Ideal Vial Size for Bortezomib: Real-World Data on Waste and Cost Reduction in Treatment of Multiple Myeloma in Brazil

Abstract

A simple adjustment in vial size may reduce the waste of bortezomib by 36% to 62% and can also reduce the cost of treatment.

The impact of cancer drug wastage on economic evaluations

“…A retrospective study of bortezomib usage in Brazil showed that the average dose was 2.1 mg, and this resulted in 39.5% of the vial being wasted. 16 The authors also showed that alternative vial sizes for bortezomib could reduce wastage by 62%. In our analysis, the average dose was 2.28 mg per infusion, and this resulted in 35.0% of the vial being wasted.…”

“…They estimated that 27% to 30% of bortezomib sales in the United States are associated with wasted drug. A retrospective study of bortezomib usage in Brazil showed that the average dose was 2.1 mg, and this resulted in 39.5% of the vial being wasted . The authors also showed that alternative vial sizes for bortezomib could reduce wastage by 62%.…”

A 2-year retrospective review of vial sharing options for the compounding of cytotoxics

“…Clark et al 3 was able to show that if bortezomib was changed from a presentation of 3.5 mg to being available as 2.5 mg and 0.5 mg, that wastage could be reduced by up to 62%. Unfortunately, the ability to realise these savings is outside the control of compounding units, but this will hopefully form a large part of procurement decisions when it comes to the wider generics market.…”

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“…Some other strategies proposed to reduce cancer treatment expenditures using the rational application of personalized dose principle, dose rounding to the nearest vial size 5,6 , dose standardization 7 of anticancer drugs and, selecting the most convenient vial size 8 .…”