BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., Oct. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CorMedix Inc. (Nasdaq: CRMD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic products for the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory disease, today announced the acceptance for presentation of three abstracts at industry conferences. These include one abstract presented today at the Association of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus conference in Denver, Colorado, and two abstracts being presented at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) conference being held virtually November 4 – 8.
The abstracts being presented highlight retrospective analyses that were conducted integrating multiple clinical and claims databases that track end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The conclusions from these retrospective studies underscore the significant incidence of and mortality related to catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) and economic costs related to these infections. These findings are especially important since approximately 80% of patients undergoing hemodialysis start with a central venous catheter (CVC) as their first vascular access. Key findings include:
- Approximately 29% of the ~56k hemodialysis patients studied had an occurrence of CRBSI post CVC-insertion
- Over 54% of first CRBSIs occurred within 3 months following CVC insertion
- CRBSIs lead to more hospital admissions, longer stays, and a more complicated clinical course
- Hemodialysis related CRBSIs are associated with significant mortality
- Analysis estimates $2.3 billion in direct costs from CVC-CRBSIs annually
Dr. Matt David, interim Chief Executive Officer of CorMedix commented, “The abstracts being presented represent important work by the CorMedix team to expand our understanding of the magnitude of CRBSIs as a problem in the hemodialysis patient community. We have demonstrated in clinical study that DefenCath can reduce CRBSIs in CVC patients undergoing hemodialysis by approximately 71%. As we continue to work to secure marketing authorization for DefenCath, we are motivated by these data that reinforce the unmet medical need that we plan to address by reducing life-threatening CRBSIs.”
The abstracts accepted for presentation are listed below. The AMCP Nexus abstract is published in the JMCP Meeting Abstracts supplement while the ASN abstracts are posted on the conference website.
AMCP Nexus Conference
Title: Incremental Cost of CRBSIs among Central Venous Catheter Dependent Hemodialysis Patients: A Claims-Based Assessment of USRDS linked Medicare Data
Abstract ID: 1066951
Background: For patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), central venous catheters (CVCs) act as essential vascular access devices. However, CVCs have increased risk of catheter hub contamination that may lead to catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) resulting in greater number of hospitalizations, long-term complications (e.g., stroke, heart failure, etc.), and overall costs. To date, the overall cost burden associated with CRBSI is not fully known. Thus, estimating the incremental healthcare resource use and cost burden of CRBSIs is vital.
Objective: To evaluate incremental cost of CRBSIs in HD patients with CVCs.
Methods: A 1:1 propensity score matched case-control analysis was conducted using merged data from United States Renal Data System (USRDS), CROWNWeb (dialysis organizations), and Medicare claims database (2013-2017). All CVC-dependent HD patients from 2014-2016 with a 1-year pre- and ≥ 1-year post-index period were included. CRBSI case group index date was the first date of occurrence of either of the following post CVC insertion: ICD-9/10-CMs 999.32, T80211x; 999.31, T80219x, T80218x and sepsis/bacteremia diagnosis within ±3 days of hospitalization; sepsis/bacteremia diagnosis without occurrence for pneumonia, gangrene, or urinary tract infections within ±3 days of hospitalization. Non-CRBSI control group was identified using an assigned-index date (i.e., CVC insertion date + median days to CRBSI reported in CRBSI-case group). Cohort differences were assessed using frequency, mean, median, chi-square and t-tests. Adjusted generalized linear models (GLM) examined differences in all-cause inpatient hospitalization and total costs between CRBSI and non-CRBSI patients.
Results: Approximately 29% (n=15,863) of the 55,727 HD patients (mean age 67.81 years, 44.6% female) had an occurrence of CRBSI post CVC-insertion. In the 1-year post CRBSI incidence, mean monthly all-cause inpatient hospitalization costs were $6,015 compared to $2,278 for matched non-CRBSI patients. Similarly, mean monthly total costs were $10,900 (CRBSI) and $6,006 (non-CRBSI). GLM showed per patient per month all-cause inpatient hospitalization, and total costs were significantly higher for CRBSI patients compared to non-CRBSI patients (p