OBJECTIVES: Budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate dihydrate 320/14.4/10 µg (BGF) triple therapy is approved as maintenance treatment in patients with moderate-to-very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the European Union. In a published network meta-analysis (Bourdin et al. Adv Ther 2021:38;3089–3112), BGF demonstrated comparable efficacy to other fixed-dose combination therapies and open-triple combinations in terms of exacerbation rate reductions. This study aimed to evaluate the cost impact of BGF entry on the Italian healthcare system for managing this patient population.

METHODS: A budget impact model was developed to assess the impact of BGF entry on the Italian healthcare system budget over a 3-year period. Population data and the costs of COPD exacerbations were obtained from local studies; exacerbation rates were obtained from the ETHOS study (NCT02465567). Medication costs for COPD were obtained from official journal cost data, inclusive of mandatory discounts.

RESULTS: Total costs for managing moderate-to-very severe patients with COPD from the Italian healthcare system perspective, without BGF, were estimated to be €1,412,432,834 for the 3 years. With BGF entry, cost savings of €9,051,853 were obtained after 3 years. The total cost savings included decreased drug costs (€8,028,265) and decreased non-drug costs (€1,023,588).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with moderate-to-very severe COPD, BGF decreased total costs when used in place of other triple therapies, with a total saving of €9,051,853. BGF is a clinically effective and cost-saving treatment from the perspective of the Italian healthcare system.