Evaluating Unmet Needs in Large-Volume Subcutaneous Drug Delivery: US Payer Perspectives on a Novel, Large-Volume On-Body Delivery System

Abstract

This research sought to evaluate payer perspectives around OBDS’s through semi-structured interviews with 17 US payers representing approximately 227 million covered lives. When asked about the perceived advantages of the novel on-body delivery system (OBDS), 70.6% of payers independently cited simplicity, ease-of-use, and convenience as the most beneficial features, with the potential to replace IV infusion by facilitating at-home HCP- or self-administration being the second most frequent response. Most payers (88.2%) believed that the novel OBDS could fulfill unmet needs such as cost of IV infusion, convenient administration, and improved patient compliance in large-volume SC delivery by enabling safe, easy, self-administration. Nearly all payers (88.2%) stated they would consider covering and managing pharmaceutical products packaged with the novel OBDS, with the remaining payers considering the total cost compared to other routes. A significant proportion of payers (82.4%) acknowledged that a drug delivered via the novel OBDS could warrant a price premium above the cost of the standalone SC drug vial, with half stating the premium would range from 5% to 20% and the other half citing an unspecified premium dependent on the individual drug situation.

Conclusions: Given the ability to help address critical unmet needs for the patient and healthcare system, a large proportion of the payers stated that the novel OBDS would fulfill unmet needs and warrant a price premium versus the cost of the standalone SC vial and certainly over the IV counterpart. Future research to quantify the value that OBDS efficiencies could bring to healthcare delivery is warranted.