title: Cost analysis of biologic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis first line treatment after methotrexate failure according to patients' body weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to assess the influence of patients' weight in the cost of rheumatoid arthritis treatment with biologic drugs used in first line after non-adequate response to methotrexate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmaceutical and administration costs were calculated in two scenarios: non-optimization and optimization of intravenous (IV) vials. The retrospective analysis of 66 patients from a Spanish 1,000 beds-hospital Rheumatology Clinic Service was used to obtain posology and weight data. The study time horizon was two years. Costs were expressed in 2013 euros.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For an average 69kg-weighted patient the lowest cost corresponded to abatacept subcutaneous (SC ABA) (€21,028.09) in the scenario without IV vials optimization and infliximab (IFX) (€20,779.29) with optimization. Considering patients' weight in the scenario without IV vials optimization infliximab (IFX) was the least expensive drug in patients ranged 45-49kg, IV ABA in 50-59kg and SC ABA in patients over 60kg. With IV vials optimization IFX was the least expensive drug in patients under 69kg and SC ABA over 70kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assuming comparable effectiveness of biological drugs, patient's weight is a variable to consider, potentials savings could reach €20,000 in two years.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología Clínica, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: José Andrés
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Román Ivorra
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología Clínica, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ivorra
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia Hospitalaria, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monte-Boquet
authors.affiliation: Bristol Myers Squibb, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canal
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia S.L., Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oyagüez
authors.affiliation: Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research Iberia S.L., Madrid, España. Electronic address: mgomezbarrera@porib.com.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Barrera
mesh_terms: D000069594:Abatacept / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D001835:Body Weight; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069594:Abatacept; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Artritis reumatoide; Costes; Costs; Patients’ weight; Peso de pacientes; Rheumatoid arthritis