Analysis compares costs of intravitreal anti-VEGF vs ranibizumab PDS for nAMD
The number of intravitreal ranibizumab or aflibercept injections required within the first year of treatment for neovascular age-related macular (nAMD) effects the cost-benefit of using ranibizumab port delivery system (PDS) with 1 refill, according to a study. Intravitreal bevacizumab injections were found to cost less than ranibizumab PDS throughout all the scenarios analyzed.
Mean (SD) number of injections to break even with the cost of ranibizumab PDS with 1 refill:
-Ranibizumab, 10.8 (1.3)
-Aflibercept, 9.3 (1.1)
-Bevacizumab, 34.5 (4.2)
The 1-year cost for ranibizumab PDS with fixed 6-month refills was $21,016 ($2102). In comparison, monthly intravitreal ranibizumab and aflibercept cost $1943 and $5702 more, respectively, whereas bevacizumab cost $16,732 less. Bimonthly injections of aflibercept cost $7658 less.
Compared with a projected cost of $89,218 over 5 years for PDS with fixed refills, monthly intravitreal ranibizumab and aflibercept was projected to cost $25,581 and $44,374 more, respectively, whereas the project cost of bevacizumab was $67,793 less. Bimonthly injections of aflibercept cost $22 ,422 less.
There was a cost savings at 5 years with ranibizumab PDS with refills compared with real-world intravitreal ranibizumab or aflibercept but not at 1 year, according to scenario analyses.
Reference
Sood S, Mandell J, Watane A, et al. Cost of Ranibizumab Port Delivery System vs Intravitreal Injections for Patients With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online June 16, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.1819
