1. Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of lung cancer immunotherapy in South America: strategies to improve access.
- Author
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Aguiar P Jr, Giglio AD, Perry LA, Penny-Dimri J, Babiker H, Tadokoro H, Lopes G Jr, and De Mello RA
- Subjects
- Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological therapeutic use, Economics, Pharmaceutical, Health Services Accessibility economics, Humans, South America, Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological economics, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung drug therapy, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Immunotherapy economics, Lung Neoplasms drug therapy
- Abstract
Aim: Immune checkpoint inhibitors revolutionized the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer, although their costs are a limitation., Methods: The number of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer eligible for immunotherapy was estimated using local epidemiology data. We extracted survival data from RCTs to estimate the life-years saved in a 5-year time horizon. All costs were in local prices converted to US dollars., Results: In the first-line, the budget impact of pembrolizumab decreased by 35% through risk-sharing. In the second-line, patient selection by programmed-death receptor ligand 1 expression decreased the budgetary impact by 45%, and improved cost-effectiveness. Immunotherapy was more cost-effective in the first-line., Conclusion: Given current pricing, Immune checkpoint inhibitors are cost-prohibitive in the majority of South American health services. Nevertheless, several strategies should improve access to immunotherapy.
- Published
- 2018
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