5-ASA to sulfasalazine drug switch program in patients with ulcerative colitis

To switch patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) from costlier 5-aminosalicylic acid compounds to sulfasalazine and assess (1) the cost savings, (2) the barriers to switching, and (3) adverse events (AEs) and adherence at 3 months after the drug switch.

An open-label, pharmacist-administered drug switch program coordinated at an academic inflammatory bowel disease center.

A clinical pharmacist contacted patients with UC who were prescreened by physicians and covered by specific insurers to enroll them in the drug switch program. Enrolled patients were followed for 3 months to assess AEs and medication adherence. Reasons for declining to participate were recorded.

A total of 205 eligible patients were identified; only 14 enrolled, and 10 remained on sulfasalazine for the entire 3-month follow-up period. The enrollment rate was only 4.9%, yet a net cost savings of $22,828/3-month to the insurer was achieved (including program administration costs but excluding AE costs), with co-pays reduced by approximately $25 per month per patient. The rate of AEs on sulfasalazine (28.6%) was similar to that found in previous reports. Significant unanticipated barriers to switching were encountered, namely patient desire to not alter an existing effective drug regimen.

A pharmacist-administered drug switch program in patients with UC was significantly more difficult than anticipated, with questionable achievement of cost savings. This experience suggests that future drug switches and studies should focus on patient preferences for drug switching, as this may have implications for switching from brand name to biosimilar drugs.