Immunotherapy tied to increased care costs, lower mortality: Study

Patients with metastatic melanoma who received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy paid more in care costs but experienced lower mortality than patients who did not receive the therapy, according to a working paper published March 4 by the National Bureau of Economic Research. 

Study authors used Medicare claims data to evaluate outcomes among metastatic melanoma patients after the first ICIs were approved by the FDA.

Here are three things to know from the research:

1. The FDA first approved an ICI for the treatment of metastatic melanoma in 2011 and two additional ICIs 2014.
   
   
2. Medicare costs per melanoma patient rose $19,000 after the first three ICIs were approved for treatment, representing a 59.3% increase in baseline spending.
   
   The “implied increase” in total treatment costs among patients with metastatic melanoma who received ICIs was $85,000.
   
   Spending increases were concentrated in the outpatient care setting.
   
   
3. One-year mortality among metastatic melanoma patients fell 6.2% after the first three ICIs were approved for treatment.
   
   Among metastatic melanoma patients who received ICIs, one-year mortality fell by 28%.

Read the full paper here.