06/23/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/23/2021 01:24
Press Release - Oslo, Norway, 23 June, 2021: Photocure, The Bladder Cancer Company, announces the publication of a study in the journal Urologic Oncology. The study objective was to determine the estimated budget impact to practices that incorporate blue light cystoscopy (BLC®) with hexaminolevulinate HCl (HAL) for the surveillance of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in the clinic setting.
The study utilizes real world data from a large Academic Hospital Urology practice in the U.S. to estimate the net cost when Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview®is utilized for both surveillance and TURBT* in all NMIBC patients based on National Medicare Reimbursement rates alone. The objective of this budget impact model was to quantify the impact of using BLC with HAL when used in patients who were undergoing cystoscopy for the detection of NMIBC, including carcinoma in situ (CIS), among patients suspected or known to have lesion(s). The model compared the costs and outcomes of two different scenarios in NMIBC: white light cystoscopy (WLC) in the office, followed by WLC during TURBT, versus BLC in the office, followed by BLC during TURBT.In a simulated facility with 50 newly diagnosed bladder cancer patients, the model illustrates that the additional use of BLC in surveillance identified 9 additional recurrences over two years compared to WLC alone. Use of flexible BLC for surveillance marginally increased costs to the practice, with a net difference of $0.76 per cystoscopy over 2 years.
This study illustrates how the inclusion of BLC with Cysview throughout the continuum of care in NMIBC patients results in improved detection, and therefore improved patient risk stratification, without impacting overall cost in a Hospital outpatient setting.
'This model analyzes how incorporation of Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview impacts the cost to a practice in the continuum of care of NMIBC patients. We found that a practice's patients could experience the benefits of earlier detection and improved risk stratification without a significant cost burden experienced by the practice. I believe future studies examining the economic impact of Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview are warranted and would further elucidate the direct and long-term cost benefits in the diagnosis, treatment and management of NMIBC patients,'said Dr. Stephen B. Williams, MD, MS, FACS Chief of Urology, Professor (Tenured) of Urology and Radiology, Robert Earl Cone Professorship, Director of Urologic Oncology, Director of Urologic Research, Co-Director of the Surgical Outcomes Research Division, and lead author of the study. Read the full article here:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1078143921002313?dgcid=author
In December 2020, Photocure communicated an abstract of this study, which was presented at the SUO congress prior to the manuscript undergoing peer review for publication:https://photocure.com/news/new-abstracts-on-the-use-of-blue-light-cystoscopy-with-cysview-presented-at-suo/
*TURBT: trans-urethral resection of bladder tumors
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About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer ranks as the seventh most common cancer worldwide 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.1It has a high recurrence rate with an average of 61% in year one and 78% over five years.2Bladder 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.
1Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population. Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [April 2021].
2Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657
3Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295-300
4Bladder 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 incancer cells in the bladder making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC®). BLC with Hexvix/Cysviewimproves 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, Canada, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. Please refer to https://photocure.com/partnering-with-photocure/our-partners/ for further information on our commercial partners.