Cost savings using a test-based de-escalation strategy for patients with Crohn's disease in remission on optimized infliximab: A discrete event model study

Abstract

Background: Drug de-escalation is considered in Crohn's disease patients in sustained remission on optimized infliximab treatment.

Aim: We built a model to evaluate the magnitude of cost savings in patients' disease course with or without drug de-escalation guided by infliximab trough levels.

Methods: We designed 4 virtual cohorts (P1-P4) of 10,000 patients in clinical remission on optimized infliximab treatment followed for 2 years. P1: no drug de-escalation - 10 mg/kg/8 weeks; P2: drug de-escalation from 10 mg/kg/8 weeks to 5 mg/kg/8 weeks according to trough levels; P3: no drug de-escalation - 10 mg/kg/6 weeks; and P4: drug de-escalation from 10 mg/kg/6 weeks to 10 mg/kg/8 weeks according to trough levels. For P2 and P4 cohorts, drug de-escalation was decided if trough levels were ≥7 μg/mL and no de-escalation if trough levels were <7 μg/mL. Only costs related to drug administration were considered.

Results: The cost differences when comparing P1 versus P2 and P3 versus P4 were 7.6% and 4.6%, respectively, corresponding to costs savings of €30.5 millions and €20.3 million for 10,000 patients.

Conclusion: Over a 2-year period, infliximab de-escalation according to trough levels led to cost saving of about 6%, corresponding to around €25.4 million.

Keywords: Cost saving; Crohn’s disease; Drug de-escalation; Infliximab.