Economic analysis of the phase III MENSA study evaluating mepolizumab for severe asthma with eosinophilic phenotype

ABSTRACT

Background: Severe eosinophilic asthma patients are at risk of exacerbations, which are associated with substantial costs. Mepolizumab lowers eosinophil levels and reduces exacerbation risk in severe eosinophilic asthma. We evaluated asthma-related exacerbation costs in mepolizumab-treated patients (versus placebo).

Methods: A within-trial economic analysis of the Mepolizumab as Adjunctive Therapy in Patients with Severe Asthma (MENSA) trial. Objectives were to quantify the incremental: (1) medical costs of asthma-related exacerbation; (2) asthma-related exacerbation emergency department visit/hospitalization costs; and (3) asthma-related total healthcare resource utilization.

Results: Mean medical costs of asthma-related exacerbations at 8 months were $969, $852, and $1692 in the mepolizumab 75 mg intravenous (IV), mepolizumab 100 mg subcutaneous (SC), and placebo groups, respectively (p = 0.16). Mean medical costs from emergency department visits or hospitalizations due to asthma-related exacerbations were $901, $795, and $1557 in the mepolizumab 75 mg IV, mepolizumab 100 mg SC, and placebo groups (p = 0.020). Asthma-related healthcare resource utilization (all services) was lower for the mepolizumab groups versus placebo.

Conclusions: Adding mepolizumab to standard-of-care treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma lowered asthma exacerbation-related medical costs/healthcare resource utilization; although the cost savings ranged from $723–$840 per patient, differences were not statistically significant.

KEYWORDS:

• Cost analysis
• eosinophilic phenotype
• exacerbation
• mepolizumab
• severe asthma

Declaration of interest

A Basu was employed by GSK at the time of the study. CF Bell is employed by GSK and holds stocks in GSK. A Dalal was employed by GSK at the time of the study. M Forshag is employed by GSK and holds stocks in GSK. SW Yancey is employed by GSK and holds stocks in GSK. S Nagar was employed by GSK at the time of the study and holds stocks in GSK. 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.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by GSK (study number HO-14-14297/201357).