Real-World Eculizumab Dosing Patterns Among Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria in a US Population.

Purpose: Current pharmacologic management of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) consists of C5 inhibitors, eculizumab and ravulizumab; however, because patients experience incomplete symptom control, off-label doses may be utilized. We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of provider-based claims data to assess the real-world eculizumab dosing patterns in PNH patients. Patients and Methods: Patients were ≥12 years, received ≥2 eculizumab infusions between January 1, 2015 and September 30, 2019, and had ≥3 months of continuous clinical activity prior to index. The index date was the first claim for eculizumab. Patients with ≥1 diagnosis of another indication for eculizumab were excluded. Treatment patterns including the proportion with high, label-recommended, and low dosages during induction (first 28 days) and maintenance (beginning day 29) phases were described. The proportion and time-to-first dose escalation, defined as an increase in dose or frequency of infusion, were assessed among a subset of patients (ie, escalation analysis cohort). Results: A total of 707 patients were examined. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) starting dose was 862mg (412mg) and was higher than label-recommended 600mg for 64% of the patients. Mean (SD) dose per infusion was 859mg (391mg) during the induction phase; average dose was higher than label-recommended 600mg for 68%. Mean (SD) dose per infusion during the maintenance phase was 1005mg (335mg); average dose was higher than label-recommended 900mg for 43%. Dose escalation occurred in 40/121 escalation analysis cohort patients. Median time-to-first dose escalation was ~12 months. Conclusion: Results suggest that deviations from label-recommended dosing patterns were common. Future budget impact assessments of eculizumab should account for real-world dosing patterns to comprehensively assess costs and benefits.

Literature Review of Fatigue Scales and Association with Clinically Meaningful Improvements in Outcomes Among Patients With and Without Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria.

INTRODUCTION: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare blood disorder characterized by anemia and debilitating fatigue. Limited evidence characterizes the association between hemoglobin, an indicator of anemia and disease activity, and patient-reported fatigue scales. This review identifies benchmarks for clinically meaningful improvements in patients with and without PNH. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and PsycINFO databases were searched along with Google Scholar to identify publications for patients with and without PNH. Full-text articles and conference abstracts of clinical trials or observational studies that examined patient-reported fatigue or associations between fatigue and hemoglobin were included. RESULTS: Fourteen publications were included in this study. Four clinical trials conducted in patients with PNH reported that patients achieved and sustained clinically meaningful improvements in fatigue. However, these studies did not examine the association between fatigue and hemoglobin. Ten studies conducted in patients with cancer and anemia (with or without chemotherapy) demonstrated an association between increased hemoglobin and improvements in fatigue (P < 0.05). The greatest incremental gain in fatigue improvement was observed when hemoglobin increased from 11 to 12 g/dL. CONCLUSION: Evidence among patients with cancer without PNH demonstrates that increased hemoglobin levels are associated with clinically significant improvements in fatigue. Future studies should validate this relationship among patients with PNH.

The burden of illness in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria receiving treatment with the C5-inhibitors eculizumab or ravulizumab: results from a US patient survey.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare and life-threatening disease with symptoms of hemolysis and thrombosis. Current therapies for this complement-mediated disease rely predominantly on inhibition of the C5 complement protein. However, data on treatment responses and quality of life in C5-inhibitor (C5i)-treated PNH patients are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine C5i treatment effects on clinical parameters, PNH symptoms, quality of life, and resource use for PNH patients. This cross-sectional study surveyed 122 individuals in the USA receiving treatment for PNH with C5-targeted monoclonal antibodies, eculizumab (ECU) or ravulizumab (RAV). Despite most patients receiving C5i therapy for ≥ 3 months (ECU 100%, n = 35; RAV 95.4%, n = 83), many patients remained anemic with hemoglobin levels ≤ 12 g/dL in 87.5% (n = 28/32) and 82.9% (n = 68/82) of ECU and RAV recipients, respectively. A majority of patients on ECU (88.6%; n = 31/35) and RAV (74.7%; n = 65/87) reported fatigue symptoms. Among PNH patients receiving C5i therapy for ≥ 12 months, some still reported thrombotic events (ECU, 10.0%, n = 1/10; RAV, 23.5%, n = 4/17) and required transfusions within the past year (ECU, 52.2%, n = 12/23; RAV, 22.6%, n = 7/31). Other patient-reported PNH symptoms included breakthrough hemolysis, shortness of breath, and headaches. Patients reported scores below the average population norms on the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) scales. Overall, this study found that PNH patients receiving ECU or RAV therapy demonstrated a significant burden of illness, highlighting the need for improved PNH therapies.

Comparative effectiveness of pegcetacoplan versus ravulizumab in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria previously treated with eculizumab: a matching-adjusted indirect comparison.

OBJECTIVE: In the absence of a head-to-head study, we assessed the comparative effectiveness of pegcetacoplan, a targeted C3 complement inhibitor, vs. ravulizumab, a C5 complement inhibitor, among patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) previously treated with eculizumab using matching-adjusted indirect comparison methodology. METHODS: Individual patient data from the PEGASUS study (NCT03500549) comparing pegcetacoplan and eculizumab enabled adjustment for baseline differences compared with published results from the ALXN1210-PNH-302 study (NCT03056040), comparing ravulizumab and eculizumab. Adjusted differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed via weighted Wald tests for comparisons of pegcetacoplan vs. ravulizumab, anchored to the common comparator eculizumab. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients from PEGASUS (36 pegcetacoplan; 32 eculizumab) and 195 from ALXN1210-PNH-302 (97 ravulizumab; 98 eculizumab) were included. Compared with ravulizumab, treatment with pegcetacoplan was associated with more transfusion avoidance (adjusted difference [95% CI] = +71.4% [53.5%, 89.3%]), hemoglobin level stabilization (+75.5% [56.4%, 94.6%]), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level normalization (+64.0% [41.8%, 86.1%]), and fewer blood transfusions (-5.7 units [-7.2, -4.2]). Additionally, patients who received pegcetacoplan experienced clinically meaningful improvements in fatigue (+8.2 points [3.8, 12.6]), global health status (+9.6 points [0.1, 19.0]), physical functioning (+11.5 points [3.6, 19.5]), and fatigue symptoms (-13.3 points [-23.7, -3.0]), compared with ravulizumab. Mean change from baseline in LDH level was not significantly different for pegcetacoplan vs. ravulizumab. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that among patients previously treated with eculizumab, clinical, hematological, and quality of life endpoints were better for patients who received the C3 complement inhibitor pegcetacoplan vs. patients who received ravulizumab, a C5 complement inhibitor.

Real-World Healthcare Resource Utilization (HRU) and Costs of Patients with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Receiving Eculizumab in a US Population.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the economic burden and treatment patterns of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) treated with eculizumab, a C5 inhibitor, who were defined as blood transfusion-dependent (TD) versus blood transfusion-free (TF) in the US population. METHODS: Patients aged at least 12 years with at least two claims for eculizumab infusion (first claim was the index date) were identified from the IBM® MarketScan® Research Databases (April 1, 2014-September 30, 2019). The overall PNH eculizumab user cohort was stratified into the TD cohort (i.e., at least one claim for blood transfusion within 6 months following any eculizumab infusion, including on the infusion date) or the TF cohort (i.e., all non-TD patients). Treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and costs were evaluated and compared during follow-up (i.e., index date to end of enrollment or data availability). RESULTS: Of 151 patients in the overall cohort (mean age 36.7 years; 55.6% female), 55 were TD (mean age 35.1 years; 67.3% female) and 96 were TF (mean age 37.6 years; 49.0% female). A total of 61% of patients (TD, 66%; TF, 58%) discontinued eculizumab, with TD patients having a shorter median time to discontinuation (TD, 0.5 years; TF, 0.9 years). TD patients had more all-cause hospitalizations than TF patients (p < 0.05). TD patients incurred higher all-cause direct medical costs (adjusted cost difference = $247,848) and medical-related absenteeism costs (adjusted cost difference = $4186) than TF patients (all p < 0.05), largely driven by hospitalizations. Similar trends were observed for PNH-related HRU and costs. CONCLUSIONS: The economic burden of patients with PNH treated with eculizumab is greater among those dependent on blood transfusions.

Continuous prophylaxis with recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein and conventional recombinant factor IX products: comparisons of efficacy and weekly factor consumption.

BACKGROUND: Continuous prophylaxis for patients with hemophilia B requires frequent injections that are burdensome and that may lead to suboptimal adherence and outcomes. Hence, therapies requiring less-frequent injections are needed. In the absence of head-to-head comparisons, this study compared the first extended-half-life-recombinant factor IX (rFIX) product-recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein (rFIXFc)-with conventional rFIX products based on annualized bleed rates (ABRs) and factor consumption reported in studies of continuous prophylaxis. METHODS: This study compared ABRs and weekly factor consumption rates in clinical studies of continuous prophylaxis treatment with rFIXFc and conventional rFIX products (identified by systematic literature review) in previously-treated adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe hemophilia B. Meta-analysis was used to pool ABRs reported for conventional rFIX products for comparison. Comparisons of weekly factor consumption were based on the mean, reported or estimated from the mean dose per injection. RESULTS: Five conventional rFIX studies (injections 1 to >3 times/week) met the criteria for comparison with once-weekly rFIXFc reported by the B-LONG study. The pooled mean ABR for conventional rFIX was slightly higher than but comparable to rFIXFc (difference=0.71; p = 0.210). Weekly factor consumption was significantly lower with rFIXFc than in conventional rFIX studies (difference in means = 42.8-74.5 IU/kg/week [93-161%], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Comparisons of clinical study results suggest weekly injections with rFIXFc result in similar bleeding rates and significantly lower weekly factor consumption compared with more-frequently-injected conventional rFIX products. The real-world effectiveness of rFIXFc may be higher based on results from a model of the impact of simulated differences in adherence.

Patient and parent preferences for characteristics of prophylactic treatment in hemophilia.

INTRODUCTION: New longer-acting factor products will potentially allow for less frequent infusion in prophylactic treatment of hemophilia. However, the role of administration frequency relative to other treatment attributes in determining preferences for prophylactic hemophilia treatment regimens is not well understood. AIM: To identify the relative importance of frequency of administration, efficacy, and other treatment characteristics among candidates for prophylactic treatment for hemophilia A and B. METHOD: An Internet survey was conducted among hemophilia patients and the parents of pediatric hemophilia patients in Australia, Canada, and the US. A monadic conjoint task was included in the survey, which varied frequency of administration (three, two, or one time per week for hemophilia A; twice weekly, weekly, or biweekly for hemophilia B), efficacy (no bleeding or breakthrough bleeding once every 4 months, 6 months, or 12 months), diluent volume (3 mL vs 2.5 mL for hemophilia A; 5 mL vs 3 mL for hemophilia B), vials per infusion (2 vs 1), reconstitution device (assembly required vs not), and manufacturer (established in hemophilia vs not). Respondents were asked their likelihood to switch from their current regimen to the presented treatment. Respondents were told to assume that other aspects of treatment, such as risk of inhibitor development, cost, and method of distribution, would remain the same. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients and/or parents of children with hemophilia A participated; another 32 were included in the exercise for hemophilia B. Relative importance was 47%, 24%, and 18% for frequency of administration, efficacy, and manufacturer, respectively, in hemophilia A; analogous values were 48%, 26%, and 21% in hemophilia B. The remaining attributes had little impact on preferences. CONCLUSION: Patients who are candidates for prophylaxis and their caregivers indicate a preference for reduced frequency of administration and high efficacy, but preferences were more sensitive to administration frequency than small changes in annual bleeding rate.

Adherence to clotting factors among persons with hemophilia A or B.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate adherence to clotting factor treatment and associated outcomes for patients with hemophilia using an integrated delivery database. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study tracking patients between 2006 and 2011. Patients with diagnosis codes for hemophilia were identified. Bleeding and complication rates were annualized over the study period. Medication adherence was assessed using prescription claims for clotting factors by examining sequential time periods of 180 days for each patient's continuous enrollment. Adherence within the time period was calculated using the 'days supply' field divided by 180 days. Under the assumption that severe patients should be treated prophylactically, patients were considered adherent within the time period if the ratio of 'days supply' to observed days was 60% or greater. RESULTS: A total of 207 patients (74.9 and 25.1% hemophilia A and B, respectively) met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. There were 101 (48.8%) mild, 32 (15.5%) moderate, and 74 (35.7%) severe patients with hemophilia. The percentage of time periods where adherence to clotting factors was 60% or greater was 14% (SD = 28%) for mild disease, 21% (SD = 32%) for moderate disease, and 51% (SD = 36%) for severe disease. Among patients with severe disease, 27 (36.5%) were adherent ≤ 30% of time periods, 22 (29.7%) adherent 31-70% of the time periods, and 25 (33.8%) were adherent ≥ 71% of time periods. Joint bleeding episodes and hospitalizations were uncommon events among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with severe disease, the majority (66.2%) were adherent <70% of the time.

Costs and utilization of hemophilia A and B patients with and without inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the health system costs among patients with hemophilia A and B with and without inhibitors over 5 years. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study utilizing medical and pharmacy electronic medical records and administrative encounters/claims data tracking US patients between 2006-2011. Patients with diagnosis codes for hemophilia A and B were identified. Patients with inhibitors were characterized by utilization of bypassing agents activated prothrombin complex concentrate or factor VIIa on two or more distinct dates. Severity was classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on laboratory tests of clotting factor. RESULTS: There were 160 hemophilia A patients and 54 hemophilia B patients identified. From this group, seven were designated as patients with inhibitors (five with hemophilia A and two with hemophilia B). Hemophilia A patients without inhibitors reported 65 (41.9%) as being severe, 19 (12.3%) as moderate, and 71 (45.8%) as mild. Hemophilia B patients without inhibitors reported nine (17.3%) had severe, 13 (25.0%) had moderate, and 30 (57.7%) had mild hemophilia. All patients with inhibitors had been hospitalized in the previous 5 years compared to 64 (41.3%) with hemophilia A without inhibitors and 22 (42.3%) with hemophilia B without inhibitors. The median aggregate cost per year (including factor and health resource use) was $325,780 for patients with inhibitors compared to $98,334 for hemophilia A patients without inhibitors and $23,265 for hemophilia B patients without inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that, while the frequency of inhibitors within the hemophilia cohort was low, there was a higher frequency of hospitalizations, and the associated median aggregate costs per year were 3-fold higher than those patients without inhibitors. In contrast, hemophilia B patients experience less severe disease and account for lower aggregate yearly costs compared to either patients with hemophilia A or patients with inhibitors.

Comparison of hemostatic matrix and standard hemostasis in patients undergoing primary TKA.

Bleeding after total knee arthroplasty increases the risk of pain, delayed rehabilitation, blood transfusion, and transfusion-associated complications. The authors compared pre- and postoperative decreases in hemoglobin as a surrogate for blood loss in consecutive patients treated at a single institution by the same surgeon (J.L.C.) using conventional hemostatic methods (electrocautery, suturing, or manual compression) or a gelatin and thrombin-based hemostatic matrix during total knee arthroplasty. Data were collected retrospectively by chart review. The population comprised 165 controls and 184 patients treated with hemostatic matrix. Median age was 66 years (range, 28-89 years); 66% were women. The arithmetic mean ± SD for the maximal postoperative decrease in hemoglobin was 3.18 ± 0.94 g/dL for controls and 2.19 ± 0.83 g/dL for the hemostatic matrix group. Least squares means estimates of the group difference (controls-hemostatic matrix) in the maximal decrease in hemoglobin was 0.96 g/dL (95% confidence interval, 0.77-1.14 mg/dL; P<.0001). Statistically significant covariate effects were observed for preoperative hemoglobin level (P<.0001) and body mass index (P=.0029). Transfusions were infrequent in both groups. The frequency of acceptable range of motion was high (control, 88%; hemostatic matrix, 84%). In both groups, overall mean tourniquet time was approximately 1 hour, and the most common length of stay was 3 to 5 days. No serious complications related to the hemostatic agent were observed. These data demonstrate that the use of a flowable hemostatic matrix results in less reduction in hemoglobin than the use of conventional hemostatic methods in patient undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Current concepts in reoperative cardiac surgery.

This article summarizes techniques used in reoperative cardiac surgery, outlines a risk-stratified approach to operative planning, and reviews the literature on outcomes after reoperative valvular and coronary surgery.

Choice of hemostatic agent and hospital length of stay in cardiovascular surgery.

Hemostatic agents (HAs) are efficacious in reducing blood loss during surgery, which may affect postoperative length of stay (LOS). The purpose of this study was to compare the expected and actual LOS by HA in cardiac procedures. Hospital claims data between 2003 and 2006 were extracted from a US service-level comparative database. Four cohorts for comparison were FLOSEAL, SURGICEL + thrombin, GELFOAM + thrombin, and other. Expected LOS was derived using 2006 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid LOS by diagnosis-related group, and 2-part regression models were created to assess outcome. A total of 36 950 discharges were included. FLOSEAL was associated with less likelihood of exceeding expected LOS compared with baseline (odds ratio = 0.791; P < .01). Among patients who did exceed expected LOS, FLOSEAL patients did so at a reduced rate (incidence rate ratio = 0.891; P < .01). Further assessment is warranted to distinguish products with favorable outcomes.