The PHASTER Study: Economic and Organizational Impact of Subcutaneous (SC) Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab Fixed-Dose Combination (PH FDC SC) for Treatment of HER2+ Breast Cancer Patients

This study evaluated the impact of using the subcutaneous fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab + trastuzumab (PH FDC SC) compared with intravenous pertuzumab followed by intravenous trastuzumab (P+T IV) in HER2+ breast cancer patients. Data from three Italian hospitals were collected to assess the organizational and economic benefits of PH FDC SC versus P+T IV on (i) patient pathway time, (ii) personnel time, (iii) direct costs and (iv) recoverable efficiency for the hospital, and (v) social impact for patient and caregivers. Data from hospitals were averaged when calculating results. PH FDC SC induced a reduction in patients' pathway time (ΔIV→SC: −59 min), driven by the administration phase (ΔIV→SC: −89 min); personnel time (ΔIV→SC: −17 min /patient), and direct costs for hospitals (ΔIV→SC: −125.95€/patient). A complete switch to PH FDC SC would also induce potential productivity gains in terms of additional oncological therapies administered by the hospital (ΔIV→SC: +532/year), together with decreased yearly social indirect costs for patients (−13.3