The Prevention of Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Fractures: Results of the Health Technology Assessment of a New Antiosteoporotic Drug

Objective. The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) approach was applied to denosumab in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. Method. Epidemiological, clinical, technical, economic, organizational, and ethical aspects were considered. Medical electronic databases were accessed to evaluate osteoporosis epidemiology and therapeutical approaches. A budget impact and a cost-effectiveness analyses were performed to assess economic implications. Clinical benefits and patient needs were considered with respect to organizational and ethical evaluation. Results. In Italy around four millions women are affected by osteoporosis and have a higher risk for fractures with 70,000 women being hospitalized every year. Bisphosphonates and strontium ranelate are recommended as first line treatment for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Denosumab is effective in reducing vertebral, nonvertebral, and hip/femoral fractures with an advantage of being administered subcutaneously every six months. The budget impact analysis estimated a reduction in costs for the National Health Service with the introduction of denosumab. Furthermore, the economic analysis demonstrated that denosumab is cost-effective in comparison to oral bisphosphonates and strontium ranelate. Denosumab can be administered in outpatients by involving General Practitioners in the management. Ethical evaluation is positive because of its efficacy and compliance. Conclusion. Denosumab could add value in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures

Health Technology Assessment of Belimumab: A New Monoclonal Antibody for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is treated with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs and off-label biologics. Belimumab is the first biologic approved after 50 years as an add-on therapy for active disease. This paper summarizes a health technology assessment performed in Italy. Methods. SLE epidemiology and burden were assessed using the best published international and national evidences and efficacy and safety of belimumab were synthesized using clinical data. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed by a lifetime microsimulation model comparing belimumab to standard of care (SoC). Organizational and ethical implications were discussed. Results. Literature review showed that SLE affects 47 per 100,000 people for a total of 28,500 patients in Italy, 50% of whom are affected by active form of the disease despite SoC. These patients, if autoantibodies and anti-dsDNA positive with low complement, are eligible for belimumab. SLE determines work disability and a 2-5-fold increase in mortality. Belimumab with SoC may prevent 4,742 flares in three years being cost-effective with an incremental costeffectiveness ratio of C32,859 per quality adjusted life year gained. From the organizational perspective, the development of clear and comprehensive clinical pathways is crucial. Conclusions. The assessment supports the use of belimumab into the SLE treatment paradigm in Italy

L’uso di nebivololo nell’ipertensione arteriosa e nello scompenso cardiaco: indicazioni e costo-efficacia con glossario di farmacoeconomia

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Haemophilia A: Pharmacoeconomic Review of Prophylaxis Treatment versus On-Demand

Objectives. Haemophilia A is a congenital disorder of coagulation that mainly affects males and causes a considerable use of resources, especially when hemophilic patients are treated with prophylaxis. The aim of the present review was to discuss and appraise the methodological aspects and results of published economic evaluations of haemophilia A treatments in the last decade. Methods. The literature search, performed by consulting four engines, covered studies published between 2002 and 2014. Full economic evaluations published in English language were identified and included in the review. A quality assessment of the studies was also carried out based on Drummond’s checklist. Results. After careful evaluations of the identified records, 5 studies were reviewed. Primary and secondary prophylaxis resulted cost-effective compared to on-demand therapy: the ICER of primary prophylaxis ranged from €40.236 to €59.315/QALY gained, while the ICER of secondary prophylaxis was €40.229/QALY gained. Furthermore, 60% were high quality and 40% were medium quality studies. Conclusions. The review underlines the cost-effectiveness of prophylaxis versus on-demand treatment and the different methodological approaches applied. Further economic evaluations are required with models that reflect the clinical reality and consumption of resources in each country

Costi associati a diagnosi e trattamento delle patologie sostenute da S. pneumoniae nei soggetti di et\ue0 6550 anni, in Il vaccino pneumococcico 13-valente per la prevenzione delle infezioni da S. pneumoniae in et\ue0 adulta: una valutazione di HTA

Il capitolo affronta l\u2019analisi dei costi associati alla diagnosi e al trattamento delle patologie sostenute da Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) nel gruppo di soggetti di et\ue0 6550 anni, attraverso una revisione della letteratura scientifica internazionale e nazionale e una stima dei costi diretti sanitari secondo la prospettiva del Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN). In particolare, \ue8 stata condotta un\u2019analisi dei costi relativi a visite presso medici di medicina generale (MMG), diagnosi, trattamenti farmacologici e ospedalizzazion

Valutazione economica di Bexsero

L'articolo presenta la valutazione economica della vaccinazione con il vaccino contro meningococco

L’Evidence Based Management a supporto del processo di decision making

--