Abstract

PHARMACOECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF BIOSIMILAR INFLIXIMAB FOR THE THERAPY OF RHEUMATOLOGY DISEASES IN THE BULGARIAN HEALTH CARE SETTING – A MARKOV MODEL

Alexandra Savova*, Lubomir Marinov, Svetla Georgieva, Guenka Petrova,Irina Nikolova

ABSTRACT

The goal of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of the first bio similar infliximab for the treatment of rheumatology arthritis (RA) in Bulgaria.The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed on the previously developed Markov model. The model was fulfilled with the cost data for medicines and health care services in Bulgaria. The monthly cost of therapy with biosimilar infliximab is varying between 588 and 1176 Euro per patient. Comparing the cost of therapy with the other biological options is evident that the biosimilar therapy is less costly alternative. The changes in the therapeutic results, measured through the changes in life expectancy and quality adjusted life years benefits the infliximab due to its higher efficacy. Thus biosimilar infliximab is dominant alternative for the national health care settings. In the whole range of varying the cost and results during the probabilistic sensitivity analysis (+/- 2.5%) the biosimilar infliximab remains dominant alternative. The biosimilar infliximab is less costly and more effective than the comparative drug adalimumab and is saving the money for the health care payers even when the number of patients is increasing.

Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, infliximab, biosimilars.