Cost-effectiveness of injectable disease-modifying therapies for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in Spain.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the cost-effectiveness of injectable disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for the first-line treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in Spain.

METHODS:

A Markov model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of intramuscular interferon beta-1a (IM IFNβ-1a), subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (SC IFNβ-1a), interferon beta-1b (IFNβ-1b) and glatiramer acetate (GA) relative to best supportive care in a hypothetical cohort of 1,000 RRMS patients in Spain. The model was developed from a societal perspective with a time horizon of 30 years. Natural history and clinical trial data were used to model relapse rates and disease progression. Cost and utility data were obtained from a published survey of multiple sclerosis patients in Spain. The primary outcome measure was cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS:

Compared to best supportive care, the base case cost-effectiveness was <euro>168,629 per QALY gained for IM IFNβ-1a, <euro>231,853 per QALY gained for IFNβ-1b, <euro>295,638 per QALY gained for SC IFNβ-1a, and <euro>318,818 per QALY gained for GA. Results were most sensitive to changes in DMT cost, utility values and treatment effect.

CONCLUSIONS:

In our cost-effectiveness analysis of first-line injectable DMTs in Spain, we found IM IFNβ-1a to be more cost-effective than SC IFNβ-1a, IFNβ-1b or GA. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these results.

• Authors: Carole Dembek, Leigh Ann White, Jayson Quach, Andrea Szkurhan, Nazia Rashid, M R Blasco
• Journal: The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care (Eur J Health Econ) Vol. 15 Issue 4 Pg. 353-62 (May 2014) ISSN: 1618-7601 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23615954 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Interferon beta-1b
• Interferon-beta
• Interferon beta-1a

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (administration & dosage, economics)
• Adult
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Female
• Humans
• Injections
• Interferon beta-1a
• Interferon beta-1b
• Interferon-beta (administration & dosage, economics)
• Male
• Markov Chains
• Middle Aged
• Models, Economic
• Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting (drug therapy, economics)
• Quality-Adjusted Life Years
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult