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BMC Ophthalmology
Published in: BMC Ophthalmology 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

The cost-effectiveness of the Argus II retinal prosthesis in Retinitis Pigmentosa patients

Authors: Anil Vaidya, Elio Borgonovi, Rod S Taylor, José-Alain Sahel, Stanislao Rizzo, Paulo Eduardo Stanga, Amit Kukreja, Peter Walter

Published in: BMC Ophthalmology | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary genetic disease causing bilateral retinal degeneration. RP is a leading cause of blindness resulting in incurable visual impairment and drastic reduction in the Quality of life of the patients. Second Sight Medical Products Inc. developed Argus II, a retinal prosthesis system for treating RP. Argus II is the world’s first ever-commercial implant intended to restore some vision in the blind patients. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of the Argus® II Retinal Prosthesis System (Argus II) in Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) patients.

Method

A multi -state transition Markov model was developed to determine the cost-effectiveness of Argus II versus usual care in RP from the perspective of healthcare payer. A hypothetical cohort of 1000 RP patients aged 46 years followed up over a (lifetime) 25-year time horizon. Health outcomes were expressed as quality adjusted life years (QALYs) and direct healthcare costs expressed in 2012 €. Results are reported as incremental cost per ratios (ICERs) with outcomes and costs discounted at an annual rate of 3.5%.

Results

The ICER for Argus II was €14,603/QALY. Taking into account the uncertainty in model inputs the ICER was €14,482/QALY in the probabilistic analysis. In the scenarios of an assumption of no reduction on cost across model visual acuity states or a model time horizon as short as 10 years the ICER increased to €31,890/QALY and €49,769/QALY respectively.

Conclusion

This economic evaluation shows that Argus II is a cost-effective intervention compared to usual care of the RP patients. The lifetime analysis ICER for Argus II falls below the published societal willingness to pay of EuroZone countries.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The cost-effectiveness of the Argus II retinal prosthesis in Retinitis Pigmentosa patients
Authors
Anil Vaidya
Elio Borgonovi
Rod S Taylor
José-Alain Sahel
Stanislao Rizzo
Paulo Eduardo Stanga
Amit Kukreja
Peter Walter
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Ophthalmology / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2415
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2415-14-49

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