Most insurance plans and Medicare plans pay less at mail order pharmacies than at retail pharmacies. However, some plans require that you use mail order pharmacies only if you need refills of over 30 days. If you need to change from 30-day refills to 90-day refills, you will have to get a new prescription from your doctor. If you have a 30-day quantity prescription, this is not possible.
Cost per QALY is $150,000
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, a nonprofit organization that evaluates the value of therapies, has estimated that the cost of Dupixent is $150,000 per QALY, which is equivalent to $170,000 per additional year of life. That figure is based on the costs of standard treatments, patient productivity and quality of life improvements. The Institute also took into account severity of the disease and the cost of other treatments.
In its analysis of the cost of dupilumab, the ICER concluded that the treatment was cost-effective, with a cost of approximately $150,000 per QALY, which was well below the $50-$150,000 per QALY threshold commonly cited. The study also found that dupilumab is self-administered, while other biologic therapies require professional administration.
Signs and symptoms of allergic reactions to DUPIXENT
DUPIXENT is a medication used to treat chronic rhinosinusitis in adults and eosinophilic esophagitis in children. As with any prescription medication, it is important to follow the directions carefully and report any symptoms of allergic reactions.
Allergic reactions to Dupixent can be mild or severe, and you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience them. In severe cases, your doctor will probably switch you to an alternative medication or discontinue the medication. For milder symptoms, you can take over-the-counter antihistamines and hydrocortisone cream.
DUPIXENT may increase the amount of eosinophils in your blood. These white blood cells help fight infection, but too much of them can cause inflammation. If you experience these symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider and get medical help. Symptoms may include joint pain, injection site reactions, or atopic dermatitis.
People with severe or frequent allergic reactions to Dupixent should avoid using it. Alcohol does not interact with Dupixent, but you should ask your doctor if you should drink alcohol while taking this medication. It’s important to avoid alcohol while taking Dupixent if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. If you’re worried about alcohol, talk to your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you to drink and what’s safe for you.
Acute allergic reactions to DUPIXENT may include a rash or itching, as well as swelling of the injection site. Some patients may also develop atopic eczema, which is a condition characterized by inflammation of the skin. There may also be fever.
Although most of these symptoms are short-term, they may be serious. Some may last for a few days, and others may persist for weeks. If they are severe, they can lead to vision loss. Some of these symptoms may require medical attention, so talk to your doctor immediately.
Some people also experience joint pain while taking Dupixent. This is a rare side effect, but it should not be ignored if it persists after treatment. If you’re experiencing joint pain, consult your doctor immediately and don’t stop taking Dupixent without your doctor’s approval.
Cost per QALY is $30,000
The drug’s cost per QALY is under the threshold set by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Research (ICER). The Institute contacted the drug companies ahead of time and published a draft analysis on Friday. The group concluded that the cost per QALY of Dupixent was below the threshold, at $30,000. It is worth mentioning that the Institute analyzed the cost per QALY using quality-adjusted life years (QALY) calculations.
The PBAC’s revised effective price is 8.3% lower than that of its March 2020 submission, and results in an ICER of $45,000 to $55,000/QALY. The PBAC also noted that it had included a lower dose for patients aged 12-17 years, as well as for patients whose body mass is less than 60 kg. This change should be accounted for in the financial estimates. The PBAC also applied uptake rates of 5.5% in year one and 7.5% in year six, which reflect the percentage of patients who continue to take the drug.
