Initiation of Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Budget Impact Analysis

There is variation across Canadian jurisdictions in time to the initiation of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) therapy among adults with rheumatoid arthritis. From a pan-Canadian perspective, harmonizing time to bDMARD initiation across jurisdictions may result in savings to publicly funded drug plans in some jurisdictions but increased drug expenditures in others. The extent of savings or increased costs is dependent on jurisdiction, the number of new bDMARD users, and whether patients receive a biosimilar or originator bDMARD.