Estimated Financial Savings From Clinical Studies at Oslo Myeloma Center in the Period 2015-2021.

Background: The number of clinical studies in the Western world has been declining the last decade. Clinical studies offer valuable opportunities for cancer patients to access new treatments and serve as arenas for learning and competence development for health care workers. In addition to this, clinical studies can significantly contribute to financial savings for the health care system through the provision of drugs. The extent of these savings have not been evaluated before.

Materials and methods: We assessed the financial savings from drugs provided in clinical studies conducted at Oslo Myeloma Center between 2015 and 2021. Only drugs that had marketing license or another equivalent drug with marketing license were considered to estimate savings.

Results: A total of 314 patients across 24 different studies were given treatment with drugs possessing marketing license. Drugs approved for clinical use and reimbursed by the national health care system gave a financial saving of 20.3 million USD and was considered a direct saving. Drugs not approved for clinical use, but having equivalent approved alternatives yielded a financial saving of 4.7 million USD.

Conclusion: Clinical studies not only offer new opportunities for patients and advancements in medical treatment and knowledge but also contribute significantly to financial saving for the health care system through reduced drug expenses.