A cost-effectiveness modeling evaluation comparing a biosimilar follitropin alfa preparation with its reference product for live birth outcome in Germany, Italy and Spain. (2nd November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gizzo, Salvatore; Ferrando, Marcos; Lispi, Monica; Ripellino, Claudio; Cataldo, Nazarena; Bühler, Klaus
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical economics. Volume 21:Number 11(2018)
• Page Start: 1096
• Page End: 1101
• Publication Date: 2018-11-02
• Subjects: Cost per live birth -- incremental cost-effectiveness ratio -- ICER -- follitropin alfa -- Spain -- Italy -- Germany -- recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone; D40 -- D61; Medical care -- Cost control -- Periodicals; Medical economics -- Periodicals; 362.10941
• DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2018.1511567
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-6998

Abstract

Abstract: Background/objective: Although biosimilar drugs may be cheaper to purchase than reference biological products, they may not be the most cost-effective treatment to achieve a desired outcome. The analysis reported here compared the overall costs to achieve live birth using the reference follitropin alfa (GONAL-f) or a biosimilar (Ovaleap) in Spain, Italy and Germany. Methods: Patient and treatment data was obtained from published sources; assisted-reproductive technology, gonadotropin, follow-up and adverse-event-related costs were calculated from tariffs and reimbursement frameworks for each country. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated from the difference in costs between reference and biosimilar in each country, divided by the difference in live-birth rates. Mean cost per live birth was calculated as total costs divided by the live-birth rate. Results: The published live birth rates were 32.2% (reference) and 26.8% (biosimilar). Drug costs per patient were higher for the reference recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone in all three countries, with larger cost differences in Germany (€157.38) and Italy (€141.50) than in Spain (€22.41). The ICER for the reference product compared with the biosimilar was €2917.47 in Germany, €415.43 in Spain and €2623.09 in Italy. However, the overall cost per live birth was higher for the biosimilar in all three countries (Germany €8135.04 vs. €9185.34; Italy €8545.22 vs. €9733.37; Spain €14, 859.53 vs. €17, 767.19). Uncertainty in efficacy, mean gonadotropin dose and costs did not have a strong effect on the ICERs. Conclusions: When considering live birth outcomes, treatment with the reference follitropin alfa was more cost effective than treatment with the biosimilar follitropin alfa.