Abstract: The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee recently voted 10-0 recommending to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the approval of the first chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) therapy. We sought to better understand the challenges that might hinder community oncologists’ use and referral for CAR-T therapy once regulatory approval is granted. A total of 379 US-based community oncologists/hematologists and practice administrators were surveyed during 6 live meetings conducted between November 2016 and June 2017 to assess their insights of CAR-T therapy and perceived barriers to its adoption. When queried on how their prescribing habits might evolve should CAR-T therapies become FDA approved for indications studied in ongoing and completed clinical trials; only 22% suggested they are unlikely to prescribe CAR-T therapy. Importantly, most prescribers (46%) plan on referring their patients to large academic centers, while one-third would rather treat some of their patients locally while referring others to academic sites. Cost did not appear to be a hindrance to prescribing.
Acknowledgements: Portions of this research were presented as a poster at the 22nd Annual International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Meeting in Boston, MA. Since the original submission of this paper, CTL-019 has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and young adults.
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The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee recently voted 10-0 recommending to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the approval of CTL-019, the first chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) therapy. The approval of CTL-019 for the treatment of children and young adults with advanced leukemia represents a major milestone in how immunotherapy targets malignancies. The expected formal approval by the FDA will herald the first CAR-T approved in the United States. A second CAR-T therapy directed at diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is expected shortly. The potential impact of these therapies should not be underestimated, nor should their complexity, which is why a broader understanding of stakeholder knowledge and perception may be critical to their adoption and use.
Genetically engineered T cells are emerging as a new treatment modality that harnesses a patient’s own immune system to fight against various malignancies.1 T cells, an essential component of cellular adaptive immunotherapy, identify cancer cells through antigen recognition, mediated by T-cell receptors linked to peptides presented by the major histocompatibility complex.2 When the receptor binds to the antigen complex, T cells are activated and the immune system is stimulated. This new therapeutic approach requires T cells to be harvested from the host, modified by linking the extracellular antigen recognition domain from a monoclonal antibody fragment to the T cells intracellular signaling domain, then expanded prior to infusion. These newly modified T cells are designated as chimeric antigen receptor T cells.3
Emerging data have clearly shown significant CAR-T activity in relapsed/refractory DLBCL,4 primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma,5 chronic lymphocytic leukemia,6,7 and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.8,9 Despite these results, the significant toxicity of these therapies, the complexity of its administration, and the logistics surrounding its operation might hinder the commercial uptake and market success of CAR-T therapy. To address these issues, CAR-T manufacturers have assured the FDA that treatment will be limited to highly specialized centers with stem cell transplantation capabilities. Most cancer patients are seen in the community setting,10 thereby community oncologists will play an instrumental role in patient referral and likely determine the initial adoption of this treatment. To this end, understating barriers to community oncology providers’ perceptions of CAR-T therapy efficacy, toxicity, and relative cost to value is essential to drive strategies for market uptake. We sought to better understand the challenges that might hinder community oncologists’ use and referral for CAR-T therapy once regulatory approval is granted.
Methods
A total of 379 US-based community oncologists/hematologists and practice administrators were surveyed during six live meetings conducted between November 2016 and June 2017 to assess their insights of CAR-T therapy and perceived barriers to its adoption. Respondents represented a variety of practice types: 16% large sized (>10 physicians), 15% medium sized (6-10 physicians), 20% small sized (2-5 physicians), 15% solo practice, 16% hospital-owned community practices, 6% community-based hospitals, and 11% university-owned hospitals. Participants represented all geographic areas in the United States (37% South, 24% Midwest, 20% Northeast, and 19% West). The survey was composed of multiple choice answers to specific questions. Audience response system devices were used to capture participants’ responses and allowed more than one answer selection when appropriate.
Results
When asked about published information from clinical trials, almost half of the participants were not familiar with the efficacy and toxicity data on CAR-T therapy. Despite most respondents labeling CAR-T therapy as a potentially game-changing approach, only 20% had ever referred a patient to a CAR-T clinical trial (Table 1).
When queried on how their prescribing habits might evolve should CAR-T therapies become FDA approved for indications studied in ongoing and completed clinical trials; only 22% suggested they are unlikely to prescribe CAR-T therapy. Importantly, most prescribers (46%) plan on referring their patients to large academic centers, while one-third would rather treat some of their patients locally while referring others to academic sites (Table 2). Cost did not appear to be a hindrance to prescribing, as most believed CAR-T would be cost-effective if priced at parity with allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Questions about toxicity centered on how optimal management should be delivered. Over 60% suggested that patients should be monitored for 1 to 2 weeks after administration. Notably, one-third stated that toxicity might hinder their prescribing of CAR-T therapy. While the majority believed that medical oncologists should oversee the management of CAR-T-treated patients, 22% believed that engaging critical care physicians will be essential for optimal care (Table 3). Lastly, we inquired about barriers to successful CAR-T implementation; the logistics of administration was the most common barrier, followed by the known and perceived toxicities (Figure 1).
Discussion
While regulatory approval is expected for CAR-T therapy, this by itself is not a guarantee for commercial success and patients’ access when indicated. Prescribing patterns of physicians to new market entrants can be influenced by many factors,11 and studying these factors is critical to ensure proper adoption of this approach where appropriate.
Our study highlights several findings that are critical to all stakeholders. First and foremost, lack of familiarity with published data might be predictable since studies were conducted in refractory diseases that are commonly treated at academic sites. Overcoming this educational barrier can be achieved through data dissemination, webinars, regional symposia, and other venues. Whether this explains the low referral rates in the preceding 12 to 18 months for ongoing CAR-T studies is unknown. Physicians appear receptive to prescribing CAR-T therapy once regulatory approval is granted, but there was no consensus as to their desire on where treatment should be delivered. While almost half of the respondents suggested that all eligible CAR-T patients should be referred to academic centers, one-third stated that they will refer some but not all of their CAR-T eligible patients. Fewer physicians voiced their willingness to treat these patients locally if allowed by payers and manufacturers. This might be problematic as CAR-T therapy requires highly specialized centers with allogeneic stem cell transplantation capabilities given the uniqueness of observed toxicities.12 While it is unlikely that CAR-T therapy will be given at community sites at launch, this might change in the future. To this end, investing in resources that facilitate safe and effective CAR-T therapy in nonacademic entities is an essential strategy for payers and manufacturers to ensure that eligible patients receive this therapy. Travel to academic sites is not always feasible and certainly represents a logistical barrier for any specialized therapy or procedure.13 Timely referral and having proper channels between community and academic sites is critical given the seriousness of illnesses that CAR-T are indicated to treat. Additional logistical challenges were suggested as major hurdles for CAR-T therapy adoption. Community oncologists voiced their concerns about the operational complexity and the fact that successful CAR-T administration requires harmonized collaboration between the treating facility, manufacturers, and the transportation system. Aligning these stakeholders to assure timely apheresis, collection, transportation, T-cell expansion, and reinfusion might be challenging, especially as eligible patients are often sick, with active disease, and receiving lymphodepleting chemotherapy prior to the infusion.
Legitimate concerns about toxicities were voiced by most community oncologists. While this might not be surprising for a novel treatment approach, the fact that these toxicities might hinder prescribing and referral patterns underscores the present educational gap and the importance of teaching community oncologists how these toxicities are treated effectively. Notably, while most respondents agreed that the medical oncologist should oversee the management of CAR-T therapy recipients, one quarter identified engaging intensive care specialists as essential for optimal outcomes given the potential complications. Lastly, cost did not appear to be a barrier. While pricing will not be determined until regulatory approval is granted and payers decide how reimbursement will take place, community oncologists view CAR-T therapy as cost-effective based on publicly available data if priced at parity with allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Assuring proper patient access to novel, effective, and potentially lifesaving therapies is essential when a new entrant offers these attributes. Our aim was to better understand barriers to CAR-T therapy adoption in the community setting and how this new therapy is perceived among general oncologists. Better understanding of these hurdles and barriers allows better process for clinical pathways positioning of a promising new entrant to the health care market. We found that toxicity and logistics are the major concerns. We propose that investing in educational platforms to disseminate clinical trial efficacy data, toxicity management algorithms, and operational phases is a critical initial step to assure patients’ access to CAR-T therapy moving forward. Longer follow up after regulatory approval is needed to measure future success.
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