Cost-effectiveness of valbenazine compared with deutetrabenazine for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia

In Reply to Xue W, Ribalov R, Zhou Z-Y, et al. Re: Ganz ML, Chavan A, Dhanda R, et al. Cost-effectiveness of valbenazine compared with deutetrabenazine for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia. J Med Econ. 2021;24(1):103–113

“…We further agree with Xue et al's third point that the assumption of sustained treatment effect based on short-term trials is a limitation to our analysis, and again, we had identified it as such [1]. It is our contention, however, that utilizing data from short-term, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials is more appropriate than comparing data from singlearm, open-label trials of longer duration.…”

“…To their second point that the ITC may be subject to bias due to differences in study design, we quite clearly agree, as we had explicitly identified this limitation to our analysis [1].…”

“…We appreciate the interest from Xue et al in our cost-effectiveness analysis of valbenazine versus deutetrabenazine for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD) [1], and are gratified that the transparency of our model enabled a detailed response. While we acknowledge the inherent limitations of modeling, we stand by our methods, inputs, and assumptions.…”

“…Xue and colleagues do, however, make a good point about the time horizon used in the model, and we agree that a lifetime horizon may not be a realistic assumption. An earlier version of our model, presented as a poster [9], had used a lifetime horizon, and we erroneously stated in the methods of the published version [1] that a lifetime horizon was used when in fact the model employed a 5-year horizon to be more relevant for a U.S. payer audience. Additionally, the lower and upper bounds for time horizon used in the deterministic sensitivity analysis were 2 and 10 years, respectively, rather than ± 20%.…”

Re: Ganz ML, Chavan A, Dhanda R, et al. Cost-effectiveness of valbenazine compared with deutetrabenazine for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia. J Med Econ. 2021;24(1):103–113

“…We read with great interest the study by Ganz et al [1], a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of valbenazine versus deutetrabenazine for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD) from a third-party payer perspective in the United States (US). The study reported that valbenazine was associated with a higher likelihood of treatment response at one year and more qualityadjusted life years (QALYs) compared with deutetrabenazine.…”