Invasive
aspergillosis is a life-threatening
fungal infection predominately affecting immunocompromised individuals. The incidence of inpatient-treated
aspergillosis cases in the US is estimated to be between 3.02 and 3.80 per 10,000 hospitalized patients. The estimated difference in hospital costs of patients with an
aspergillosis infection is US$36,867 to US$59,356 higher than those of patients without the
infection.
Voriconazole is a synthetic, broad spectrum
triazole antifungal agent, with FDA-approved indications for the treatment of invasive
aspergillosis, esophageal
candidiasis,
candidemia in nonneutropenic patients,
invasive candidiasis, and
infections due to Scedosporium apiospermum and Fusarium species in patients refractory to or intolerant of other
therapy. Eight cost-effectiveness analyses, one cost-minimization analysis, and one cost analysis were identified from a Medline search. The 10 pharmacoeconomic analyses were conducted in six different countries comparing
voriconazole to conventional
amphotericin B,
liposomal amphotericin B,
itraconazole, and
caspofungin. All the cost-effectiveness and cost-minimization analyses identified
voriconazole as the most cost-effective
therapy. The cost analysis demonstrated
voriconazole cost-savings. While the acquisition costs of
voriconazole are higher than those of conventional
amphotericin B, the toxicity profile and rate of treatment success associated with
voriconazole result in lower total treatment costs per successfully treated patient.