OBJECTIVES: Despite advances in therapeutic options, multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable and has poor outcomes, particularly in patients with relapsed/refractory disease, which emphasizes the need for novel therapies. This study aims to quantify economic burden in patients who are eligible for but have yet to receive any emerging B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) targeted therapies per FDA-approved labels.

METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of payer claims from Healthcare Integrated Research Database^®. Eligible patients had completed ≥4 lines of therapy (LOT) for MM, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Patients were indexed on the initiation of a new LOT after meeting eligibility between 1/1/2016 and 9/30/2022. Patient characteristics were described during the 12-month baseline period. All-cause healthcare resource utilization and costs were described per-patient-per-month (PPPM) during baseline and ≥ 6-month follow-up period post-index.

RESULTS: Among 228 eligible patients, the median age was 64.0 years (17.1% ≥ 75 years old); 52.6% male, 54.8% White, and 85.1% had commercial insurance. Prevalent diagnoses included anemia (65.4%), hypertension (64.9%), and renal dysfunction (36.8%). At baseline, 48.3% had inpatient admissions with a mean length of stay of 1.6 (±2.1) days PPPM, and 28.5% had emergency department (ED) visits.

Post-index (median follow-up: 11.8 months), inpatient admission increased to 71.1%, with a mean of 2.7 (±3.5) days PPPM; 46.9% had ED visits. These translated into a mean cost increase from baseline for inpatient admissions ($4,591 to $11,746), ED visits ($143 to $496), total medical costs ($31,650 to $37,618) and total costs ($35,964 to $41,358) PPPM.

CONCLUSIONS: These results found a pronounced economic disease burden in patients who are eligible for and have yet to receive BCMA-targeted therapies for MM, especially after initiating another new LOT. This data could support economic assessment and value framework for novel therapies that may improve treatment outcomes for heavily pre-treated MM.