Reimbursement Risk Assessment

Durvalumab untreated extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

Oncology

Please enter your work email

Related Reimbursement Risk Assessments

Primary Risk Drivers

Below is a snapshot of domains that materially influence the MARA Rating. 

Clinical effectiveness

The evidence suggests that durvalumab has comparable efficacy to atezolizumab, which is the standard treatment for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. However, there is no direct clinical trial evidence comparing durvalumab with atezolizumab, and the evidence is based on indirect comparisons. This limits the strength of the claim regarding its effectiveness.

Cost effectiveness

The document indicates that durvalumab has similar or lower costs compared to atezolizumab when considering all relevant costs, including commercial arrangements. This suggests a strong cost-effectiveness profile under common thresholds.

Quality of life

There is no specific data provided in the document regarding HRQoL outcomes for patients treated with durvalumab. The absence of patient-reported outcomes or validated tools to measure quality of life impacts the assessment, leading to a rating of no demonstrated benefit.

Supporting Domains

Safety and Adverse Effects

The safety profile of durvalumab is not explicitly detailed in the document, but it is implied to be comparable to atezolizumab, which is known to have a manageable safety profile. This leads to an acceptable safety rating.

Comparator Selection

The document notes that durvalumab has not been directly compared with atezolizumab in clinical trials. While indirect comparisons suggest similar efficacy, the lack of direct evidence raises concerns about the robustness of the comparator selection.

Patient Population and Subgroups

The recommendations specify that durvalumab is indicated for adults with an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, which is a relevant and representative patient population for this treatment. However, there are no subgroup analyses mentioned.

Care Pathway Integration

The integration of durvalumab into existing treatment pathways appears manageable, as it is recommended alongside standard treatments like atezolizumab. Minor adjustments may be needed, but no significant barriers to integration are noted.

Resource Use and Cost Implications

The document suggests that the budget impact of durvalumab is manageable and aligns with planning, indicating that it is not expected to impose a significant resource burden on the healthcare system.

Evidence Quality and Robustness

The evidence base relies on indirect comparisons and lacks direct Phase III trial data. While the evidence is somewhat robust, the absence of high-quality, direct comparative studies introduces uncertainty.

Uncertainty, Sensitivity, and Broader Impacts

The document indicates a favorable context for the use of durvalumab, with manageable uncertainties regarding its effectiveness and cost. However, the lack of direct evidence does introduce some residual uncertainty.
Full Legal Disclaimer and Usage Terms

The MARA Rating® is an independent opinion of a drug’s market access pharma risk profile and is provided for informational purposes only—not as investment, medical, legal or any other type of advice. See our full disclaimer here.