The PHASTER Study: Economic and Organizational Impact of Subcutaneous (SC) Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab Fixed-Dose Combination (PH FDC SC) for Treatment of HER2+Breast Cancer Patients

BackgroundThis study evaluated the impact of using the subcutaneous fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab + trastuzumab (PH FDC SC) compared with intravenous pertuzumab followed by intravenous trastuzumab (P+T IV) in HER2+ breast cancer patients.MethodsData from three Italian hospitals were collected to assess the organizational and economic benefits of PH FDC SC versus P+T IV on (i) patient pathway time, (ii) personnel time, (iii) direct costs and (iv) recoverable efficiency for the hospital, and (v) social impact for patient and caregivers. Data from hospitals were averaged when calculating results.ResultsPH FDC SC induced a reduction in patients' pathway time (Delta IV -> SC: -59 min), driven by the administration phase (Delta IV -> SC: -89 min); personnel time (Delta IV -> SC: -17 min /patient), and direct costs for hospitals (Delta IV -> SC: -125.95euro/patient). A complete switch to PH FDC SC would also induce potential productivity gains in terms of additional oncological therapies administered by the hospital (Delta IV -> SC: +532/year), together with decreased yearly social indirect costs for patients (-13.3%) and caregivers (-13.5%).ConclusionOverall, PH FDC SC demonstrated potential economic and organizational advantages for hospitals and patients compared with P+T IV, even though patients treated subcutaneously experienced longer waits between activities, indicating the need for optimized organizational choices.