Time and personnel costs associated with adverse event (AE) management among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Novel therapies improve clinical outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), although adverse event (AE) profiles differ. This study evaluated time and personnel costs of AE management among healthcare professionals (HCPs) treating patients with CLL with novel therapies.

Methods

A non-interventional prospective survey was conducted over 2 months. Eligible HCPs reported the time per day spent performing AE management activities for CLL patients treated with acalabrutinib, ibrutinib, or venetoclax. Mean time and personnel costs (USD) per activity were summarized and used to estimate the total annual costs of AE management for an average-sized oncology practice.

Results

For an average-sized practice (28 HCPs with an average of 56 CLL patients), the mean annual personnel cost of AE management for CLL patients on novel agents was estimated at $115,733. The personnel cost associated with acalabrutinib ($20,912) was less than half that of ibrutinib ($53,801) and venetoclax ($41,884), potentially due to fewer severe AEs and less time spent by oncologists managing AEs compared to other HCP types.

Conclusion

The substantial burden of AE management for patients with CLL may vary by treatment used. Acalabrutinib was associated with lower annual costs of AE management at an oncology practice level compared to ibrutinib and venetoclax.

KEYWORDS:

• Acalabrutinib
• adverse events
• chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• ibrutinib
• personnel costs
• oncology practice

Declaration of interest

S.K. Wahlstrom and K.J. Ryan are employees and shareholders of AstraZeneca. M. DerSarkissian is an employee of Analysis Group, Inc., a consulting firm that received funding from AstraZeneca to conduct this study, as well as funding from Takeda Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline for research outside the present study. R. Chang, Y. Gu, H. Guo, and M.S. Duh are employees of Analysis Group, Inc. C. Kunzweiler and F. Castriota were employees of Analysis Group, Inc. at the time this study was conducted. 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 apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

H. Patel, S.K. Wahlstrom, M. DerSarkissian, M.S. Duh, and K.J. Ryan were involved in study conception and design, data interpretation, and drafting of the work. C. Kunzweiler, F. Castriota, R. Chang, Y. Gu, and H. Guo were involved in study conception and design and data analysis. All authors critically revised the work for important intellectual content and approved the final version to be published. All authors agree to be accountable for the accuracy or integrity of every aspect of the work.

Other contributions

Medical writing and editorial assistance was provided by Mona Lisa Chanda, PhD, a professional medical writer employed at Analysis Group Inc. Assistance with data analysis was provided by Hoi Ching Cheung, a former employee of Analysis Group, Inc. Support for this assistance was provided by AstraZeneca. The authors would also like to thank the eligible healthcare providers and oncology practices for their participation in this study.

Data availability statement

De-identified data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, M. DerSarkissian. The data are not publicly available due to restrictions namely their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Prior presentations

Parts of this manuscript have been previously presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting; December 11–14, 2021; Atlanta, GA.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14737167.2023.2200167

Additional information

Funding

Support for this study/work was provided by AstraZeneca. All authors from AstraZeneca met the ICJME criteria for publication.