[Comparative costs study between ready-to-administer bag of gemcitabine and production in reconstitution unit]

Dose-banding is needed to rationalise cytotoxic drugs preparations. A new step was recently crossed: gemcitabine is the first molecule to be sold in ready-to-administer bag. What's the pharmaco-economic impact of gemcitabine ready-to-administer bags versus manufacturing in preparation unit?

A retrospective analysis of gemcitabine dosage prepared over three months permitted to explain our consumption of this drug, and by modelling, to characterize the good prescription interval for each dosage. Compared costs study assessed cost of medicine, preparation kit and preparation time.

Over the study period, for 5%, 7.5% and 10% of deviation, respectively 67%, 75% and 76% of preparations were covered by standard doses. We chose 7.5% interval. The manufacturing cost of gemcitabine infusions is around 30,000€/year for vials with solution for infusion, 32,300€ for vials with powder, versus 67,300€ for ready-to-administer bag. Approximately 7.75minutes of pharmacy technician time would be saved by preparation.

Ready-to-administer bags of gemcitabine allow relevant coverage of manufacturing doses. The annual extra cost would reach 37,200€ for our establishment. But, it can be justified by expected benefits: safer medication circuit, saving time of pharmacy technician….