OSLO,
Norway, Jan. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/
-- Photocure ASA, The Bladder Cancer Company, announces the
publication of the study 'Clinical and Economic Impact of Blue
Light Cystoscopy in the Management of NMIBC* at U.S. Ambulatory
Surgical Centers: What is the Site-of-Service Disparity?' in
Urologic Oncology this week. The research objective was to quantify
the clinical and economic impact of the incorporation of BLC in the
management of NMIBC in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs)
considering 2022 Center for Medicare Services (CMS)
patient-physician coverage and reimbursement.
The study authors Neal Shore**,
MD, FACS and Meghan B. Gavaghan,
MPH, built a budget impact model to assess projected ASC costs for
a cohort of newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients over a 2-year
follow-up comparing white light cystoscopy (WLC) alone versus WLC +
blue light cystoscopy (BLC®). Treatment and surveillance
intervals were based on AUA/SUO clinical guidelines. Clinical and
cost metrics for staging and biopsy rates were assessed, with cost
inputs based on Medicare reimbursement rates. Photocure supported
this research with an unrestricted grant.
In the U.S., BLC for NMIBC surveillance in the ASC setting
involves a flexible cystoscopy, an outpatient procedure without
need of general anesthesia, allowing additional OR time for other
hospital procedures. In the published clinical and health economic
model, use of BLC resulted in the identification of 5 additional
NMIBC recurrences compared to white light cystoscopy alone. There
was an associated increased cost of performing BLC in an ASC
setting, with a net increase in the total cost of care for NMIBC of
$110 per cystoscopy over a two-year
period. If recurrences missed using WLC alone were to progress
prior to detection, the model projects an increase in treatment
costs borne by Medicare of $9,097-$34,538 due
to more intensive treatments required for more advanced
disease.
The authors conclude that due to the modeled results, "the
Medicare program will incur increased costs. The current
discrepancy in reimbursement disincentivizing community-based ASCs
from adopting BLC, resulting in suboptimal patient care while
increasing downstream treatment costs to Medicare, necessitated
when missed disease progresses to higher stage/grade disease. The
findings have important clinical implications for the optimal
management of NMIBC and should inform healthcare policies that
promote cost-effectiveness and enhanced patient outcomes."
"The findings of this paper highlight the benefits of BLC
when patients receive this option for bladder cancer care in
ambulatory surgery centers," said Dan
Schneider, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Photocure ASA. "The paper also reinforces the need for fair and
equitable reimbursement in all sites of care, with Medicare payment
rates increasing in January 2023, but
favoring use of blue light in hospital outpatient departments
(HOPDs) over ASCs. While we are pleased with the historic step by
CMS to provide higher payment rates in both settings, feedback from
ASC accounts is that payment would need to be increased further
before patients treated in this site of care will be offered broad
access to BLC. As a result, Photocure will continue to partner with
the medical community to advocate for improved Medicare coverage in
the ASC setting."
Read the full article here:
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1gI7K3r93nVECK
*NMIBC: Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
**Dr. Shore is Medical Director for the Carolina Urologic
Research Center and is a Fellow of the American College of
Surgeons. He joined Photocure's Board of Directors in May 2022.
Note to editors
Hexvix®/Cysview® and BLC® are
registered trademarks of Photocure ASA.
This press release may contain product details and information
which are not valid, or a product that is not accessible, in your
country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any
responsibility for accessing such information, which may not comply
with any legal process, regulation, registration, or usage in the
country of your origin.
About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer ranks as the 8th most common cancer
worldwide – the 5th most common in men – with
1 720 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence
rate)1a, 573 000 new cases and more than
200 000 deaths annually in 2020.1b
Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in
men.1 It has a high recurrence rate, with up to 61% in
year one and up to 78% over five years.2 Bladder cancer
has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all
cancers.3
Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for
which patients have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the
high risk of recurrence. There is an urgent need to improve both
the diagnosis and the management of bladder cancer for the benefit
of patients and healthcare systems alike.
Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive
bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC),
depending on the depth of invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC
remains in the inner layer of cells lining the bladder. These
cancers are the most common (75%) of all cases and include the
subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS), and T1 lesions. In MIBC, the
cancer has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These
cancers, including subtypes T2, T3, and T4, are more likely to
spread and are harder to treat.4
1 Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b)
incidence/mortality by population. Available at:
https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [January
2022].
2 Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657
3 Sievert KD et al. World J Urol
2009;27:295–300
4 Bladder Cancer. American Cancer
Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html
About
Hexvix®/Cysview® (hexaminolevulinate
HCl)
Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in
cancer cells in the bladder, making them glow bright pink during
Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC®). BLC with Hexvix/Cysview,
compared to standard white light cystoscopy alone, improves the
detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer
residual tumors, and better management decisions.
Cysview is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada, Hexvix is the tradename in all
other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly
in the U.S. and Europe and has
strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix/Cysview
in China, Chile, Australia, New
Zealand and Israel. Please
refer to https://photocure.com/partners/our-partners for further
information on our commercial partners.
About Photocure ASA
Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative
solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our
unique technology, making cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to
better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is
headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and
listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information,
please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com,
www.cysview.com
For further information, please contact:
Dan Schneider
President and CEO
Photocure ASA
Email: ds@photocure.com
Erik Dahl
CFO
Photocure ASA
Tel: +4745055000
Email: ed@photocure.com
David Moskowitz
Vice President, Investor Relations
Photocure ASA
Tel: +1 202 280 0888
Email: david.moskowitz@photocure.com
Media and IR enquiries:
Geir Bjørlo
Corporate Communications (Norway)
Tel: +47 91540000
Email: geir.bjorlo@corpcom.no
The following files are available for download:
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https://mb.cision.com/Main/17498/3689496/1760127.pdf
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SOURCE Photocure