The societal impact of obinutuzumab in the first-line treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma in Germany

• Published in: Journal of comparative effectiveness research 2020-10, Vol.9 (14), p.1017-1026
• Main Authors: Hofmann, Sarah, Himmler, Sebastian, Ostwald, Dennis, Dünzinger, Ulrich, Launonen, Aino, Thuresson, Per-Olof
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Cancer therapies; Chemotherapy; Clinical trials; Cost analysis; economic evaluation; Female; follicular lymphoma; Germany - epidemiology; Hematology; Humans; Immunotherapy; Lymphoma; Lymphoma, Follicular - drug therapy; Lymphoma, Follicular - mortality; Lymphoma, Follicular - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Monoclonal antibodies; Patients; Productivity; Rituximab - administration & dosage; societal value; Targeted cancer therapy; Treatment Outcome; Value added
• ISSN: 2042-6305; 2042-6313
• DOI: 10.2217/cer-2020-0131

In this study, we assessed the productivity gains associated with the use of obinutuzumab in combination with chemoimmunotherapy (G-chemo) in first-line treatment among follicular lymphoma patients. Health benefits, measured as an increase in progression-free survival, were translated into productivity gains in both paid and unpaid work using gross value added as productivity measure. From 2017 to 2030, 11,870 overall progression-free years can be gained by utilizing obinutuzumab. These progression-free years correspond to undiscounted productivity gains of about €187.9 million in paid work and about €535.9 million in unpaid work. Our study shows that the benefits of the use of obinutuzumab in the first-line treatment of follicular lymphoma extend beyond clinical advantages. Despite effective treatment options, follicular lymphoma is still incurable and is associated with frequent relapses. Patients with hematological cancers are among those most likely to experience work impairment due to their condition. Novel treatments such as an obinutuzumab-based chemotherapy, however, can improve patients’ progression-free survival considerably and enable them to pursue their everyday activities and participate in the labor market. In this study, we quantify how much work productivity can be generated by treating patients with an obinutuzumab-based therapy instead of with the alternative standard therapy. Our results show that, when taking together all expected new follicular lymphoma patients in Germany from 2017 to 2030, the overall productivity that can potentially be generated amounts to €723.8 million, including productivity from both paid work and unpaid work such as housekeeping or childcare. New study quantifies the productivity gains associated with the use of obinutuzumab in follicular lymphoma patients, including gains in paid work and in unpaid work.