Journal
NEUROLOGY
Volume 77, Issue 4, Pages 355-363Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182270402
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Funding
- HC [0071, 0103]
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), New York, NY
- University of Rochester CTSA [UL1 RR024160]
- National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the NIH
- NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
- Biogen Idec
- Boston Scientific
- NIH
- NMSS
- NIH/NIMH
- US Department of Defense
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Bayer Schering Pharma
- Merck Serono
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
- Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
- EMD Serono, Inc.
- Cyberonics, Inc.
- National Science Foundation
- American Stroke Association
- NIH/NCRR
- US Veterans Administration
- NMS
- AHRQ
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Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in the United States compared to basic supportive therapy without DMT for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Using data from a longitudinal MS survey, we generated 10-year disease progression paths for an MS cohort. We used first-order annual Markov models to estimate transitional probabilities. Costs associated with losses of employment were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Medical costs were estimated using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reimbursement rates and other sources. Outcomes were measured as gains in quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and relapse-free years. Monte Carlo simulations, resampling methods, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate model uncertainty. Results: Using DMT for 10 years resulted in modest health gains for all DMTs compared to treatment without DMT (0.082 QALY or < 1 quality-adjusted month gain for glatiramer acetate, and 0.126-0.192 QALY gain for interferons). The cost-effectiveness of all DMTs far exceeded $800,000/QALY. Reducing the cost of DMTs had by far the greatest impact on the cost-effectiveness of these treatments (e. g., cost reduction by 67% would improve the probability of Avonex being cost-effective at $164,000/QALY to 50%). Compared to treating patients with all levels of disease, starting DMT earlier was associated with a lower (more favorable) incremental cost-effectiveness ratio compared to initiating treatment at any disease state. Conclusion: Use of DMT in MS results in health gains that come at a very high cost. Neurology (R) 2011; 77: 355-363
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