aripiprazole were described. Adherence, measured as the proportion of days covered (PDC) during follow-up, was estimated in patients utilizing the LCC for 6 months and 9 months. Patients with PDC ≥80% were considered adherent to treatment.

Results: Two hundred and thirty-four patients received at least one injection at participating LCC and enrolled in the patient support program. Mean (SD) age was 37.3 (13.5) years; 60.7% were male; 32.5% were covered by Medicare. In total, 157 and 87 patients were actively utilizing the LCC for at least 6 months and 9 months, respectively. PDC of 97% and 98% were reported among patients with 6 months and 9 months of follow-up, respectively, and patients were considered adherent to long-acting injectable aripiprazole during follow-up.

Conclusion: Patients utilizing the LCC demonstrated high medication adherence, suggesting that injection services provided by the centers may reduce barriers to treatment and help patients with schizophrenia remain on LAI antipsychotic treatment.

Keywords:

• Patient support program
• program evaluation
• medication adherence
• antipsychotic agents
• long-acting injectable antipsychotics
• schizophrenia

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This study was funded by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. Employees of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. were involved in the data analysis and interpretation, and in the preparation of the manuscript.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

CB, MB, and AS were contracted by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. to conduct this study. MG and HK are employees of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. Medical writing of the manuscript was provided by CB, MB, and AS, and was funded by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. A peer review on this manuscript has received compensation for serving on an advisory board for Alkermes related to their Aristada product. Their university receives research funds on their behalf from Alkermes, Otsuka, Janssen.

Acknowledgments

Programming and statistical support was provided by Kainan Sun of IQVIA.