title: 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.
authors.affiliation: a Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Anirban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: b US Value, Evidence and Outcomes, US Medical Affairs, GlaxoSmithKline , Durham , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.affiliation: c Personalized Medicine Asthma & Allergy Clinic Humanitas University, IRCCS-Humanitas Research Hospital , Rozzano-Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio Walter
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica
authors.affiliation: d US Medical Affairs, Respiratory Therapeutic Area, GlaxoSmithKline , Durham , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forshag
authors.affiliation: e R&D, Respiratory Therapeutic Area Unit, GlaxoSmithKline , Durham , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yancey
authors.affiliation: f Health Economics, RTI-Health Solutions , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nagar
authors.affiliation: b US Value, Evidence and Outcomes, US Medical Affairs, GlaxoSmithKline , Durham , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C434107:mepolizumab
keywords: Cost analysis; eosinophilic phenotype; exacerbation; mepolizumab; severe asthma