PMCID: 10334222 (link)
Year: 2023
Reviewer Paper ID: 15
Project Paper ID: 57
Q1 - Title(show question description)
Explanation: The title of the manuscript clearly identifies the study as an economic evaluation by mentioning 'Cost-effectiveness' and specifies the interventions being compared, which are 'adjuvant atezolizumab' for patients with stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ non-small-cell lung cancer.
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'Cost-effectiveness of adjuvant atezolizumab for patients with stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ non-small-cell lung cancer.'
Q2 - Abstract(show question description)
Explanation: The abstract provides a structured summary that includes context (aim and significance), key methods (cost-effectiveness study using a Markov model), results (additional QALYs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio), and alternative analyses (scenario analysis showing similar findings in a Medicare population).
Quotes:
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Atezolizumab improved disease-free survival (DFS) versus best supportive care (BSC) as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ NSCLC in IMpower010.
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This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model...
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Atezolizumab provided 1.045 additional quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) at an incremental cost of $48,956, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,859/QALY.
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Scenario analysis showed similar findings in a Medicare population ($48,512/QALY).
Q3 - Background and objectives(show question description)
Explanation: The introduction of the manuscript adequately presents the context for the study, defines the study question, and discusses its practical relevance. It highlights the prevalence of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the limited improvements in survival with traditional adjuvant treatments, thus emphasizing the potential of atezolizumab as a beneficial alternative. Furthermore, it underlines the importance of quantifying the cost-effectiveness of such therapies for payer decision-making.
Quotes:
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Lung cancer is responsible for the most cancer-related deaths in the USA. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority (88%) of all lung cancer cases.
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Improvements in overall survival have been modest for patients with eNSCLC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, with high rates of recurrence, especially for patients with stage II-IIIA disease.
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Quantifying the cost-effectiveness of new therapies is essential to understanding their value and to informing payer decisions.
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Therefore, this study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab versus BSC following adjuvant chemotherapy from a US payer perspective using a $150,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold.
Q4 - Health economic analysis plan(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript does not specify the development or availability of a detailed health economic analysis plan. The methods section provides an overview of the Markov model and assumptions used, but there is no mention of a formal analysis plan document or its availability.
Quotes:
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A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on >=1% of tumor cells.
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Quantifying the cost-effectiveness of new therapies is essential to understanding their value and to informing payer decisions.
Q5 - Study population(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript does not provide explicit details on the characteristics like age range, demographics, socioeconomic, or clinical specifics of the study population, other than the condition of the patients and certain clinical criteria. It primarily focuses on the cost-effectiveness analysis and treatment evaluations.
Quotes:
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"Atezolizumab treatment is 'cost-effective' for people in the USA with stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ non-small-cell lung cancer after surgery and chemotherapy. Until recently, people whose doctors told them they have stage II-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer with PD-L1 expression on >=1% of tumor cells (known as 'PD-L1+') did not have manytreatment options beyond chemotherapy after surgery."
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"A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on >=1% of tumor cells."
Q6 - Setting and location(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript provides relevant contextual information such as setting and location which may influence the findings. It specifies that the study is conducted from a US commercial payer perspective and includes cost-effectiveness analysis relevant to the US healthcare system. This geographic focus contextualizes the findings within the US, impacting the cost assessment and willingness-to-pay thresholds considered.
Quotes:
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This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective)...
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Atezolizumab is cost-effective... for adjuvant NSCLC treatment at a WTP threshold of $150,000/QALY.
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This study found that atezolizumab treatment was 'cost-effective' for people in the USA...when given after surgery and chemotherapy.
Q7 - Comparators(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript describes the interventions of atezolizumab versus best supportive care (BSC) in detail and provides the rationale for comparing these strategies. It also highlights the treatment setting and context, including the use of atezolizumab as an adjuvant treatment post-surgery and chemotherapy for stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ NSCLC, along with its cost-effectiveness from a US commercial payer perspective.
Quotes:
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"The programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy (IO) atezolizumab demonstrated a significant disease-free survival (DFS) benefit compared with best supportive care (BSC) among resected patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy based on the randomized, open-label, Phase III IMpower010 clinical trial (NCT02486718)."
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"A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on >=1% of tumor cells."
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"When this study was conducted, atezolizumab was the first and only IO approved in the adjuvant setting for patients with eNSCLC in the USA, for which the previous standard of care was chemotherapy alone after resection. "
Q8 - Perspective(show question description)
Explanation: The study adopted a US commercial payer perspective, which was chosen to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab against best supportive care in terms of its impact on the US healthcare system's financial outcomes. The choice aligns with the objective to inform payer decisions regarding the value of treatment options and possibly insurance coverage considerations.
Quotes:
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'This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model...with a lifetime time horizon.'
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'Quantifying the cost-effectiveness of new therapies is essential to understanding their value and to informing payer decisions.'
Q9 - Time horizon(show question description)
Explanation: The study uses a lifetime time horizon, which is appropriate for capturing all relevant long-term costs and outcomes associated with the interventions being evaluated for treating stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ NSCLC with atezolizumab.
Quotes:
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This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model with DFS, locoregional recurrence, first- and second-line metastatic recurrence and death health states, and a lifetime time horizon with 3% annual discounting.
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The model was developed from a US commercial payer perspective using a lifetime time horizon.
Q10 - Discount rate(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript specifies that a 3% annual discount rate was applied in the cost-effectiveness analysis of atezolizumab versus best supportive care. This is a standard approach in health economic modeling to account for the time preference of costs and benefits.
Quotes:
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This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model with DFS, locoregional recurrence, first- and second-line metastatic recurrence and death health states, and a lifetime time horizon with 3% annual discounting.
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Both costs and QALYs were discounted at a rate of 3% per year.
Q11 - Selection of outcomes(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript outlines the methods used to measure both benefits and harms. Benefits were measured in terms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), while harms were assessed through costs associated with treatments and adverse events, and reductions in the quality of life due to disease progression and metastasis.
Quotes:
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Atezolizumab provided 1.045 additional quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) at an incremental cost of $48,956, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,859/QALY.
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During each 1-month cycle, the probabilities of death, LR, or MR were based on data from IMpower010.
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Costs associated with the management of common adverse events (AEs)...
Q12 - Measurement of outcomes(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript specifies that outcomes were measured using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), which captures both the benefits and the harms associated with the treatment. This measurement allows for the evaluation of survival benefits and cost-effectiveness of treatments over time.
Quotes:
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Atezolizumab provided 1.045 additional quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) at an incremental cost of $48,956, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,859/QALY.
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In the base case analysis, atezolizumab generated 1.05 additional QALYs at an additional cost of $48,956.
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Both costs and QALYs were discounted at a rate of 3% per year.
Q13 - Valuation of outcomes(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript describes the population as adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on >=1% of tumor cells. The primary method described for measuring and valuing outcomes is a Markov model evaluated from a US commercial payer perspective, employing a lifetime time horizon with monthly cycle transitions across various health states.
Quotes:
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A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on >=1% of tumor cells.
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The model was developed from a US commercial payer perspective using a lifetime time horizon. Moreover, it uses a monthly cycle length and, as such, uses monthly probabilities to inform transitions across health states.
Q14 - Measurement and valuation of resources and costs(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript includes a detailed explanation of how costs were valued. It specifies that all costs were considered from a US payer perspective and expressed in 2022 dollars, adjusted for inflation. Costs included treatment, procedures, administration, and management of adverse events, using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources.
Quotes:
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All costs from a US payer perspective are included and expressed in 2022 US dollars adjusted for inflation using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
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Treatment costs for patients with eNSCLC in the intervention arm included atezolizumab 1200 mg every 3 weeks for a treatment duration based on time-to-off treatment from the IMpower010 clinical trial, followed by follow-up care for up to 5 years.
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End-of-life costs include all hospital utilization and spending within the last 6 months of life for patients who do not receive hospice care but do include nursing home costs (Supplementary Table 3).
Q15 - Currency, price, date, and conversion(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript provides a clear answer regarding the currency and year used for cost estimation. It specifies that all costs were expressed in 2022 US dollars, adjusted for inflation.
Quotes:
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All costs from a US payer perspective are included and expressed in 2022 US dollars adjusted for inflation using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Q16 - Rationale and description of model(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript thoroughly describes the use of a Markov model, providing the rationale, modeling details, and assumptions made. However, while it mentions the model is developed from a US commercial payer perspective, there is no explicit evidence that the model itself is publicly available or where it can be accessed from the text provided. Instead, details are supported by computations and clinical trials.
Quotes:
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"A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on \>=1% of tumor cells..."
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"The extrapolated DFS data were then adjusted based on input from clinical experts... During each 1-month cycle, the probabilities of death, LR, or MR were based on data from IMpower010. Transition probabilities among health states that were unavailable from IMpower010 were derived from the literature and other clinical trials (Table 1)."
Q17 - Analytics and assumptions(show question description)
Explanation: The methods section of the article describes specific statistical transformations and validation techniques used in modeling. These include extrapolation of DFS data using a log-logistic distribution and adjustments based on clinical expert input. It also details the use of deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses for model validation.
Quotes:
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'DFS data beyond the IMpower010 32-month follow-up period were extrapolated using a log-logistic distribution, which provided the most appropriate estimate of the proportion of patients receiving atezolizumab who may be disease free at 10 years based on goodness-of-fit criteria, specifically the Akaike Information Criteria and Bayesian Information Criteria.'
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'A deterministic 1-way sensitivity analysis was performed using the 20th and 80th percentile values as lower and upper bounds for each parameter to identify influential parameters. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the impact of the joint uncertainty of all model parameters and to test the robustness of model results.'
Q18 - Characterizing heterogeneity(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript does not mention specific methods for estimating how the results vary for different sub-groups. The focus is on the overall cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab versus best supportive care for the entire specified patient population, rather than different sub-groups.
Quotes:
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This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model...
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The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), calculated as the difference in costs divided by the difference in QALYs.
Q19 - Characterizing distributional effects(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript does not provide detailed information on how impacts were distributed across different individuals or whether adjustments were made to reflect priority populations in their cost-effectiveness analysis. The focus is on general results from scenario analyses and economic outcomes without adjustments explicitly mentioned for different population subgroups.
Quotes:
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This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model...
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Scenario analysis showed similar findings in a Medicare population ($48,512/QALY).
Q20 - Characterizing uncertainty(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript outlines methods for characterizing sources of uncertainty using both deterministic one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. These methods assess the impact of uncertainty in model parameters on the cost-effectiveness results.
Quotes:
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A deterministic 1-way sensitivity analysis was performed using the 20th and 80th percentile values as lower and upper bounds for each parameter to identify influential parameters.
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A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the impact of the joint uncertainty of all model parameters and to test the robustness of model results.
Q21 - Approach to engagement with patients and others affected by the study(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript does not mention any involvement of patients, service recipients, the general public, communities, or stakeholders in the design of the study. It focuses on describing the methodology employed, such as the use of a Markov model and cost-effectiveness analysis from a US payer perspective.
Quotes:
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A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC.
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This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab versus BSC following adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ NSCLC from a US commercial payer perspective.
Q22 - Study parameters(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript thoroughly reports analytic inputs or study parameters, including values and references for health state transition probabilities, costs, and utility values. Sensitivity analysis is performed to account for uncertainty, and details about the sources of these parameters are provided.
Quotes:
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'Transition probabilities among health states that were unavailable from IMpower010 were derived from the literature and other clinical trials (Table 1).'
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'Treatment costs for patients with eNSCLC in the intervention arm included atezolizumab 1200 mg every 3 weeks for a treatment duration based on time-to-off treatment from the IMpower010 clinical trial, followed by follow-up care for up to 5 years.'
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'During each 1-month cycle, the probabilities of death, LR, or MR were based on data from IMpower010. Transition probabilities among health states that were unavailable from IMpower010 were derived from the literature and other clinical trials (Table 1).'
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'Sensitivity analysis showed that the model was robust and most sensitive to time to rechallenging with IO in the 1L metastatic health state and that atezolizumab has an 91% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay of $150,000/QALY.'
Q23 - Summary of main results(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript reports specific incremental values for QALYs and costs, as well as the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, but does not provide mean values for the main categories of costs and outcomes. Instead, it focuses on incremental differences and cost-effectiveness ratios, which are not the same as mean values per category.
Quotes:
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Atezolizumab provided 1.045 additional quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) at an incremental cost of $48,956, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,859/QALY.
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Atezolizumab generated 1.05 additional QALYs at an additional cost of $48,956.
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The base case ICER for the comparison of atezolizumab versus BSC was $46,859/QALY.
Q24 - Effect of uncertainty(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript reports the effect of the choice of discount rate and time horizon as it uses a lifetime time horizon and applies a 3% annual discounting rate in its economic model. The model's structure and the impact of these parameters are discussed, suggesting consideration of their influence on the findings.
Quotes:
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This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model...and a lifetime time horizon with 3% annual discounting.
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Both costs and QALYs were discounted at a rate of 3% per year.
Q25 - Effect of engagement with patients and others affected by the study(show question description)
Explanation: The manuscript does not mention any involvement of patients, service recipients, the general public, community, or stakeholders in the research process. It focuses on cost-effectiveness analysis and model development based on prior clinical trial data and expert consultation.
Quotes:
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This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab versus BSC following adjuvant chemotherapy from a US payer perspective.
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A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment.
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The model was developed from a US commercial payer perspective using a lifetime time horizon.
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Health state utilities were derived from EQ-5D scores published in the literature or from the IMpower150 trial.
Q26 - Study findings, limitations, generalizability, and current knowledge(show questiondescription)
Explanation: The manuscript provides key findings regarding the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab, but lacks details on limitations, ethical considerations, or equity considerations. The discussion briefly mentions modeling limitations, but ethical or equity impacts are not addressed. Potential impacts on patients, policy, or practice are mentioned. However, the absence of specific ethical or equity considerations leads to a response of 'false.'
Quotes:
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The study demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab relative to BSC, with an ICER of $46,859/QALY and a WTP threshold of $150,000/QALY from a US commercial payer perspective.
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Interpretation of these findings should consider certain inherent limitations of cost-effectiveness modeling. Extrapolation of survival data from clinical trials leads to uncertainty around the incremental benefit of the intervention beyond the length of the trial follow-up period.
SECTION: TITLE
Cost-effectiveness of adjuvant atezolizumab for patients with stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ non-small-cell lung cancer
SECTION: ABSTRACT
Aims:
Atezolizumab improved disease-free survival (DFS) versus best supportive care (BSC) as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ NSCLC in IMpower010.
Materials & methods:
This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective):
This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model
This cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model with DFS, locoregional recurrence, first- and second-linThis cost-effectiveness study evaluated atezolizumab versus BSC (US commercial payer perspective) using a Markov model with DFS, locoregional recurrence, first- and second-line metastatic recurrence and death health states, and a lifetime time horizon with 3% annual discounting.
Results:
Atezolizumab provided 1.045 additional quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) at an incremental cost of $48,956, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,859/QALY.Atezolizumab provided 1.045 additional quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) at an incremental cost of $48,956, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,859/QALY. Scenario analysis showed similar findings in a Medicare population ($48,512/QALY).
Conclusion:
At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000/QALY and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,859/QALY, atezolizumab is cost-effective versus BSC for adjuvant NSCLC treatment.
Plain language summary
Atezolizumab treatment is 'cost-effective' for people in the USA with stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ non-small-cell lung cancer after surgery and chemotherapy. Until recently, people whose doctors told them they have stage II-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer with PD-L1 expression on =1% of tumor cells (known as 'PD-L1+') did not have many treatment options beyond chemotherapy after surgery. Their cancer often returns even after chemotherapy. One treatment called atezolizumab showed good survival results in clinical trials and is approved in the USA for treatment after the lung tumor has been removed in surgery. Understanding how better survival and quality of life is related to the costs of treatment (known as 'cost-effectiveness') is important. For example, insurance companies in the USA may use this information to decide what cancer drugs are preferred for insurance coverage. This study found that atezolizumab treatment was 'cost-effective' for people in the USA with stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ non-small-cell lung cancer when it was given after surgery and chemotherapy.
Tweetable abstract
Atezolizumab is cost-effective as adjuvant treatment after resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adults with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on =1% of tumor cells, with an ICER of $46,859/QALY, well below a willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000/QALY.
SECTION: INTRO
Lung cancer is responsible for the most cancer-related deaths in the USA. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for the majority (88%) of all lung cancer cases, and approximately half of all patients are diagnosed with early-stage NSCLC (eNSCLC), which is considered to be stages I, II or resectable stage III disease. The 5-year survival estimate is only 36% for patients with stage IIIA NSCLC. Surgical resection with or without neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy is the primary treatment option for operable patients with eNSCLC, and cisplatin-based chemotherapy has been the historical standard of care for adjuvant treatment of resectable stage IB-IIIA eNSCLC.
Improvements in overall survival have been modest for patients with eNSCLC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, with high rates of recurrence, especially for patients with stage II-IIIA disease. The programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy (IO) atezolizumab demonstrated a significant disease-free survival (DFS) benefit compared with best supportive care (BSC) among resected patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy based on the randomized, open-label, Phase III IMpower010 clinical trial (NCT02486718). In October 2021, atezolizumab was approved by US Food and Drug Administration as an adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adults with stage II-IIIA NSCLC (American Joint Committee on Cancer, 7th edition) and PD-L1 expression on =1% of tumor cells (PD-L1+).
Quantifying the cost-effectiveness of new therapies is essential to understanding their value and to informing payer decisions.Quantifying the cost-effectiveness of new therapies is essential to understanding their value and to informing payer decisions. When this study was conducted, atezolizumab was the first and only IO approved in the adjuvant setting for patients with eNSCLC in the USA, for which the previous standard of care was chemotherapy alone after resection. Therefore, this study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab versus BSC following adjuvant chemotherapy from a US payer perspective using a $150,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold.
SECTION: METHODS
Materials & methods
Model overview
A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on =1% of tumor cellsew
A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on =1% of tumor cells
A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment
A Markov model was developed to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of atezolizumab versus BSC as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with stage II-IIIA NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on =1% of tumor cells (Figure 1). The model was developed from a US commercial payer perspective using a lifetime time horizon.The model was developed from a US commercial payer perspective using a lifetime time horizon. Moreover, it uses a monthly cycle length and, as such, uses monthly probabilities to inform transitions across health states.
SECTION: FIG
Model structure.
1L: First line; 2L: Second line.
SECTION: METHODS
Health states
All patients start and remain in the DFS health state while alive and disease free. Patients can transition from the DFS health state to the locoregional recurrence (LR) health state and may be treated with curative treatment (80%) or palliative treatment or no treatment (20%). For both curative and palliative treatment, the model assumes that patients receive stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR; 25%), re-resection (25%), or systemic therapy (chemotherapy or IO) with or without radiotherapy (50%) for a maximum of 6 months. Patients with LR receiving treatment with curative intent can transition to first line (1L) metastatic recurrence (MR) or death. Those receiving palliative treatment or no treatment can only progress to death.
Patients transitioning to 1L MR from the DFS or LR health state may be treated (77%) or may not receive treatment (23%). Patients who receive treatment remain in this health state while they are alive and progression free and receive 1 of 4 treatment options for up to 12 months based on US clinical practice guidelines and clinical expert consultation (Supplementary Table 1). Those who receive treatment can progress to 2L MR or death, and those not receiving treatment can only transition to death.
Additionally, patients in the atezolizumab arm who experience LR or 1L MR are allowed to re-challenge with another IO depending on the timing of the recurrence. Specifically, patients are re-challenged with IO if recurrence occurs =17 months after atezolizumab initiation (or ~6 months after the end of 16 cycles of atezolizumab). If recurrence occurs 17 months after atezolizumab initiation, patients can only be re-treated with chemotherapy in the model. Patients transitioning to 2L MR may be treated (70%) or not treated (30%) after metastatic progression, based on consultation with US clinical experts. Four treatment options are available for treated patients (Supplementary Table 1).
Efficacy
DFS data beyond the IMpower010 32-month follow-up period were extrapolated using a log-logistic distribution, which provided the most appropriate estimate of the proportion of patients receiving atezolizumab who may be disease free at 10 years based on goodness-of-fit criteria, specifically the Akaike Information Criteria and Bayesian Information Criteria. The extrapolated DFS data were then adjusted based on input from clinical experts. The unadjusted and adjusted DFS curves are provided in Supplementary Figure 1. First, a cure adjustment was applied where a proportion of patients are assumed to no longer be at risk of a DFS event, such as recurrence or death. Based on the findings of Sonoda et al., the model assumes that a maximum of 91.5% of patients can be considered free of a DFS event (or 'cured') at 5 years post-surgery. Second, the model does not allow for the probability of an uncured patient with eNSCLC dying to be smaller than that of an individual from the general population. Also, among patients with eNSCLC who are considered cured and no longer at risk of cancer-related death, the model allows for their probability of death to be adjusted with a standardized mortality ratio to account for excess mortality of 25% faced by these patients relative to the general population. Finally, the model allows the treatment effect of atezolizumab to decrease over time, but there are insufficient data from IMpower010 and the literature to identify the time point where the treatment effect of atezolizumab ceases. Therefore, the model assumes that it ceases at year 5 based on clinical expert opinion.
During each 1-month cycle, the probabilities of death, LR, or MR were based on data from IMpower010. Transition probabilities among health states that were unavailable from IMpower010 were derived from the literature and other clinical trials (Table 1).During each 1-month cycle, the probabilities of death, LR, or MR were based on data from IMpower010. Transition probabilities among health states that were unavailable from IMpower010 were derived from the literature and other clinical trials (Table 1).
SECTION: TABLE
Health state transition probabilities from sources outside of IMpower010 trial.
Transition from Transition to Transition probability Source Ref. LR LR curative treatment with chemoradiotherapy 1L MR 0.02 Nakamichi et al. 2017 LR curative treatment with radiotherapy alone 1L MR 0.03 Nakamichi et al. 2017 LR palliative or no treatment Death 0.08 Kruser et al. 2014 1L MR 1L MR IO rechallenge 2L MR 0.07 IMpower150 (cutoff 13 September 2019) 1L MR IO no rechallenge 2L MR 0.11 IMpower150 (cutoff 13 September 2019) 1L MR BSC 2L MR 0.07 IMpower150 (cutoff 13 September 2019) PFS IO 2L MR 0.12 IMpower150 (cutoff 13 September 2019) 1L MR chemotherapy 2L MR 0.11 IMpower150 (cutoff 13 September 2019) 1L MR no treatment Death 0.10 Wong et al. 2016 2L MR 2L MR IO rechallenge Death 0.06 OAK trial (cutoff 7 July 2016) 2L MR IO no rechallenge Death 0.07 OAK trial (cutoff 7 July 2016) 2L MR BSC Death 0.06 OAK trial (cutoff 7 July 2016) 2L MR no treatment Death 0.10 Wong et al. 2016
1L: First line; 2L: Second line; BSC: Best supportive care; IO: Immunotherapy; LR: Locoregional recurrence; MR: Metastatic recurrence; PFS: Progression-free survival.
SECTION: METHODS
Costs
All costs from a US payer perspective are included and expressed in 2022 US dollars adjusted for inflation using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The model includes costs associated with treatment of eNSCLC as well as for LR or MR, which include both drugs and procedures. In addition, the model considers administration costs and costs associated with the management of common adverse events (AEs).
Treatment costs for patients with eNSCLC in the intervention arm included atezolizumab 1200 mg every 3 weeks for a treatment duration based on time-to-off treatment from the IMpower010 clinical trial, followed by follow-up care for up to 5 years. Patients in the BSC arm only receive follow-up care for up to 5 years. Commercial drug costs used weighted average costs from the Medi-Span Price Rx database (Price Rx.Medi-Span.com, accessed February 2022), and Medicare drug costs used the average selling price from the Medicare Fee Schedule 2022 (Supplementary Table 2). The indicated dosing for each product was based on the prescribing information, and the dosing for IO and chemotherapy regimens followed US treatment guidelines.
The specific regimens for the treatment of recurrence and their market shares are provided in Supplementary Table 1. LR costs include radiotherapy cost per fraction at $297 and a one-time cost for biopsy of $2499 during the first LR and/or 1L MR. Other costs associated with LR - such as radiotherapy, biopsy, SABR, or re-resection - are provided in Supplementary Table 3.
Drug administration costs from the commercial perspective were based on IBM MarketScan data analysis, and Medicare administration costs were from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services Physician Fee Schedule (Supplementary Table 3). Follow-up care comprised computed tomography scans every 6 months for 3 years based on US treatment guidelines and clinical expert consultation (Supplementary Table 3). End-of-life costs include all hospital utilization and spending within the last 6 months of life for patients who do not receive hospice care but do include nursing home costs (Supplementary Table 3).
Finally, the model captures the costs associated with the management of treatment-related grade =3 AEs for atezolizumab patients in the DFS health state (Supplementary Table 4) based on the IMpower010 trial, with AE-related costs from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Monthly AE management costs are provided in Supplementary Tables 4. The model assumes that patients on IO and chemotherapy realize these AE management costs associated with atezolizumab and chemotherapy regimens used in the trials, regardless of the specific drug that they receive for treatment.
Health state utilities
Since IMpower010 did not collect patient-reported outcomes, health state utilities were derived from EQ-5D scores published in the literature or from the IMpower150 trial (Table 2). The health state utility values in the model decrease with progressive disease. However, the utility values are not time-variant and may be greater than age-adjusted general population utility values in certain cycles. In those cases, the model switches to use of age-adjusted general population utility values from Ara and Brazier (2011). This adjustment is necessary to ensure that the model does not assume that patients with eNSCLC have a better quality of life than the general population.
SECTION: TABLE
Health state utility values based on EQ-5D scores.
Health state Base case value Population Tariff Source Ref. Disease-free survival 0.76 Canada USA Jang et al. 2010 Locoregional recurrence, curative 0.73 Europe, Canada, Australia, Turkey UK Chouaid et al. 2013 Locoregional recurrence, palliative 0.62 The Netherlands Not specified van den Hout et al. 2006 1L metastatic recurrence 0.71 IMpower150 clinical trial population US Socinski et al. 2018 2L metastatic recurrence 0.67 IMpower150 clinical trial population US Socinski et al. 2018 1L metastatic recurrence, 2L recurrence not treated 0.62 The Netherlands Not specified van den Hout et al. 2006
1L: First line; 2L: Second line.
SECTION: METHODS
Analyses
The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), calculated as the difference in costs divided by the difference in QALYs. Both costs and QALYs were discounted at a rate of 3% per year.Both costs and QALYs were discounted at a rate of 3% per year. A deterministic 1-way sensitivity analysis was performed using the 20th and 80th percentile values as lower and upper bounds for each parameter to identify influential parameters. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the impact of the joint uncertainty of all model parameters and to test the robustness of model results.A deterministic 1-way sensitivity analysis was performed using the 20th and 80th percentile values as lower and upper bounds for each parameter to identify influential parameters. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the impact of the joint uncertainty of all model parameters and to test the robustness of model results. Last, a scenario analysis was performed using Medicare-specific costs and assuming an average patient age of 65 years to reflect the Medicare population perspective.
SECTION: RESULTS
Results
Base case cost-effectiveness results
In the base case analysis, atezolizumab generated 1.05 additional QALYs at an additional cost of $48,956. The base case ICER for the comparison of atezolizumab versus BSC was $46,859/QALY (Table 3), which is below the $150,000/QALY WTP threshold. The relatively higher drug treatment costs associated with atezolizumab during the DFS health state were partly offset by the lower treatment costs in later metastatic health states (Supplementary Table 5).
SECTION: TABLE
Base case cost-effectiveness results.
Atezolizumab BSC Incremental atezolizumab vs BSC ICER Total cost ($) 288,639 239,683 48,956 46,859/QALY QALYs 6.84 5.79 1.05
BSC: Best supportive care; ICER: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio; QALY: Quality-adjusted life-year.
SECTION: RESULTS
Sensitivity analysis results
The deterministic sensitivity analyses showed that no model parameters increased the ICER above the $150,000/QALY WTP threshold. The most influential variable was the time to rechallenge with IO in the 1L metastatic health state (Figure 2). Among the utility inputs, the model was most sensitive to the utility value in DFS, due to the time spent in DFS.
SECTION: FIG
Tornado diagram.
1L: First line; 2L: Second line; BSC: Best supportive care; CT: Computed tomography; DFS: Disease-free survival; LR: Locoregional recurrence; MR: Metastatic recurrence; MTx: Metastatic treatment; PFS: Progression-free survival.
SECTION: RESULTS
The results of the probabilistic sensitivity analyses were consistent with those of the base-case analysis, with an incremental cost of $50,549 and incremental QALY of 1.03, resulting in an ICER of $49,142/QALY. At a WTP threshold of $150,000/QALY, the probability of atezolizumab being cost-effective was ~91% (Figure 3).
SECTION: FIG
Cost-effectiveness acceptability curve.
ATZ: Atezolizumab; BSC: Best supportive care; WTP: Willingness-to-pay.
SECTION: RESULTS
Scenario analysis results
Results from the scenario analysis showed that atezolizumab is also cost-effective in the Medicare population, where atezolizumab generated 0.98 additional QALYs at an additional cost of $47,382 for an ICER of $48,512/QALY with atezolizumab versus BSC (Table 4).
SECTION: TABLE
Cost-effectiveness results from the Medicare scenario analysis.
Atezolizumab BSC Incremental atezolizumab vs BSC ICER Total cost ($) 276,479 229,097 47,382 48,512/QALY QALYs 6.302 5.325 0.977
BSC: Best supportive care; ICER: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio; QALY: Quality-adjusted life-year.
SECTION: DISCUSS
Discussion
This study demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab relative to BSC, with an ICER of $46,859/QALY and a WTP threshold of $150,000/QALY from a US commercial payer perspective. This result was driven primarily by patients spending more time in the DFS health state before transitioning to LR or metastatic disease, thereby decreasing treatment costs in the metastatic settings, as approximately a third of the treatment costs for the atezolizumab arm is accrued during the DFS health state after initial resection. Overall findings were similar in the scenario analysis that considered the Medicare perspective, with an ICER of $46,859/QALY. The sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the primary findings. The cost-effectiveness of new therapies is an important consideration for healthcare treatment decisions, especially given the increased focus on demonstrating value in the USA as evidenced by the recent development of value-based frameworks. While drug pricing policies are continually evolving in the USA, in light of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, there will be increasing focus on the price of new therapeutics and the value they bring to patients and health systems.
To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of cost-effectiveness of cancer IO for eNSCLC adjuvant treatment in the US setting, while there has been one cost-effectiveness study from the perspective of China's healthcare system. These results highlight how the incremental drug treatment costs with IO can offset the economic burden associated with future recurrences and death. The economic burden associated with recurrences and deaths in the eNSCLC have been previously reported. Sharma and colleagues (2022) reported an estimated 2387 of 4400 patients with eNSCLC in the USA would experience a recurrence within 5 years of BSC and would be eligible for adjuvant atezolizumab treatment. The authors estimated that 1030 recurrences and 369 deaths could be avoided with atezolizumab treatment, with subsequent reductions in recurrence-related costs of $785 million in direct costs and $32 million in terminal-care costs over 5 years. Others have also reported total all-cause healthcare costs to be nearly fivefold higher (+$4577 per patient per month) for patients with stage IA to IIIB NSCLC with recurrence over an average follow-up period of 30 months ($5889 vs $1312, respectively; p 0.001), driven largely by hospitalizations ($2739 vs $559 per patient per month, respectively). Thus, the longer time in the DFS health state observed for patients in the atezolizumab arm based on clinical trial data is likely to translate to meaningful healthcare savings for this patient population.
At the time of this publication, atezolizumab was the only IO approved in the eNSCLC adjuvant treatment setting. Nivolumab was also approved as neoadjuvant treatment in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy for patients with NSCLC, but was not included in this study scope, which focused on the adjuvant setting. Additional clinical trials of IO across treatment strategies are ongoing, and updated cost-effectiveness analyses will be needed.
Interpretation of these findings should consider certain inherent limitations of cost-effectiveness modeling. Extrapolation of survival data from clinical trials leads to uncertainty around the incremental benefit of the intervention beyond the length of the trial follow-up period. However, the extrapolation used the most conservative distribution. Additionally, health utilities were not collected in IMpower010, and model inputs were instead derived from the literature or other clinical trials, which may have introduced bias related to underlying differences between study populations. Additional healthcare costs associated with LR and MR that are unrelated to treatment or follow-up were not included in the base-case analysis. Indirect costs, such as work productivity, were also not considered. However, including these costs would likely decrease the incremental cost of atezolizumab and, thus, further improve the observed ICER for atezolizumab versus BSC.
SECTION: CONCL
Conclusion
Atezolizumab provided 1.05 additional QALYs at an additional cost of $48,956 with an ICER of $46,859/QALY, which is well below the $150,000/QALY WTP threshold. Sensitivity analysis showed the probability of atezolizumab being cost-effective to be 91%. The relatively higher drug costs associated with atezolizumab during the DFS health state were partly offset by delaying progression and lowering treatment costs in later metastatic health states. Atezolizumab is also cost-effective in the Medicare population, with an ICER of $48,512/QALY versus BSC. In conclusion, atezolizumab is cost-effective versus BSC for the adjuvant treatment of resected patients with PD-L1+ stage II-IIIA NSCLC at a WTP threshold of $150,000/QALY. Adjuvant atezolizumab is likely to offer additional value to patients and payers as the new standard of care in this setting.
Summary points
The 5-year survival of patients with eNSCLC is poor, especially among those with stage II to IIIA disease. Improvements in survival have been modest with adjuvant chemotherapy, with high rates of recurrence.
The PD-L1 IO atezolizumab significantly improved DFS compared with BSC and was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adults with stage II-IIIA NSCLC and PD-L1 expression on =1% of tumor cells based on the randomized, open-label, phase III IMpower010 clinical trial (NCT02486718).
This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of atezolizumab versus BSC following adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II-IIIA PD-L1+ NSCLC from a US commercial payer perspective.
In the base-case analysis, atezolizumab generated 1.05 additional QALY at an additional cost of $48,956, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $46,859/QALY.
Sensitivity analysis showed that the model was robust and most sensitive to time to rechallenging with IO in the 1L metastatic health state and that atezolizumab has an 91% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay of $150,000/QALY.
Scenario analysis showed that atezolizumab is also cost-effective in the Medicare population, providing 0.977 additional QALY at an additional cost of $47,382, for an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $48,512/QALY.
At a WTP threshold of $150,000/QALY, atezolizumab is cost-effective versus BSC for the adjuvant treatment of resected patients with PD-L1+ stage II-IIIA NSCLC; therefore, adjuvant atezolizumab is likely to offer additional value to patients and payers as the new standard of care in this setting.
SECTION: SUPPL
Supplementary Material
Supplementary data
To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.futuremedicine.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/imt-2022-0311
Author contributions
All authors made significant contributions to the work, whether in the conception, design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all areas; participated in the drafting, revising, and/or critical revision of the manuscript; gave final approval of the version to be submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
This study was sponsored by Genentech Inc, a member of the Roche Group. MD discloses research grants from Merck, Genentech, CellSight, Novartis, AbbVie, United Therapeutics, Verily, Varian, Celgene, and NIH grants: U01 CA231851-01 (PI: Krasnow) and RO1 CA206540-01 (PI: Sage), and consulting/advisory for BeiGene, AstraZeneca, Sanofi/Genzyme, Eurofins, and Janssen. SO, AJ, CN, JB and JSL are employees and shareholders of Genentech Inc, a member of the Roche Group. NJ is an employee and shareholder of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
Medical writing support for this manuscript, furnished by Jeff Frimpter, MPH, of Health Interactions, Inc, was provided by Genentech Inc, a member of the Roche Group.
Open access
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