Impact of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor on Healthcare Resource Utilization and Associated Costs Among People With Cystic Fibrosis in the US: A Retrospective Claims Analysis

Michael S Schechter; Natalia Sabater-Anaya; Gerry Oster; Derek Weycker; Hongsheng Wu; Emilio Arteaga-Solis; Sukirti Bagal; Lisa J McGarry; Kate Van Brunt; Jessica Morlando Geiger

doi:10.1007/s41030-023-00241-z

Impact of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor on Healthcare Resource Utilization and Associated Costs Among People With Cystic Fibrosis in the US: A Retrospective Claims Analysis

Pulm Ther. 2023 Dec;9(4):479-498. doi: 10.1007/s41030-023-00241-z. Epub 2023 Oct 24.

Affiliations

¹ Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, Children's Pavilion, Room 5-544, 1000 East Broad Street, PO Box 980315, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA. michael.schechter@vcuhealth.org.
² Policy Analysis Inc, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) is a CFTR modulator (CFTRm) that targets the underlying cause of CF. Based on safety and efficacy demonstrated in clinical trials, ELX/TEZ/IVA is approved in the US for the treatment of CF in people aged ≥ 2 years who have ≥ 1 F508del-CFTR mutation or a CFTR mutation that is responsive to ELX/TEZ/IVA based on in vitro data. While ELX/TEZ/IVA demonstrated unprecedented improvements in lung function and dramatic reductions in pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) and associated hospitalizations in clinical trials, a limited number of studies have examined the impact of ELX/TEZ/IVA on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and associated costs in a real-world setting. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate changes in PEx, HCRU, and associated non-CFTRm healthcare costs following initiation of ELX/TEZ/IVA among people with CF aged ≥ 12 years in the US.

Methods: We evaluated the rates of PEx, HCRU, and associated costs before and after initiation of ELX/TEZ/IVA in people with CF aged ≥ 12 years using data from the Merative MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database and the Merative Multi-State Medicaid Database from April 21, 2019 to December 31, 2020. Because the study period included time following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we limited our primary analysis to the period prior to the pandemic (October 21, 2019 to March 12, 2020). Outcomes following the onset of the pandemic (March 13 to December 31, 2020) were examined in an exploratory analysis.

Results: In both commercially insured and Medicaid-insured people with CF, ELX/TEZ/IVA was associated with reductions in PEx, hospitalizations, and associated costs prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and these reductions were maintained following the onset of the pandemic.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that ELX/TEZ/IVA reduces the burden and costs associated with PEx and hospitalizations in people with CF.

Keywords: CFTR modulator; Claims; Elexacaftor; HCRU; Healthcare cost; Healthcare resource utilization; Ivacaftor; Tezacaftor.