Gemcitabine, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is available in two pharmaceutical formulations: Lyophilized powder (LP) and concentrated liquid (CL). The preparation periods and costs of wasted doses differ significantly, impacting both healthcare expenditures and occupational safety. This study aimed to compare the cost analysis and personnel exposure duration associated with these drugs.
METHODS
A single-center observational analysis was conducted. Preparation periods for the LP and CL formulations
of gemcitabine were recorded over one year. Additionally, the quantities of wasted doses and their
associated costs were documented daily.
RESULTS
Annually, 2.26% (41,010 mg) of gemcitabine was wasted, irrespective of the formulation. The waste rate
was 4.40% for LP formulations and 0.36% for CL formulations (p<0.0001). The annual cost of wasted
drugs was significantly higher for LP formulations compared to CL formulations (p<0.0001). If all
gemcitabine infusion solutions were prepared using CL-form drugs, an estimated annual cost savings
of $1,394.79 (84%) could be achieved compared to current practices. The use of ready-to-use CL-form
drugs that eliminate the need for reconstitution enabled a 2.8-fold reduction in preparation time and
resulted in an estimated 18.5-hour annual reduction in exposure duration.
CONCLUSION
Switching to CL-form gemcitabine could be a practical strategy to enhance cost savings and reduce
occupational exposure in chemotherapy preparation. Further multi-center studies are warranted to confirm
the generalizability of these findings.