Cost of managing brain metastases in ALK-positive advanced NSCLC patients receiving first-line ALK TKIs in China

Abstract Aim To estimate brain metastases (BM) management costs in Chinese ALK+ advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving first-line (1 L) ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Methods A survey of 105 clinical experts across 23 Chinese regions evaluated healthcare resource utilization (HCRU). Total annual costs with TKIs were calculated by weighting the management costs of patients with and without BM using the cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of BM from ALK-TKI clinical trials. Results First-year management cost averaged ¥24,974 per-patient without BM versus ¥89,859 per-patient with BM, saving ¥64,885. Subsequent years saved ¥33,231. Applying 12-month CIR of BM, the annual costs per-patient were ¥26,791 for 1 L lorlatinib versus ¥46,516 for crizotinib in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Subgroup analysis showed annual costs of ¥25,623 per-patient with lorlatinib in those without BM and ¥29,775 in those with BM. Alectinib’s and brigatinib’s costs were ¥31,073 and ¥32,760 respectively, using the 12-month CIR of BM. Lorlatinib’s cost savings increased progressively over 1–4 years. Limited CIR beyond 12 months existed for brigatinib and ensartinib. Results from the Asian group’s CIR aligned with global trials. Conclusion Due to lower BM CIR, lorlatinib showed higher BM management cost savings compared to crizotinib and alectinib in Chinese 1 L patients.