Tofacitinib in the treatment of moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis: a cost-effectiveness analysis compared with adalimumab in Taiwan |
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| Authors: | Der-Yuan Chen Chao-Hsiun Tang Lindsay Claxton Satish Valluri Robert A Gerber |
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| Institution: | 1. Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Department of Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan;2. Translation Medicine Laboratory, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan;3. School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan;4. School of Health Care Administration, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan;5. York Health Economics Consortium, York, UK;6. Pfizer Inc, Collegeville, PA, USA;7. Pfizer Inc, Groton, CT, USA |
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| Abstract: | Aims: Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This analysis investigated the cost-effectiveness of the second-line treatment with tofacitinib, compared with adalimumab, both plus methotrexate (MTX), in patients with moderate-to-severe RA and an inadequate response to the first-line MTX, from a Taiwan National Health Insurance Administration perspective.Materials and methods: A patient-level simulation model was used to project lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Base-case analysis compared second-line treatment with tofacitinib 5?mg twice daily plus MTX vs adalimumab 40?mg every 2?weeks plus MTX. Patients switched or discontinued treatment due to a lack or loss of effectiveness or a serious adverse event. Efficacy was measured by change in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score. HAQ-DI scores were used to predict mortality and resource utilization, and were mapped onto utility values to estimate QALYs. Efficacy and safety data were derived from clinical trials and other secondary sources. Uncertainty in model parameters was explored using one-way deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.Results: Patients gained 0.09 more QALYs with second-line tofacitinib plus MTX compared with adalimumab plus MTX (5.13 vs 5.04, respectively) at an additional cost of New Taiwan Dollars (NT$) 12,881. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was NT$143,122/QALY. One-way sensitivity analysis confirmed the base-case result was robust.Limitations: The lack of available clinical data, particularly for HAQ-DI scores, may introduce some bias in the analysis. No patients were in an early stage of RA, which may limit the generalizability of these results. Base-case results from our study are not necessarily generalizable to countries with healthcare systems that differ considerably from Taiwan.Conclusions: From a payer perspective, second-line treatment with tofacitinib plus MTX is a cost-effective treatment strategy, compared with adalimumab plus MTX, in patients with moderate-to-severe RA in Taiwan.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00853385. |
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| Keywords: | Cost-effectiveness cost-utility rheumatoid arthritis Taiwan tofacitinib |
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