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Published in: Clinical and Translational Allergy 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Brief communication

Cost utility analysis of the SQ® HDM SLIT-tablet in house dust mite allergic asthma patients in a German setting

Authors: J. Hahn-Pedersen, M. Worm, W. Green, J. Nørgaard Andreasen, M. Taylor

Published in: Clinical and Translational Allergy | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Asthma affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide with the condition associated with significant healthcare utilisation costs and a large impact on patient quality of life. The SQ® HDM SLIT-tablet (ACARIZAX®, Hørsholm, Denmark) is a sublingually administered allergy immunotherapy tablet for house dust mite allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis and has recently been licensed in Europe.

Objective

To assess the cost-effectiveness of ACARIZAX plus pharmacotherapy versus placebo plus pharmacotherapy in patients with house dust mite allergic asthma that is uncontrolled by inhaled corticosteroids, in a German setting. Eligible patients should also have symptoms of mild to severe allergic rhinitis.

Methods

A cost utility analysis was undertaken, based on the results of a European phase III randomised controlled trial, in which ACARIZAX was compared with placebo with both treatment groups also receiving pharmacotherapy in the form of inhaled corticosteroids and short-acting β2-agonists. Cost and quality-adjusted life years from the trial were extrapolated over a nine year time horizon and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio calculated to compare treatment options.

Results

ACARIZAX plus pharmacotherapy was estimated to generate 6.16 quality-adjusted life years per patient at a cost of €5658, compared with 5.50 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) at a cost of €2985 for placebo plus pharmacotherapy. This equated to an incremental cost of €2673, incremental QALYs of 0.66 and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €4041. The ICER was, therefore, substantially lower than the €40,000 willingness-to-pay threshold per QALY adopted for the analysis. Deterministic sensitivity analyses indicate the results are most sensitive to the utility score of ACARIZAX patients during years 2 and 3 of treatment.

Conclusion

This analysis indicates that ACARIZAX plus pharmacotherapy is cost-effective compared with placebo plus pharmacotherapy for house dust mite allergic asthma patients in Germany. If a disease-modifying effect can be proven the results of this analysis may underestimate the true benefits of ACARIZAX.
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Metadata
Title
Cost utility analysis of the SQ® HDM SLIT-tablet in house dust mite allergic asthma patients in a German setting
Authors
J. Hahn-Pedersen
M. Worm
W. Green
J. Nørgaard Andreasen
M. Taylor
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Clinical and Translational Allergy / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 2045-7022
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13601-016-0127-6

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