Economic Evaluation of Tirbanibulin for the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis in Scotland

• Published in: PharmacoEconomics - open 2023-05, Vol.7 (3), p.443-454
• Main Authors: Dymond, Amy, Green, Will, Edwards, Mary, Pont, Maria Angeles Lopez, Gupta, Girish
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cost analysis; Cryotherapy; Decision trees; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Original; Original Research Article; Patients; Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes; Photodynamic therapy; Probability; Systematic review
• ISSN: 2509-4262; 2509-4254
• DOI: 10.1007/s41669-023-00410-5

Background Tirbanibulin 1% ointment is a new treatment for actinic keratosis (AK) on the face or scalp. A health economic model was developed as part of a submission to the Scottish Medicines Consortium to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of tirbanibulin compared to the most frequently prescribed treatments. Methods A decision tree approach was used to calculate the costs and benefits of different treatment strategies for AK on the face or scalp over a one-year time horizon. Data on the relative efficacy of treatments, which were based on the probability of complete clearance of AK, were obtained from a network meta-analysis. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were performed to determine the robustness of the model results. Results Tirbanibulin is estimated to be cost saving versus diclofenac sodium 3%, imiquimod 5% and fluorouracil 5%. Tirbanibulin remains cost saving when inputs are varied in sensitivity and scenario analyses. While the complete clearance rates are deemed similar across comparators, tirbanibulin is associated with a lower rate of severe local skin reactions, and a shorter treatment duration, which may improve treatment adherence. Conclusions Tirbanibulin is a cost saving intervention for the treatment of AK from the perspective of the Scottish Healthcare System.