Cost-effectiveness of different treat-to-target strategies in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the DREAM registry

Comparative Effectiveness, Time to Discontinuation, and Patient-Reported Outcomes with Baricitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis: 2-Year Data from the Multinational, Prospective Observational RA-BE-REAL Study in European Patients

INTRODUCTION

RA-BE-REAL is a 3-year, multinational, prospective, observational study of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) evaluating time to discontinuation of initial RA treatment along with patient baseline characteristics. This study's primary objective was to assess the time to discontinuation of initial baricitinib, any other targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (tsDMARD), or any biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) treatment for all causes (excluding sustained clinical response) over 24 months in a European population.

METHODS

Patients initiated treatment with baricitinib (cohort A) or any bDMARD or tsDMARD (cohort B) for the first time. This study's primary objective was to assess the time to discontinuation of initial baricitinib, any other targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (tsDMARD), or any biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) treatment for all causes (excluding sustained clinical response) over 24 months in a European population. Comparative effectiveness analyses, over 24 months, included time to treatment discontinuation for all causes (excluding sustained clinical response), percentage of patients achieving Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission or low disease activity (LDA), as well as mean changes from baseline for CDAI, pain visual analogue scale, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI). For this European subpopulation, comparative analyses were performed using a frequentist model averaging (FMA) framework based on a data-driven machine learning causal inference approach to compare time to discontinuation, effectiveness, rates of remission or LDA, and patient-reported outcomes over 24 months comparing baricitinib with TNFi, as well as non-TNFi and tsDMARD grouped as other mechanism of action (OMA) drugs.

RESULTS

In the European sample of RA-BE-REAL, patients with RA treated with baricitinib experienced fewer discontinuations in comparison to those treated with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors or OMA. Overall, patients naïve to b/tsDMARDs achieved a higher rate of LDA and remission compared with experienced patients. A significantly greater proportion of patients treated with baricitinib achieved LDA compared with b/tsDMARDs.

CONCLUSION

This real-world data can better inform clinicians about baricitinib effectiveness and drug survival when prescribing treatment for patients with RA across different subpopulations.

Cost-utility analysis of tapering strategies of biologicals in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVES

Current guidelines recommend tapering biological disease-modifying antirheumatoid drugs (bDMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) if the disease is under control. However, guidelines on tapering are lacking. Assessing cost-effectiveness of different tapering strategies might provide broader input for creating guidelines on how to taper bDMARDs in patients with RA. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective of bDMARD tapering strategies in Dutch patients with RA, namely 50% dose reduction (tapering), discontinuation and a 50% dose reduction followed by discontinuation (de-escalation).

METHODS

Using a societal perspective, a Markov model with a life-time horizon of 30 years was used to simulate 3-monthly transitions between Disease Activity 28 (DAS28)-defined health states of remission (<2.6), low disease activity (2.63.2). Transition probabilities were estimated through literature search and random effects pooling. Incremental costs, incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and incremental net monetary benefits for each tapering strategy were compared with continuation. Deterministic, probabilistic sensitivity analyses and multiple scenario analyses were performed.

RESULTS

After 30 years, the ICERs were €115 157/QALY lost, €74 226/QALY lost and €67 137/QALY lost for tapering, de-escalation and discontinuation, respectively; mainly driven by bDMARD cost savings and a 72.8% probability of a loss in quality of life. This corresponds to a 76.1%, 64.3% and 60.1% probability of tapering, de-escalation and discontinuation being cost-effective, provided a willingness-to-accept threshold of €50 000/QALY lost.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these analyses, the 50% tapering approach saved the highest cost per QALY lost.

Neuropsychiatric adverse drug reactions associated with low dose methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis patients

BACKGROUND

Neuropsychiatric adverse drug reactions (NPADRs) are not commonly associated with low dose methotrexate (LDMTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this case series assessment, we described the nature and frequency of NPADRs with LDMTX in the Dutch DREAM-RA registry, including causality of NPADRs, the impact on further LDMTX treatment and the impact on patient reported Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL).

RESULTS

A total of 71 NPADRs (frequency 6.8%) associated with LDMTX were captured in the DREAM-RA registry. NPADRs were registered for 62 (5.9%) out of 1048 patients with 10.9 NPADRs per 1000 patient years. Headache, dizziness and depression were most frequently reported. The causality was considered probable for 67 NPADRs (94.4%) and definite for 1 NPADR (1.4%). NPADRs led to LDMTX withdrawal in 34 cases (47.9%) and was not restarted in 16 cases (47.1%). Median mental HRQoL was significantly decreased around the occurrence of the NPADR and remained significantly lower after the event. Median physical HRQoL was not significantly affected.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge on the nature, frequency and impact of the demonstrated NPADRs during LDMTX therapy will enhance attention toward these potential ADRs allowing better risk assessment and communication to patients.

Frequency of real-world reported adverse drug reactions in rheumatoid arthritis patients

OBJECTIVES

To describe the cumulative incidences of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from real-world data (RWD), using the DREAM-RA registry, and to compare these with incidence frequencies mentioned in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).

METHODS

All ADRs in patients with recorded use of adalimumab, etanercept, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, oral and subcutaneous methotrexate, and sulfasalazine from a single center participating in the DREAM-RA registry (n = 1,098 patients) that were directly sent to the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Center Lareb were assessed. Cumulative incidences were calculated, described and compared to the most recently revised SmPCs.

RESULTS

In total, 14 ADRs (≥5 case reports) associated with the use of one of the included DMARDs were reported with a higher estimated cumulative incidence compared to the SmPC. For hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine, 5 ADRs (≥5 case reports) mentioned with an 'unknown' incidence in the SmPC were reported as 'common' in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Although ADR data in the DREAM-RA registry were partly comparable with data in the SmPCs, RWD from this patient registry provided an added value to the currently available information on the incidences of ADRs associated with DMARDs in RA patients as described in SmPCs.

A modeling framework for the economic evaluation of baricitinib in moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives: The approval in more than 50 countries of baricitinib, an oral Janus Kinase inhibitor for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), warrants a framework for corresponding economic evaluations. To develop a comprehensive economic model assessing the cost-effectiveness of baricitinib for the treatment of moderately-to-severely active RA patients in comparison to other relevant treatments, considering the natural history of the disease, real world treatment patterns, and clinical evidence from the baricitinib trials.Methods: A systematic literature review of previously developed models in RA was conducted to inform the model structure, key modeling assumptions and data inputs. Consultations with rheumatologists were undertaken to validate the modeling approach and underlying assumptions.Results: A discrete event simulation model was developed to international best practices with flexibility to assess the cost-effectiveness of baricitinib over a lifetime in a variety of markets. The model incorporates treatment sequencing to adequately reflect treatment pathways in clinical practice. Outcomes assessed include cost and quality-adjusted life years, allowing for a full incremental analysis of cost-effectiveness of competing treatments and treatment sequences.Conclusion: The economic model developed provides a robust framework for future analyses assessing the cost-effectiveness of baricitinib for the treatment of RA in specific country settings.