Lugano, Switzerland, February 3, 2023 – Helsinn Group (“Helsinn”), a fully integrated global biopharma company with a track record of over forty years of commercial execution and a strong focus in oncology and rare diseases, announces that research from a real-world study of netupitant or fosnetupitant with palonosetron (NEPA) has been published in the journal Future Oncology.
The article, “Antiemetic Use and Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting related Hospitalization Costs After Highly or Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy”, evaluates the effect of NEPA on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV)-related hospitalization costs. NEPA was compared to aprepitant/fosaprepitant-containing regimens among patients who received highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in the US. The company collaborated with Integra Connect, a leading provider of value-based, precision medicine solutions, to analyze real-world oncology data from its PrecisionQ database from approximately 1,200 providers in the US within 13 community oncology networks.
Results from the study indicate that CINV-related hospitalization costs were significantly lower in patients who received NEPA compared to aprepitant/fosaprepitant with ondansetron (APON) or aprepitant/fosaprepitant with palonosetron (APPA) (P <.0001 for both comparisons). The cost differences may be driven by the higher average cost per hospitalized patient and higher number of repeat hospitalizations in the APON and APPA groups. The study findings suggest that the downstream economic impact of antiemetic choice may differ depending on the combination of treatments.
Details of the publication:
- Title: Antiemetic Use and Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting related Hospitalization Costs After Highly or Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy
- Authors: Winnie W. Nelson, Varun Vaidya, Jeffery A. Scott, Brandon Wang, Hunter Lambert, Benjamin Holmes, and William L. Bailey
The study retrospectively analyzed electronic medical records and Medicare claims data from 15,583 patients (807 NEPA, 2023 APON, 12,753 APPA) who received the antiemetic regimens between 1 January 2018 and 31 October 2020. Hospitalizations with CINV as the primary reason for admission were identified and all incurred costs for these hospital stays were used in the cost accounting. Costs of CINV-related hospitalization were compared between the study groups using a generalized linear model with gamma distribution and log link and adjusted for demographic and clinical variables.
Dr. Winnie Nelson, Senior Director, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Helsinn Therapeutics (U.S.), and Lead Author commented: “There are multiple published studies showing the cost-effectiveness of NEPA based on clinical trial data. This real-world study has enabled us to further establish that NEPA has specific cost benefits in terms of CINV-related hospitalization, as compared to patients who receive aprepitant-containing combinations.”
“CINV-related hospitalizations are the costliest type of medical care that can be avoided with appropriate antiemetic strategy,” commented Dr. Jeffrey Scott, Chief Medical Officer and President of Population Health Solutions at Integra Connect. “It’s exciting to see leading life sciences organizations such as Helsinn leverage our real-world dataset and identify tangible actions providers can take to advance value-based care. Results from this study can help create a blueprint to support health care decision makers’ efforts to develop policies and enhance both patient care and economic outcomes.”
About AKYNZEO®
AKYNZEO® (netupitant 300mg/palonosetron 0.5mg) capsules was approved in October 2014 in the United States and is indicated in combination with dexamethasone in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of cancer chemotherapy, including, but not limited to, highly emetogenic chemotherapy.
AKYNZEO® (fosnetupitant 235mg/palonosetron 0.25) for injection was approved in April 2018 and AKYNZEO® injection was approved in May 2020 in the United States. Each is indicated in combination with dexamethasone in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy.
About Helsinn
Helsinn is a global pharmaceutical company that builds, manufactures, launches, and commercializes products to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer and chronic disease, with a focus on supportive care, oncology and dermato-oncology. Helsinn, headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, has direct commercial operations in the U.S. and a consolidated network of partners to reach out to patients in more than 190 countries worldwide.
Established in 1976, Helsinn is a fourth-generation family-owned company with broad pharmaceutical and technical expertise. Helsinn is proud of its history of operating with great integrity, passion and quality. The company is committed to continuously striving for innovation for its patients and embracing sustainable growth as a core element of its strategic vision.
To learn more about Helsinn, please visit www.helsinn.com or follow us on LinkedIn and x.
