Glofitamab Shows Cost Savings for R/R DLBCL Treatment in the US
Key Clinical Summary
- Glofitamab introduction in third-line or later (3L+) relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) treatment reduced total costs by $728 697 over 3 years in a 1 million–member US health plan.
- Per-member per-month (PMPM) savings were modest at –$0.0202, with consistent results across sensitivity analyses.
- Glofitamab demonstrated the lowest 3-year per-patient total cost of care ($226 658) compared with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and other newer agents.
Glofitamab, a CD20xCD3 T-cell–engaging bispecific antibody, may offer meaningful cost savings for US health care payers when used in R/R DLBCL, according to a budget impact model. The analysis evaluated the financial implications of adding glofitamab to formularies for patients receiving 3L+ therapy.
Study Findings
The budget impact model assessed a hypothetical US health plan with 1 000 000 members, incorporating a blended commercial and Medicare population. Investigators estimated that approximately 9 patients would be eligible for 3L+ DLBCL treatment over the study period.
Comparators included CAR T-cell therapies—axicabtagene ciloleucel, lisocabtagene maraleucel, and tisagenlecleucel—as well as other agents such as epcoritamab, tafasitamab plus lenalidomide, and polatuzumab-based regimens. Total costs captured drug acquisition, administration, adverse event management (including grade ≥3 events and cytokine release syndrome), wastage, and routine care.
Over a 3-year horizon, adding glofitamab resulted in total cost savings of $728 697 and a PMPM reduction of –$0.0202. Drug costs were the primary driver of savings, with additional reductions observed in adverse event management and wastage.
Notably, glofitamab had the lowest 3-year per-patient total cost of care among newer therapies at $226 658. This compared with $564 113 for tisagenlecleucel, $540 002 for axicabtagene ciloleucel, $516 272 for lisocabtagene maraleucel, and $335 293 for epcoritamab.
Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of findings, with PMPM impact ranging from –$0.0256 to –$0.0108. Key drivers of budget impact included treatment costs, population size, and model time horizon.
Clinical Implications
For payers and managed care organizations, the findings suggest that incorporating glofitamab into treatment pathways for 3L+ DLBCL could reduce overall oncology spending without increasing budget pressure. The relatively low PMPM impact indicates minimal disruption to plan-level financials while still achieving cumulative savings.
A key differentiator is glofitamab’s fixed-duration treatment (12 cycles), which contrasts with therapies administered until disease progression. This structure may improve cost predictability and limit long-term expenditure compared with continuous regimens.
Additionally, lower rates of severe adverse events and reduced cytokine release syndrome severity, primarily grade 1-2, may translate into decreased supportive care costs. These factors are particularly relevant for Medicare-heavy populations, where hospitalization and toxicity management significantly influence total cost of care.
For formulary decision-makers, the model highlights glofitamab as a potentially cost-efficient alternative to high-cost CAR T-cell therapies and other novel agents, especially in settings with constrained oncology budgets.
Expert Commentary
The analysis underscores that “the main driver for the budget savings is the reduction in treatment costs with the introduction of glofitamab,” with additional contributions from lower adverse event management and wastage costs. Investigators noted that parameters such as treatment incidence, pricing, and time horizon had the greatest influence on budget outcomes.
Conclusion
Glofitamab may offer a cost-saving option for US payers managing R/R DLBCL in later lines of therapy. Its lower total cost of care and fixed-duration regimen position it as a financially favorable addition to treatment pathways over a 3-year horizon.
Reference
Mahmoudjafari Z, Li J, Bercaw E, et al. Budget impact of introducing glofitamab for treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy in the United States. J Med Econ. 2025;28(1):595-604. doi:10.1080/13696998.2025.2486839
