Pharmacoeconomic Considerations in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

• Published in: Drugs (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2010-01, Vol.70 (13), p.1677-1691
• Main Authors: Sharac, Jessica, McCrone, Paul, Sabes-Figuera, Ramon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Immunologic - economics; Adjuvants, Immunologic - therapeutic use; Analysis; Anti-inflammatory drugs; Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Cost analysis; Cost of Illness; Development and progression; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Economic aspects; Economics, Pharmaceutical; GDP; Glatiramer Acetate; Gross Domestic Product; Health care expenditures; Humans; Illnesses; Interferon beta-1a; Interferon beta-1b; Interferon-beta - economics; Interferon-beta - therapeutic use; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - economics; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Neurology; Peptides - economics; Peptides - therapeutic use; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacotherapy; Review Article; Social aspects
• ISSN: 0012-6667; 1179-1950
• DOI: 10.2165/11538000-000000000-00000

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disorder that incurs high costs to individuals, health systems and society as a whole. A growing number of studies have measured the costs of MS and assessed the cost effectiveness of different treatments. This review summarizes the evidence from these studies. Electronic databases were searched and a total of 51 studies were included, 32 of which were cost-of-illness studies. The cost-of-illness studies took different perspectives (health service or societal) and the annual costs per person with MS ranged between $US6511 and $US77 938 (year of cost 2008). Economic evaluations of interferon (IFN)-β-1a, IFNβ-1b, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide were identified. The results of the cost effectiveness of drug interventions were mixed. Most results comparing a drug with placebo related to IFNβ-1b and the results usually revealed cost-effectiveness ratios that were above usual willingness-to-pay thresholds of public decision makers. The limited evidence on glatiramer acetate suggests that this may be cost effective. Head-to-head drug comparisons produced varying results, although the findings for natalizumab appear favourable compared with other drugs. Further trial-based comparisons are required to increase the evidence base regarding drug treatments for MS.