Dose Increase beyond Labelled Dose of Biologics Is Associated With Incremental Pharmacy Costs: Results from a Real-World Study In the UK

AbstractBackground: Evidence regarding dosing patterns of biologics among moderate to severe psoriasis patients and impact on costs in the United Kingdom (UK) is limited.Objective: This retrospective cohort study assessed dose increase beyond labelled dose and associated pharmacy costs for biologics among moderate to severe psoriasis patients in the UK.Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years with moderate to severe psoriasis were included if they received a biologic prescription of adalimumab, etanercept, ustekinumab or infliximab issued anytime between January 2010 and March 2015, and had a diagnosis of psoriasis recorded at any time prior to and one month after first biologic prescription in the UK Hospital Treatment Insights database (HTI). Patients who had a 12-month wash-out prior to first treatment dispensed, completed the induction phase and had continuous treatment for ≥ 12 months were included. The proportion of patients with a dose increase beyond the labelled dose defined as ≥30% increase to the avera...