title: Patterns of use of systemic therapies among patients with metastatic melanoma: a retrospective claims database analysis in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective analysis of the IMS PharMetrics Plus claims database aimed to describe the current real-world treatment patterns for metastatic melanoma in the USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included patients (aged ≥18 years) had ≥1 prescription for ipilimumab, vemurafenib, temozolomide or dacarbazine between 1 January 2011 and 31 August 2013; diagnosis of melanoma and metastasis before first use (index date); no index drug use prior to the index date; continuous health plan enrollment for ≥6 months before and ≥3 months after index date. Proportion of days covered (PDC) was defined as days exposed to index therapy divided by continuously enrolled days between index date and last prescription date.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1043 patients were included (median age 57 years, 63% male), of whom 39% received the index drug ipilimumab, 35% vemurafenib, 19% temozolomide and 7% dacarbazine. Mean treatment duration (days) was 174 (vemurafenib), 100 (temozolomide) and 64 (dacarbazine). Mean PDC was 81% (vemurafenib), 67% (temozolomide) and 51% (dacarbazine). For patients receiving ipilimumab, 58% had the full 4 doses, 20% 3 doses, 14% 2 doses and 9% 1 dose only for the first induction course; 4% received re-induction, and none had a second re-induction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides insights into the treatment patterns for metastatic melanoma, including newer agents, in real-world clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Global Health Economics , Amgen Inc , Thousand Oaks , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Qiufei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: b Health Economics & Outcomes Research, IMS Health , Fairfax , VA , USA.
authors.forename: Yaozhu Juliette
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: b Health Economics & Outcomes Research, IMS Health , Fairfax , VA , USA.
authors.forename: Dionne M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.affiliation: c Real World Evidence Solutions, IMS Health , San Francisco , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munakata
authors.affiliation: d Department of Medical Affairs , Amgen Inc , Thousand Oaks , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Batty
authors.affiliation: a Department of Global Health Economics , Amgen Inc , Thousand Oaks , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Beth Louise
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.affiliation: a Department of Global Health Economics , Amgen Inc , Thousand Oaks , CA , USA.
authors.forename: Zhongyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D000074324:Ipilimumab / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077204:Temozolomide; D014481:United States; D000077484:Vemurafenib; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D000074324:Ipilimumab; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077484:Vemurafenib; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide
keywords: Ipilimumab; dacarbazine; temozolomide; vemurafenib