Characterizing the Rise in Dupilumab Prescriptions and Costs: A Medicare Part D Study

Dupilumab indications have expanded since 2017 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, though evolving prescribing patterns remains to be explored. Annual 2017 to 2021 Medicare Part D claims data was queried. The number of prescribers rose from 142 in 2017 to 6244 in 2021 (r = 0.971; P = .006). Accordingly, the number of Medicare claims and costs both rose, from 2444 to 157,401 (r = 0.986; P = .002) and from $7.59 million to $540.5 million (r = 0.982; P = .003), respectively. While dermatologists made up the bulk of providers in 2017 (78.9%), they only made up 38.1% of providers in 2021. Otolaryngologists were the least represented specialty. In 2021, most providers (98.0%) had only 10 or fewer Medicare patients for whom they prescribed dupilumab. Dupilumab is becoming an increasingly prevalent treatment modality for a variety of indications in the Medicare population. This comes with an incredibly large financial burden on patients and Medicare. The profile of prescribers has changed, mirroring the FDA-approved indications.