Psy6 Impact of a Prior Authorization for Pregabalin on Health Plan Drug Expenditures

A Systematic Review of Pharmacoeconomic Studies for Pregabalin

“…Of the 255 abstracts, based on the inclusion criteria, 56 were selected for further review in full text. In the past 11 years, 55 publications examined economic outcomes associated with pregabalin in FM or neuropathic pain . These 55 publications presented results from 53 studies.…”

“…The principal findings from this body of literature are presented by country and indication (Table S2). Twenty‐seven retrospective claims database studies, most from the US, and one post hoc analysis of a prospective, observational trial examined direct and indirect costs, as well as healthcare resource use associated with pregabalin . Several studies evaluated the cost‐effectiveness of pregabalin versus standard care in FM and neuropathic pain from the perspective of third‐party payers in the US, Western European countries, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.…”

“…Our review identified 28 primary studies examining per‐patient costs associated with pregabalin for neuropathic pain and FM. Most studies were retrospective analyses reporting direct costs only, and most were conducted in the US, with 2 from Spain and 1 from Sweden . In the US, patients receiving pregabalin for FM had a similar or higher amount of healthcare use following treatment initiation compared with standard therapies .…”

“…Twenty‐five retrospective claims database analyses, and one Excel‐based model assessed direct costs and resource use associated with pregabalin for FM and neuropathic pain, including painful pDPN, in the US …”

“…Among patients with painful pDPN and PHN, there were no substantial differences in medical expenditures and healthcare resource use among pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine, or grouped standards of care. Thirteen retrospective database analyses examined cohorts of patients with painful pDPN and PHN initiating pregabalin or other therapies from 2004 to 2009 . Three studies found no significant differences in medication use during pre‐ and postindex periods (6 months before and after the first prescription), neuropathic pain‐attributable expenditures, or all‐cause direct expenditures among the duloxetine and pregabalin cohorts; however, the number of physician visits was significantly lower in the duloxetine cohort compared with pregabalin in one analysis of 946 patients with painful pDPN .…”