OBJECTIVES: Triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension, for suprachoroidal use, has recently received FDA approval to treat macular edema (ME) associated with uveitis (specifically non-infectious uveitis; NIU) in the US. The objective of this study was to assess the budget impact of the drug for the treatment of ME associated with NIU from a US third-party payer perspective (Commercial and Medicare).

METHODS: A budget impact model over a 5-year time horizon was developed using Microsoft® Excel comparing the total costs required to treat patients with ME associated with NIU in two scenarios: with and without triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension, for suprachoroidal use. Model inputs (epidemiological and cost inputs: pharmacy costs, eye-related inpatient, outpatient, emergency department [ED] visit and non-eye related costs stratified by severity of vision loss) were obtained from the published literature that estimated these inputs using Truven MarketScan^® database and Medicare 5% sample. One-way sensitivity and scenario analyses were considered as per the ISPOR 2014 BIA Best Practice Guidelines.

RESULTS: The introduction of triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension, for suprachoroidal use, at a wholesale acquisition cost of $1,650/injection (plus admin cost of $200/injection) was cost-neutral for both Commercial and Medicare plans. Total plan level budget impact was estimated to be $2.6K and $38.3K per million members for Commercial and Medicare plan lives, respectively. The per member per month (PMPM) costs were less than a cent across Commercial and Medicare plans. Sensitivity analysis by varying several parameters like cost of vision loss, number of injections year 2 onwards etc., suggested that cost-neutrality was maintained under alternative model assumptions.

CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of triamcinolone acetonide injectable suspension, for suprachoroidal use, for treatment of ME associated with NIU in the US, could lead to lower eye-related (inpatient, outpatient, ED), non-eye related, and pharmacy costs, benefitting the US healthcare system.