THE POSSIBILITIES AND RESULTS OF INDIRECT COMPARISON OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

The paper analyzes two matching-adjusted indirect comparison-based investigations of the efficacy of adalimumab (ADA) and secukinumab (SCM) in active ankylosing spondylitis, which have been recently reported at the EULAR Congress (London, 2016). One study sponsored by AbbVie was conducted to determine the short-term (16-week) comparative clinical and economic efficacy of the test drugs and the other was supported by Novartis to reveal long-term (52-week), only clinical efficacy. Both studies have shown that the short-term efficacy ofADAand SCM is practically similar; however, the latter has a better long-term clinical efficacy. A pharmacoeconomic analysis of both drugs used during the first 12 weeks has demonstrated some advantage ofADA.