Abstract

ARIZA, R. et al. Cost-minimization analysis of subcutaneous abatacept in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Spain. Farm Hosp. [online]. 2014, vol.38, n.4, pp.257-265. ISSN 2171-8695.  https://dx.doi.org/10.7399/FH.2014.38.4.1137.

Objective: To compare the cost of treating rheumatoid arthritis patients that have failed an initial treatment with methotrexate, with subcutaneous abatacept versus other first-line biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Method: Subcutaneous abatacept was considered comparable to intravenous abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab and tocilizumab, based on indirect comparison using mixed treatment analysis. A cost-minimization analysis was therefore considered appropriate. The Spanish Health System perspective and a 3 year time horizon were selected. Pharmaceutical and administration costs (€, 2013) of all available first-line biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were considered. Administration costs were obtained from a local costs database. Patients were considered to have a weight of 70 kg. A 3% annual discount rate was applied. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Subcutaneous abatacept proved in the base case to be less costly than all other biologic antirrheumatic drugs (ranging from € -831.42 to € -9,741.69 versus infliximab and tocilizumab, respectively). Subcutaneous abatacept was associated with a cost of € 10,760.41 per patient during the first year of treatment and € 10,261.29 in subsequent years. The total 3-year cost of subcutaneous abatacept was € 29,953.89 per patient. Sensitivity analyses proved the model to be robust. Subcutaneous abatacept remained cost-saving in 100% of probabilistic sensitivity analysis simulations versus adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept and golimumab, in more than 99.6% versus intravenous abatacept and tocilizumab and in 62.3% versus infliximab. Conclusions: Treatment with subcutaneous abatacept is cost-saving versus intravenous abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab and tocilizumab in the management of rheumatoid arthritis patients initiating treatment with biological antirheumatic drugs.

Keywords : Cost-minimization analysis; Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; Rheumatoid arthritis.

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