Tohoku University Reports Findings in Monoclonal Antibodies (Pharmaceutical industry-sponsored meals are associated with increased prescriptions and Medicare spending for dupilumab among dermatologists in the United States): Drugs and Therapies – Monoclonal Antibodies

2024 JAN 05 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- New research on Drugs and Therapies - Monoclonal Antibodies is the subject of a report. According to news reporting originating from Miyagi, Japan, by NewsRx editors, the research stated, “Healthcare industry sometimes make large marketing payments to physicians. Previous studies have demonstrated that there are significant associations between industry marketing practices and physicians’ prescribing behaviours in several specialties.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Tohoku University, “Given the current increasing introduction of many novel biologics for atopic dermatitis and increasing payments to dermatologists, the industry payments to dermatologists for atopic dermatitis drugs could be associated with their prescribing patterns in the United States. This study aims to evaluate association between dermatologists’ dupilumab prescription behaviours and manufacturer’s sponsored meal payments to dermatologists in the United States. Using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Open Payments Database, this cross-sectional analysis evaluated associations between manufacturer’s sponsored meal payments to dermatologists related to dupilumab and dermatologists’ dupilumab prescriptions between 2017 and 2021. Associations were evaluated using logistic generalised estimating equations (GEE) and negative binomial regression GEE models at individual dermatologist level. Among 2852 dermatologists prescribing dupilumab, 74.5% received meal payments amounting to $1,083,919 between 2017 and 2021. Dermatologists receiving meal payments were more likely to prescribe dupilumab (odds ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-1.65). There were also consistent dose-response associations between meal payments and total claims as well as Medicare spending. Dermatologists who received 1, 2-5, 6-10, and 11-15 meal payments per year reported 1.13 (95% CI: 1.03-1.24, p< 0.05), 1.35 (95% CI: 1.24-1.46, p< 0.001), 1.64 (95% CI: 1.48-1.82, p< 0.001), and 2.10 (95% CI: 1.78-2.47, p< 0.001) times more dupilumab-related claims in the year when they received the payments than those who did not receive the payments, respectively. This study found that significant associations between industry-sponsored meal payments and increased dupilumab prescriptions, shedding light on the potential influence of financial relationships on clinical practice. The findings call for heightened awareness among dermatologists, patients, and policymakers regarding the impact of these relationships on healthcare expenditures and decision-making in the United States.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Future research is warranted to further explore these associations longitudinally.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Pharmaceutical industry-sponsored meals are associated with increased prescriptions and Medicare spending for dupilumab among dermatologists in the United States. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 2023. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice can be contacted at: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA. (Wiley-Blackwell - http://www.wiley.com/; Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2753)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Anju Murayama, School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.13956. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice is: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA.

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