IFN-β-1a, IFN-β-1b, glatiramer acetate not warranted in MS
Transcript of IFN-β-1a, IFN-β-1b, glatiramer acetate not warranted in MS
PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 465 - 6 Nov 2004
IFN-β-1a, IFN-β-1b, glatirameracetate not warranted in MS
Cost-effectiveness results for interferon (IFN)-β-1a,IFN-β-1b and glatiramer acetate treatment amongpatients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are "unfavorableunder a wide range of assumptions", say researchersfrom Canada and the US.
They used a state-transition model, based on dataderived from clinical trials and natural history studies, toconsider the cost effectiveness of different treatmentstrategies among separate hypothetical cohorts of menand women (aged 30 years) with newly diagnosednonprimary progressive MS. The strategies were:• no treatment• IFN-β-1a• IFN-β-1b• glatiramer acetate.The base-case analysis assumed a 10-year treatment
duration, and showed that IFN-β-1a would provide morehealth benefits in terms of quality-adjusted life-years(QALYs) than no treatment, but would also be morecostly. The resulting cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs) forIFN-β-1a would be about $US1.8 million per QALYgained for men, and $US2.2 million per QALY gained forwomen, compared with no treatment.* IFN-β-1b wouldbe less effective and more costly than no treatment,causing it to be "strongly dominated", note theresearchers. The model showed that glatiramer acetatewould have a higher CER, but a lower cost, than IFN-β-1b, and was thus "ruled out through extendeddominance", they comment.
CERs for the drug treatments versus no treatment"remained unfavorable" under the majority ofassumptions generated in the probabilistic sensitivityanalysis, say the researchers. These findings "underscorethe need for MS treatments that are not just more cost-effective but that are more clinically effective", theycontend.* Costs (1999 values) were those related to drugs, treatment,physician visits, hospital stays, home-care and equipment, informalcare, and patient time. Cost and QALYs were discounted at a rate of 3%per annum, and the analysis considered the societal perspective.
Prosser LA, et al. Cost-effectiveness of interferon beta-Ia, interferon beta-Ib, andglatiramer acetate in newly diagnosed non-primary progressive multiple sclerosis.Value in Health 7: 554-568, No. 5, Sep 2004 800954882
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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 6 Nov 2004 No. 4651173-5503/10/0465-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved