Economic evaluation of therapeutic sequences in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and coexisting conditions Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a chronic lymphoproliferative syndrome and it is the most common hematological malignancy in Western countries. It has a tendency to develop subsequent relapses, so affected patients are likely to undergo more than one line of treatment. Methods: Rather than evaluating the cost-effectiveness of individual therapeutic agents, it becomes therefore recommendable for decision-makers to identify an optimal sequencing of such agents. A four-year cost-consequence analysis was conducted, comparing three alternative strategies for the first-line treatment of patients with previously untreated CLL and coexisting conditions: i) obinutuzumab with chlorambucil (Obi-Clb), ii) rituximab with chlorambucil (Rtx-Clb), and iii) ofatumumab with chlorambucil (Ofa-Clb). Only drug costs were considered in the analysis.
Results: In two trials, median time to next treatment (TTNT) was longer in Obi-Clb (51.1 months) as compared toRtx-Clb (38.2 months) or to Ofa-Clb (39.8 months). Therefore, during a 48-month time horizon, patients treated with Obi-Clb would maintain on average the first line treatment; on the contrary, patients treated with Rtx-Clb or with Ofa-Clb would receive on average a second line treatment consisting in the majority of cases of ibrutinib monotherapy, or rituximab with idelalisib or rituximab with bendamustine. The sequence using Obi-Clb regimen in first line showed the lower mean cost of treatment: €22,958 over the 48-month time horizon. Sensitivity analyses on a couple of scenarios provided similar conclusions in terms of overall costs. Conclusion: Obi-Clb as first-line treatment appears a recommendable strategy in terms of drug costs in the treatment of patients with previously untreated CLL and coexisting conditions. Keywords: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Cost, Economic, Therapeutic sequences, Obinutuzumab, Time to next treatment
IntroduzioneLa leucemia linfatica cronica (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, CLL) è una sindrome linfoproliferativa progressiva (1). L'età media alla diagnosi è di circa 65 anni e meno del 15% dei casi viene diagnosticato prima dei 60 anni (2). La CLL rappresenta la neoplasia ematologica più comune nel mondo occidentale (1). Ogni anno essa colpisce circa 5 persone su 100.000 con un'incidenza che cresce all'aumentare dell'età (2). In Italia si stimano circa 1600 nuovi casi all'anno tra gli uomini e 1150 tra le donne (2).Il decorso della CLL varia da paziente a paziente; in alcuni casi può mantenersi stabile per più di 10 anni e in altri determinare una rapida progressione della malattia. L'identificazione di fattori prognostici e predittivi, fondamentale per la scelta della terapia, viene fatta valutando la stadiazione della malattia e altri parametri biologici quali, ad esempio, il tempo di raddoppiamento del numero dei linfociti, il dosaggio della beta-2 microglobulina, la presenza di delezioni e/o mutazi...