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Clinical Drug Investigation
Published in: Clinical Drug Investigation 5/2017

01-05-2017 | Original Research Article

Cost-Utility Analysis of Three Iron Chelators Used in Monotherapy for the Treatment of Chronic Iron Overload in β-Thalassaemia Major Patients: An Italian Perspective

Authors: Alessia Pepe, Giuseppe Rossi, Anthony Bentley, Maria Caterina Putti, Ludovica Frizziero, Domenico Giuseppe D’Ascola, Liana Cuccia, Anna Spasiano, Aldo Filosa, Vincenzo Caruso, Aishah Hanif, Antonella Meloni

Published in: Clinical Drug Investigation | Issue 5/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Deferiprone (DFP), deferasirox (DFX) and deferoxamine (DFO) are used in thalassaemia major (TM) patients to treat chronic iron overload. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of DFP, compared with DFX and DFO monotherapy, from an Italian healthcare system perspective.

Methods

A Markov model was used over a time horizon of 5 years. Italian-specific cost data were combined with Italian efficacy data. Costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated for each treatment, with cost-effectiveness expressed as cost per QALY.

Results

In all scenarios modelled, DFP was the dominant treatment strategy. Sensitivity analyses showed that DFP dominated the other treatments with a >99% likelihood of being cost-effective against DFX and DFO at a willingness to pay threshold of €20,000 per QALY.

Conclusions

DFP was the dominant and most cost-effective treatment for managing chronic iron overload in TM patients. Its use can result in substantial cost savings for the Italian healthcare system.
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Metadata
Title
Cost-Utility Analysis of Three Iron Chelators Used in Monotherapy for the Treatment of Chronic Iron Overload in β-Thalassaemia Major Patients: An Italian Perspective
Authors
Alessia Pepe
Giuseppe Rossi
Anthony Bentley
Maria Caterina Putti
Ludovica Frizziero
Domenico Giuseppe D’Ascola
Liana Cuccia
Anna Spasiano
Aldo Filosa
Vincenzo Caruso
Aishah Hanif
Antonella Meloni
Publication date
01-05-2017
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Clinical Drug Investigation / Issue 5/2017
Print ISSN: 1173-2563
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1918
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40261-017-0496-1

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