SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2007

10/9/07

Cost-effectiveness of omalizumab in adults with severe asthma: Results from the Asthma Policy Model.

Summary
This study was to identify the clinical and economic circumstances under which omalizumab might or might not be a cost-effective option by using a mathematic model. The authors found that omalizumab conferred an additional 1.7 quality-adjusted months at an incremental cost of $131,000 over a 10-year planning horizon, implying a cost-effectiveness ratio of $821,000 per QALY gained. The projected cost-effectiveness ratio could fall within a range of other programs in asthma that are widely considered to be cost-effective if the cost of omalizumab decreases to less than $200. Therefore this agent is not cost-effective for most patients with severe asthma.

Reference
Wu, A. C., A. D. Paltiel, et al. (2007)., J Allergy Clin Immunol.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
Omalizumab has been shown to benefit many patients with severe persistent asthma due to allergies. Unfortunately, because of its high cost, physicians may want maximize other medications for severe asthma before initiating omalizumab.

 

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