Cost-efficacy comparison of biological therapies for patients with moderate to
severe psoriasis in Japan.
Author(s): Igarashi A(1), Kuwabara H, Fahrbach K, Schenkel B.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Department of Dermatology, NTT Medical Center Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
igarashi@east.ntt.co.jp
Publication date & source: 2013, J Dermatolog Treat. , 24(5):351-5
BACKGROUND: Biological therapies have recently been introduced for patients with
moderate to severe psoriasis in Japan.
OBJECTIVES: This research aims to assess the cost efficacy of adalimumab,
infliximab and ustekinumab treatments for psoriasis in a Japanese environment.
METHODS: A mixed-treatment comparison was performed to estimate the comparative
efficacy of biological therapies using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)
scores based on data from randomized, double-blind, controlled studies. Costs
included only the drug costs calculated by the approved dosing and schedule. Cost
efficacy was determined by dividing the cost by the probability of achieving a
PASI 75 response.
RESULTS: Infliximab had the highest probability of a PASI 75 response (83%),
followed by ustekinumab 45 mg (74%) and adalimumab (59%). Infliximab was the most
expensive biologic, whereas the costs of ustekinumab 45 mg and adalimumab were
similar. In the first year of induction treatment, the lowest cost per responder
was for ustekinumab 45 mg, followed by adalimumab and infliximab. In the
subsequent year of maintenance treatment, the cost per responder of ustekinumab
45 mg remained the lowest while infliximab and adalimumab had similar cost
efficacy.
CONCLUSIONS: Ustekinumab was a more cost-efficient biological therapy than
adalimumab or infliximab for psoriasis patients in a Japanese setting.
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