High Health Care Costs Persist for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma in the US
Key Clinical Summary
- In a US claims database study, patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) discontinuing lenalidomide incurred an average of $41 614 in total monthly health care costs.
- MM-related expenses accounted for 95% of overall costs, with drug and infusion costs comprising 71% of MM-related spending.
- Findings underscore a substantial economic burden among patients requiring new therapeutic strategies after lenalidomide exposure.
A recent retrospective analysis using the IBM Truven MarketScan Claims Database evaluated health care costs and resource utilization among US patients with RRMM who had received 1 to 3 prior lines of therapy and discontinued lenalidomide. The study, conducted from 2011 to 2023, highlights the substantial financial impact of managing RRMM in a real-world setting.
Study Findings
Among 338 patients without post-index stem cell transplant, the mean age was 61.1 years, and 55.3% were male. During an average follow-up of 11.5 months, the mean all-cause health care cost was $41 614 per patient per month (PPPM).
Of these, MM-related costs averaged $39 699 PPPM, representing 95% of total health care expenditures. The largest portion of MM-related spending—71% or $28 144 PPPM—stemmed from drug and infusion expenses.
Sensitivity analyses, which included 520 patients with post-index stem cell transplant, revealed comparable findings. In this group, mean all-cause costs were $41 863 PPPM over an average 15.3 months of follow-up, with 95% of costs still linked to MM care.
Investigators emphasized the novelty of this analysis in focusing on lenalidomide-refractory patients, a growing subgroup within the myeloma population that presents ongoing clinical and financial challenges.
Clinical Implications
The study underscores the economic strain of treating patients with RRMM following lenalidomide discontinuation. Given that nearly all health care expenditures were directly attributable to MM management—and predominantly to pharmacologic and infusion costs—these findings point to an urgent need for cost-effective, durable therapies that maintain efficacy while reducing financial burden.
From a payer and managed care perspective, these results support the adoption of value-based strategies and highlight the importance of early intervention and optimized sequencing of available MM regimens. As lenalidomide-refractory cases become more prevalent, real-world cost data such as these will be critical for budget forecasting and reimbursement decisions across health systems.
“[T]he current analysis is unique in that it examines patients’ refractory to lenalidomide, a population that is increasing in frequency and that may require alternative regimens,” the authors noted. They emphasized that the rising prevalence of lenalidomide resistance makes identifying clinically effective and economically sustainable options an urgent priority for payers and clinicians alike.
Conclusion
Patients with MM who discontinued lenalidomide after prior therapy face persistently high health care costs, largely driven by MM treatment expenses. These findings highlight an unmet need for cost-effective therapeutic approaches to ease the burden on both patients and health care systems.
Reference
Jagannath S, Kharat A, Chinaeke E, et al. Healthcare resource utilization and costs in patients with multiple myeloma who received 1 to 3 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug, and were exposed to and discontinued lenalidomide in the United States. J Med Econ. 2025:1-13. doi:10.1080/13696998.2025.2583668
