Cost-effectiveness of TNF-alpha-blocking agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
Sonja MerkesdalHenning Zeidler

Abstract

The current literature covering cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses of biological treatments in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are reviewed in order to discuss options and limitations for future application of these highly priced drugs in routine clinical practice. The cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios of the studies analysed are converted into the corresponding Euros of the publication year. Etanercept treatment achieved a cost-effectiveness ratio of 44,300 Euros (2002)/ACR 20 (20% response according to American College of Rheumatology criteria) and 43,100 Euros (2002)/ACR 70WR (ACR 70 weighted response) compared with sulfasalazine and methotrexate, respectively, in methotrexate-naive RA. In methotrexate-resistant RA, the combination of etanercept and methotrexate is compared to a combination therapy of methotrexate, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine revealing costs of 46,100 Euros (2000)/ACR 20, and 37,700 Euros/ACR 70WR. The cost-utility ratios for infliximab treatment range from 16,000 Euros to almost 166,000/QALY (quality adjusted life-year) gained, the studies investigating etanercept treatment show a ratio of approximately 25,000 Euros and 120,000/QALY gained. No substantial differences of c...Continue Reading

References

Mar 13, 1999·Annals of Internal Medicine·L W MorelandM E Weinblatt
Nov 30, 2000·The New England Journal of Medicine·P E LipskyUNKNOWN Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Concomitant Therapy Study Group
Dec 12, 2001·PharmacoEconomics·M J NuijtenM Koopmanschap
Apr 27, 2002·Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie·S MerkesdalH Zeidler
Oct 29, 2002·The American Journal of Medicine·John B WongArthur Kavanaugh

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 11, 2006·Clinical & Developmental Immunology·Alan Ebringer, Taha Rashid
Dec 23, 2006·Clinical Rheumatology·Taha Rashid, Alan Ebringer
Jan 9, 2007·Clinical Rheumatology·Taha Rashid, Alan Ebringer
Feb 15, 2005·Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases·G M ZimmermanM Maccarone Buonfigli
Sep 4, 2014·Current Rheumatology Reports·Jonathan ToshRon Akehurst
Jan 7, 2016·Nanomedicine : Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine·Eugénia NogueiraArtur Cavaco-Paulo
Jul 29, 2006·Arthritis and Rheumatism·Michael C Y TanCarlo A Marra

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antimalarial Agents (ASM)

Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.

Antimalarial Agents

Antimalarial agents, also known as antimalarials, are designed to prevent or cure malaria. Discover the latest research on antimalarial agents here.