In adult US managed care patients, 1-year treatment costs varied considerably among biologic therapies and 4 common inflammatory indications. This according to analysis of data from a commercial claims database covering 20,159 patients with inflammatory disease. Index medications were abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab, tocilizumab, ustekinumab, and tofacitinib. Researchers found:

• For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) only, costs were lowest for tofacitinib ($18,769), rituximab ($19,569), or abatacept ($21,877).

• For patients with psoriasis (PsO) only, costs were lowest for adalimumab ($29,186), etanercept ($31,212), and infliximab ($32,409).

• For patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) only, costs were lowest for etanercept ($26,916), golimumab ($27,987), and adalimumab ($28,749).

• Costs were lowest with etanercept for RA plus PsA ($25,477), and for PsO plus PSA ($29,376).

• Costs were lowest with golimumab for ankylosing spondylitis only ($24,225).

• Across indications, annual costs were $29,521 for adalimumab, $27,488 for etanercept, and $28,672 for infliximab.

• Persistence was greatest with infliximab (range 66% to 79%) vs 11% to 59% for all other biologics.

Citation: Chastek B, White J, Van Voorhis D, Tang D, Stolshek BS. A retrospective cohort study comparing utilization and costs of biologic therapies and JAK inhibitor therapy across four common inflammatory indications in adult US managed care patients. [Published online ahead of print March 12, 2016]. Adv Ther. doi:10.1007/s12325-016-0312-y.