104 research outputs found
PRM102 Budget Impact Analysis of Delayed-Release Dimethylfumarate In The Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis In Italy
INTRODUCTION: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition with a significant economic and social burden that affects young adults, in their active working phase. The most recent evaluations show an annual average social cost of € 38-39 thousand per patient. Today the approval of the new oral therapies allows physicians to select further options that can meet patients’ clinical unmet needs.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the economic impact of a recently approved therapy, delayed-release dimethyl-fumarate (DMF; also known as gastro-resistant DMF), on the overall management costs of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in Italy.
METHODS: A budget impact model, adopting the perspective of the Italian National Healthcare Service (NHS), was used to compare healthcare costs of two different treatment scenarios: a) base-case, where DMF is not available for RRMS patients (Scenario A), vs. b) alternative-case, where DMF is available for RRMS patients (Scenario B). Healthcare costs sustained by the Italian NHS to manage the RRMS population (drug treatment, administration, therapy and disease monitoring, relapse management, treatment-related adverse events) have been calculated over 3 years and compared for the two scenarios. Impact of relapses for the disease modifying therapies (DMTs) included in the analysis was estimated using an elaboration of the results from published mixed treatment comparison. RRMS population treated with DMTs was estimated using Italian prevalence and incidence data. According to these estimates, the number of treated patients amounted to 36,078 at Year 1, 38,832 at Year 2, and 40,673 at Year 3.
RESULTS: According to the current price and to the assumptions reported in the methodology section, it was estimated that the introduction of DMF (Scenario B) determines a decrease of the budget impact, if compared with the base case (Scenario A) in the perspective of Italian NHS. Over three years, the budget impact would be € 1,376 mln in the Scenario A and € 1,354 mln in the Scenario B (-22.18 mln €; -1.61% relative budget variation). The main drivers for cost-saving were pharmacological treatment costs and reduced burden of relapses (corresponding to more than 1,800 avoided relapses).
CONCLUSIONS: At the current cost conditions applied in Italy and according to the described assumptions, the use of DMF is economically sustainable for the Italian NHS. Plausibly, the introduction and usage of this new therapy in RRMS patients will ensure clinical benefits for patients without resulting in additional costs for the Italian NHS.
[In Italian
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Delayed-Release Dimethyl-Fumarate In The Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis In Italy
INTRODUCTION: Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs) have significantly improved clinical conditions of Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) patients. However, several unmet needs are still relevant in RRMS. Recently, a new therapy, delayed-release dimethyl-fumarate (DMF; also known as gastro-resistant DMF), has been approved and reimbursed by the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) for the treatment of RRMS.OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost-effectiveness of DMF vs. pharmacological alternatives indicated for the first-line treatment of RRMS in Italy.METHODS: The analysis was conducted from the perspective of the Italian National Healthcare Service (NHS) and outcomes and costs were evaluated over a 50-year time horizon (equivalent to a lifetime horizon). Both outcomes and costs were discounted at 3.5%. The Markov model estimates the clinical and economic consequences of treating RRMS patients with the following therapeutic options: DMF, interferon (IFN) beta-1a intramuscular (IM); IFN beta-1a subcutaneous (SC) at two different doses, 22 mcg and 44 mcg; IFN beta-1b SC; glatiramer acetate (GA) SC 20 mg; oral teriflunomide. Clinical efficacy data used in this analysis came from an elaboration of the mixed treatment comparison (MTC) already published. According to the Italian NHS perspective, only the following direct costs were considered: pharmacological treatment acquisition, treatment monitoring, relapse management, direct costs associated with disability, adverse event management. Administration costs were assumed equal to €0, because every treatment included in the economic analysis can be self-administered. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were developed and cost effectiveness acceptability curves generated.RESULTS: In the base-case analysis, DMF was more efficacious than alternatives, in terms of both survival (19.496 vs. 19.297-19.461 discounted LYs, respectively), and QALYs (6.548 vs. 5.172- 6.212 discounted QALYs, respectively). Per-patient lifetime costs with DMF amounted to € 276,500, similarly to the other options. DMF was the drug with the largest effect of disability cost reduction. DMF was dominant vs. IFN beta-1a 44 mcg and cost-effective vs. all other IFNs, GA and teriflunomide, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICERs) between € 11,272 and € 23,409. All ICER values were lower than the € 50,000 per QALY threshold. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that, for all tested scenarios, ICER of DMF vs. therapeutic alternatives remained favourable (≤ 50.000 €/QALY gained) and the results of probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that the probability for DMF of being favourable (≤ 50.000 €/QALY gained) was between around 70% and 93%, thus ensuring robustness of the results.CONCLUSIONS: The results of this economic analysis show that, at the current price and the described assumptions, DMF represents a cost-effective option vs. other available first-line treatments indicated in RRMS in the perspective of the Italian NHS.[Article in Italian
Role of heme oxygenase-1 (HSP32) and HSP90 in glioblastoma
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor in adults. The current treatment regimes for glioblastoma demonstrated a low efficiency and offer a poor prognosis. Advancements in conventional treatment strategies have only yielded modest improvements in overall survival. The heat shockproteins, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and Hsp90, serve these pivotal roles in tumor cells and have been identified as effective targets for developing therapeutics. This topic review summarizes the current preclinical and clinical evidences and rationale to define the potential of HO-1 and Hsp90 in GBM progression and chemoresistance
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