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Budget Impact of Vericiguat for Treating Chronic Heart Failure in Japan
Koichiro Kuwahara1, Ataru Igarashi2,3, Takanori Tsuchiya4
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine Nagano Japan.
Insights
Vericiguat, a new treatment for chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), shows a minimal budget impact on Japan's health system. This heart failure medication may reduce hospitalizations, offsetting increased drug costs.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Health Economics
Background:
- Chronic heart failure (CHF) presents a substantial global healthcare burden.
- Vericiguat is an emerging therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) post-worsening event.
- Evaluating the economic implications of new treatments is crucial for healthcare systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the budgetary impact of introducing vericiguat as an add-on therapy to standard of care (SoC) for chronic HFrEF patients in Japan.
- To analyze the 5-year economic consequences for the Japanese health system.
Main Methods:
- An economic model was developed comparing SoC with vericiguat add-on therapy over five years.
- Data inputs were derived from literature reviews, medical claims, and clinical trial data.
- Sensitivity analyses were conducted to identify key cost drivers.
Main Results:
- The introduction of vericiguat is projected to increase total healthcare costs by less than 1% over five years, with a cumulated budget impact of US$41,027,304.
- Increased drug and medical costs were partially offset by reduced hospitalization, terminal care, and urgent heart failure visit expenses.
- Hospitalization rates significantly influenced the overall budget impact in sensitivity analyses.
Conclusions:
- Vericiguat demonstrates a minimal budgetary impact on the Japanese health system.
- The therapy has the potential to decrease hospitalizations, thereby mitigating some associated healthcare costs.
- Further research into long-term cost-effectiveness and real-world outcomes is warranted.
Background:
Chronic heart failure (CHF) affects millions worldwide, posing a significant burden on healthcare resources. For patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) following a worsening event, vericiguat is a promising new treatment. In this study we evaluated the budgetary impact on Japan's health system with the introduction of vericiguat as an add-on to standard of care (SoC) for chronic HFrEF after a worsening event.
Methods And Results:
An economic model was developed comparing SoC to a scenario in which vericiguat is introduced as an add-on therapy over a 5-year time horizon. A literature review, medical claims data and clinical trial data were used to derive inputs. Total healthcare costs after introducing vericiguat were estimated to increase <1% over 5 years compared to the SoC scenario showing a cumulated budget impact of US$41,027,304. Increases were driven by drug and medical costs, but were partially offset by decreasing costs for hospitalizations, terminal care, and urgent HF visits. In the sensitivity analyses, the hospitalization rate had the largest effect on the overall budget impact.
Conclusions:
This analysis highlighted the minimal budgetary impact of vericiguat and its potential to reduce hospitalizations in Japan. Although drug and monitoring costs increased, reductions in acute care expenses helped offset these costs. Further research is needed on long-term cost-effectiveness and real-world outcomes.
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