Immune checkpoint inhibitors, first launched in 2011, have greatly improved survival rates for melanoma, kidney and lung cancers.
The cost of the drugs is increasing, rising from $360 million globally in 2011 to an estimated $37.3 billion in 2022, according to a report from Evernorth published July 19.
Evernorth, The Cigna Group's health services arm, offered three ways to help manage the costs of the drugs:
- ICI treatments cost less when administered in a physician's office than in an outpatient hospital setting.
Urvashi Patel, PhD, vice president of the Evernorth Research Institute, said despite the cost difference, Evernorth's research did not find a difference in the number or infusions or doses received at each site of care.
"ThIs represents an opportunity to control spending on these important treatments without affecting the quality of care, Dr. Patel said.
- Biomarker testing before treatment can ensure patients are a good candidate for the drugs. Patients who had biomarker testing were less likely to discontinue the drugs, Evernorth's research found.
- Health plans can identify wasteful spending during the duration of treatment. Clinical guidelines indicate ICI treatment for advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer should not last longer than 24 months, but Evernorth's research found more than 20 percent of patients continued ICI treatment longer than 2 years.