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Cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab and bevacizumab for age-related macular degeneration: 2-year findings from the IVAN randomised trial

Abstract:

Objective To assess the incremental cost and cost-effectiveness of continuous and discontinuous regimens of bevacizumab (Avastin) and ranibizumab (Lucentis) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) from a UK National Health Service (NHS) perspective.

Design A within-trial cost-utility analysis with a 2-year time horizon, based on a multicentre factorial, non-inferiority randomised controlled trial.

Setting 23 hospital ophthalmology clinics.

Participants 610 patients aged ≥50 years with untreated nAMD in the study eye.

Interventions 0.5 mg ranibizumab or 1.25 mg bevacizumab given continuously (monthly) or discontinuously (as-needed) for 2 years.

Main outcome measures Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

Results Total 2-year costs ranged from £3002/patient ($4700; 95% CI £2601 to £3403) for discontinuous bevacizumab to £18 590/patient ($29 106; 95% CI £18 258 to £18 922) for continuous ranibizumab. Ranibizumab was significantly more costly than bevacizumab for both continuous (+£14 989/patient ($23 468); 95% CI £14 522 to £15 456; p<0.001) and discontinuous treatment (+£8498 ($13 305); 95% CI £7700 to £9295; p<0.001), with negligible difference in QALYs. Continuous ranibizumab would only be cost-effective compared with continuous bevacizumab if the NHS were willing to pay £3.5 million ($5.5 million) per additional QALY gained. Patients receiving continuous bevacizumab accrued higher total costs (+£599 ($938); 95% CI £91 to £1107; p=0.021) than those receiving discontinuous bevacizumab, but also accrued non-significantly more QALYs (+0.020; 95% CI −0.032 to 0.071; p=0.452). Continuous bevacizumab therefore cost £30 220 ($47 316) per QALY gained versus discontinuous bevacizumab. However, bootstrapping demonstrated that if the NHS is willing to pay £20 000/QALY gained, there is a 37% chance that continuous bevacizumab is cost-effective versus discontinuous bevacizumab.

Conclusions Ranibizumab is not cost-effective compared with bevacizumab, being substantially more costly and producing little or no QALY gain. Discontinuous bevacizumab is likely to be the most cost-effective of the four treatment strategies evaluated in this UK trial, although there is a 37% chance that continuous bevacizumab is cost-effective.

Trial registration number ISRCTN92166560.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005094

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Sub department:
Population Health
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-3255-748X
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Nuffield Department of Population Health
Sub department:
Population Health
Role:
Author

Contributors


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/0187kwz08
Funding agency for:
Dakin, HA
Wordsworth, S
Grant:
07/36/01
07/36/01
07/36/01


Publisher:
BMJ Publishing Group
Journal:
BMJ Open More from this journal
Volume:
4
Issue:
7
Article number:
e005094
Publication date:
2014-07-29
Acceptance date:
2014-06-23
DOI:
EISSN:
2044-6055


Language:
English
Pubs id:
pubs:479663
UUID:
uuid:1a504fc8-a113-4d60-8bcb-498b86be8332
Local pid:
pubs:479663
Source identifiers:
479663
Deposit date:
2014-08-29
ARK identifier:

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