New Data Shows INPEFA® (sotagliflozin) Could Save Costs for Heart Failure

A new analysis of the pivotal Phase 3 SOLOIST-WHF trial has demonstrated the positive economic impact on hospitals using INPEFA® (sotagliflozin) for treating patients with heart failure (HF) and diabetes under various Alternative Payment Models (APMs). These findings, published in the Journal of Managed Care + Specialty Pharmacy (JMCP), align with two prior studies published in June 2024 and suggest substantial financial benefits for healthcare providers.

The study assesses the financial outcomes of incorporating sotagliflozin compared to the standard of care (SoC) across three prevalent APMs: Bundled Payments for Care Improvement-Advanced (BPCI), Medicare Shared Savings Program for Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), and the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). The HRRP incentivizes hospitals to lower the 30-day risk of unplanned readmissions for specific conditions, including HF.

Dr. Jason Shafrin from the Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy at FTI Consulting, the lead author, stated that the use of sotagliflozin reduced patient readmissions and emergency department visits. This reduction resulted in higher value-based bonus payments under the APMs. The analysis focused on adult patients aged 18 to 85 years hospitalized for HF events and with diabetes, matching the population studied in the SOLOIST-WHF trial.

From the perspective of a median-sized U.S. community hospital, the study modeled the total costs of rehospitalization, emergency visits, drug costs, and adverse events when using sotagliflozin versus SoC. It concluded that sotagliflozin adoption led to significant financial improvements. On a per-admission basis, adopting sotagliflozin increased margins by $4,720 for HRRP, $1,200 for BPCI, and $1,078 for ACO.

When evaluated on an annual basis for a typical community hospital, sotagliflozin adoption resulted in a margin increase of $305,604 for HRRP, $100,106 for BPCI, and $31,029 for ACO. The findings show that sotagliflozin not only provides clinical benefits but also significant cost savings and economic value for health systems participating in these APMs.

Dr. Craig Granowitz, Lexicon’s senior vice president and chief medical officer, highlighted the growing evidence supporting the use of INPEFA for patients with HF and diabetes, adding that these findings bolster the case for its broader adoption under APMs. As health systems increasingly implement multiple APMs simultaneously, the potential clinical and financial advantages of using INPEFA become even more significant.

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, the company behind INPEFA, is dedicated to discovering and developing innovative medicines through its unique Genome5000™ program. This program has identified over 100 protein targets with significant therapeutic potential. INPEFA, an oral inhibitor targeting sodium-glucose cotransporter types 2 and 1 (SGLT2 and SGLT1), has shown efficacy in treating patients with heart failure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease in extensive clinical studies involving roughly 20,000 patients.

INPEFA is specifically indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, and urgent heart failure visits in adults with heart failure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, or other cardiovascular risk factors. The adoption of INPEFA in clinical practice, particularly in health systems engaged in APMs, represents a significant advancement in the management of these complex conditions, offering both clinical benefits and economic advantages to healthcare providers.