1
|
Motta-Santos A, Noronha K, Reis C, Freitas D, Carvalho L, Andrade M. Cost-Effectiveness of Technologies for the Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Systematic Review of Economic Studies. Value Health Reg Issues 2024; 42:100985. [PMID: 38669792 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aims to systematically collect data on cost-effectiveness analyses that assess technologies to treat type I and II spinal muscular atrophy and evaluate their recommendations. METHODS A structured electronic search was conducted in 4 databases. Additionally, a complementary manual search was conducted. Complete economic studies that evaluated nusinersen, risdiplam, onasemnogene abeparvovec (OA), and the best support therapy (BST) from the health system's perspective were selected. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were compared with various thresholds for the analysis. The review was registered a priori in PROSPERO (CRD42022365391). RESULTS Twenty studies were included in the analyses. They were all published between 2017 and 2022 and represent the recommendations in 8 countries. Most studies adopted 5, 6, or 10-state Markov models. Some authors took part in multiple studies. Four technologies were evaluated: BST (N = 14), nusinersen (N = 19), risdiplam (N = 5), and OA (N = 9). OA, risdiplam, and nusinersen were considered inefficient compared with the BST. Risdiplam and OA were generally regarded as cost-effective when compared with nusinersen. Because nusinersen is not a cost-effective drug, no recommendation can be derived from this result. Risdiplam and OA were compared in 2 studies that presented opposite results. CONCLUSIONS Nusinersen, risdiplam, and OA are being adopted worldwide as a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. Despite that, the pharmacoeconomic analyses show that the technologies are not cost-effective compared with the BST. The lack of controlled studies for risdiplam and OA hamper any conclusions about their face-to-face comparison.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- André Motta-Santos
- Department of Economics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; School of Business, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Kenya Noronha
- Department of Economics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carla Reis
- Department of Economics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela Freitas
- School of Medicine/Professor, Universidade José do Rosário Vellano, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Center for Health Technology Assessment of the UFMG Teaching Hospital/Researcher, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lélia Carvalho
- Center for Health Technology Assessment of the UFMG Teaching Hospital/Coordinator, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mônica Andrade
- Department of Economics/Professor, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mendoza-Jiménez MJ, van Exel J, Brouwer W. On spillovers in economic evaluations: definition, mapping review and research agenda. THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS : HEPAC : HEALTH ECONOMICS IN PREVENTION AND CARE 2024:10.1007/s10198-023-01658-8. [PMID: 38261132 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-023-01658-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
An important issue in economic evaluations is determining whether all relevant impacts are considered, given the perspective chosen for the analysis. Acknowledging that patients are not isolated individuals has important implications in this context. Increasingly, the term "spillovers" is used to label consequences of health interventions on others. However, a clear definition of spillovers is lacking, and as a result, the scope of the concept remains unclear. In this study, we aim to clarify the concept of spillovers by proposing a definition applicable in health economic evaluations. To illustrate the implications of this definition, we highlight the diversity of potential spillovers through an expanded impact inventory and conduct a mapping review that outlines the evidence base for the different types of spillovers. In the context of economic evaluations of health interventions, we define spillovers as all impacts from an intervention on all parties or entities other than the users of the intervention under evaluation. This definition encompasses a broader range of potential costs and effects, beyond informal caregivers and family members. The expanded impact inventory enables a systematic approach to identifying broader impacts of health interventions. The mapping review shows that the relevance of different types of spillovers is context-specific. Some spillovers are regularly included in economic evaluations, although not always recognised as such, while others are not. A consistent use of the term "spillovers", improved measurement of these costs and effects, and increased transparency in reporting them are still necessary. To that end, we propose a research agenda.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María J Mendoza-Jiménez
- Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Erasmus Centre for Health Economics Rotterdam (EsCHER), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanísticas, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Guayaquil, Ecuador.
| | - Job van Exel
- Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Erasmus Centre for Health Economics Rotterdam (EsCHER), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Werner Brouwer
- Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management (ESHPM), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Erasmus Centre for Health Economics Rotterdam (EsCHER), Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pennington B, Al-Janabi H. Modelling Informal Carers' Health-Related Quality of Life: Challenges for Economic Evaluation. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2024; 22:9-16. [PMID: 37948034 PMCID: PMC10761460 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-023-00834-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
There has been increasing interest in including carers' health-related qualify of life (HRQoL) in decision models, but currently there is no best practice guidance as to how to do so. Models thus far have typically assumed that carers' HRQoL can be predicted from patient health states, as we illustrate with three examples of disease-modifying treatments. However, this approach limits the mechanisms that influence carers' HRQoL solely to patient health and may not accurately reflect carers' outcomes. In this article, we identify and discuss challenges associated with modelling intervention effects on carers' HRQoL: attaching carer utilities to patient disease states, the size of the caring network, aggregation of carer and patient HRQoL, patient death, and modelling longer-term carer HRQoL. We review and critique potential alternatives to modelling carers' HRQoL in decision models: trial-based analyses, qualitative consideration, cost-consequence analysis, and multicriteria decision analysis, noting that each of these also has its own challenges. We provide a framework of issues to consider when modelling carers' HRQoL and suggest how these can be addressed in current practice and future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Becky Pennington
- Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR), School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Hareth Al-Janabi
- Health Economics Unit, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cho J, Lee J, Kim J, Lee H, Kim MJ, Lee YJ, Yum MS, Byun JH, Lee CG, Lee YM, Lee J, Chae JH. Nusinersen demonstrates effectiveness in treating spinal muscular atrophy: findings from a three-year nationwide study in Korea. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1294028. [PMID: 38192577 PMCID: PMC10773909 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1294028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Nusinersen is the first drug approved for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of nusinersen, assess the therapeutic effects based on the treatment initiation timing and baseline motor function, and explore the perception of functional improvement from either parents or patients, utilizing 3-year nationwide follow-up data in South Korea. Methods We enrolled patients with SMA who were treated with nusinersen under the National Health Insurance coverage, with complete motor score records available and a minimum treatment duration of 6 months. To evaluate the motor function of patients, the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination-2 (HINE-2) was used for type 1 and the Expanded Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale (HFMSE) was used for types 2 and 3 patients. A significant improvement was defined as a HINE-2 score gain ≥5 for patients with type 1 and an HFMSE score ≥ 3 for patients with types 2 and 3 SMA. Effects of treatment timing were assessed. Patients with type 2 were further categorized based on baseline motor scores for outcome analysis. We also analyzed a second dataset from five tertiary hospitals with the information on parents/patients-reported impressions of improvement. Results The study comprised 137 patients, with 21, 103, and 13 patients representing type 1, 2, and 3 SMA, respectively. At the 3-year follow-up, the analysis encompassed 7 patients with type 1, 12 patients with type 2, and none with type 3. Nearly half of all enrolled patients across SMA types (42.8, 59.2 and 46.2%, respectively) reached the 2-year follow-up for analysis. Patients with type 1 SMA exhibited gradual motor function improvement over 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-ups (16, 9, and 7 patients, respectively). Patients with type 2 SMA demonstrated improvement over 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-ups (96, 61 and 12 patients, respectively). Early treatment from symptom onset resulted in better outcomes for patients with type 1 and 2 SMA. In the second dataset, 90.7% of 108 patients reported subjective improvement at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusion Nusinersen treatment for types 1-3 SMA is safe and effective in long-term follow-up. Early treatment initiation was a significant factor affecting long-term motor outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaeso Cho
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwon Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihye Kim
- Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA), HIRA Research Institute, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjoo Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Jee Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Jeong Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Sun Yum
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Byun
- Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA), HIRA Research Institute, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chong Guk Lee
- Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA), HIRA Research Institute, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Mock Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeehun Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Hee Chae
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Seoul National University Children’s Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fay A. Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A (Now) Treatable Neurodegenerative Disease. Pediatr Clin North Am 2023; 70:963-977. [PMID: 37704354 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive disease of the lower motor neurons associated with recessive loss of the SMN1 gene, and which leads to worsening weakness and disability, and is fatal in its most severe forms. Over the past six years, three treatments have emerged, two drugs that modify exon splicing and one gene therapy, which have transformed the management of this disease. When treated pre-symptomatically, many children show normal early motor development, and the benefits extend from the newborn period to adulthood. Similar treatment approaches are now under investigation for rare types of SMA associated with genes beyond SMN1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fay
- University of California, San Francisco, 1875 4th Street., Suite 5A, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Heinrich F, Cordts I, Günther R, Stolte B, Zeller D, Schröter C, Weyen U, Regensburger M, Wolf J, Schneider I, Hermann A, Metelmann M, Kohl Z, Linker RA, Koch JC, Radelfahr F, Schönfelder E, Gardt P, Mohajer-Peseschkian T, Osmanovic A, Klopstock T, Dorst J, Ludolph AC, Schöffski O, Boentert M, Hagenacker T, Deschauer M, Lingor P, Petri S, Schreiber-Katz O. Economic evaluation of Motor Neuron Diseases: a nationwide cross-sectional analysis in Germany. J Neurol 2023; 270:4922-4938. [PMID: 37356024 PMCID: PMC10511618 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11811-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Motor Neuron Diseases (MND) are rare diseases but have a high impact on affected individuals and society. This study aims to perform an economic evaluation of MND in Germany. METHODS Primary patient-reported data were collected including individual impairment, the use of medical and non-medical resources, and self-rated Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Annual socio-economic costs per year as well as Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were calculated. RESULTS 404 patients with a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) or Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) were enrolled. Total annual costs per patient were estimated at 83,060€ in ALS, 206,856€ in SMA and 27,074€ in HSP. The main cost drivers were informal care (all MND) and disease-modifying treatments (SMA). Self-reported HRQoL was best in patients with HSP (mean EuroQoL Five Dimension Five Level (EQ-5D-5L) index value 0.67) and lowest in SMA patients (mean EQ-5D-5L index value 0.39). QALYs for patients with ALS were estimated to be 1.89 QALYs, 23.08 for patients with HSP and 14.97 for patients with SMA, respectively. Cost-utilities were estimated as follows: 138,960€/QALY for ALS, 525,033€/QALY for SMA, and 49,573€/QALY for HSP. The main predictors of the high cost of illness and low HRQoL were disease progression and loss of individual autonomy. CONCLUSION As loss of individual autonomy was the main cost predictor, therapeutic and supportive measures to maintain this autonomy may contribute to reducing high personal burden and also long-term costs, e.g., care dependency and absenteeism from work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Heinrich
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Isabell Cordts
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - René Günther
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Benjamin Stolte
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel Zeller
- Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carsten Schröter
- Hoher Meißner Clinic, Neurology, 37242 Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Germany
| | - Ute Weyen
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr-University Bochum, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, 44789 Bochum, Germany
| | - Martin Regensburger
- Department of Molecular Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases Erlangen (ZSEER), University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Joachim Wolf
- Department of Neurology, Diakonissen Hospital Mannheim, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ilka Schneider
- Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther University Halle/Saale, 06120 Halle, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Sankt Georg, 04129 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht-Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Rostock/Greifswald, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Moritz Metelmann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Zacharias Kohl
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ralf A. Linker
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jan Christoph Koch
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florentine Radelfahr
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Erik Schönfelder
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Pavel Gardt
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Tara Mohajer-Peseschkian
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alma Osmanovic
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Essener Zentrum Für Seltene Erkrankungen (EZSE), Universitätsmedizin Essen, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas Klopstock
- Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Dorst
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert C. Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Oliver Schöffski
- Chair of Health Management, School of Business, Economics and Society, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, 90403 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Boentert
- Department of Neurology with the Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Department of Medicine, UKM Marienhospital, 48565 Steinfurt, Germany
| | - Tim Hagenacker
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Marcus Deschauer
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Paul Lingor
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 80336 Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Olivia Schreiber-Katz
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Meregaglia M, Nicod E, Drummond M. The estimation of health state utility values in rare diseases: do the approaches in submissions for NICE technology appraisals reflect the existing literature? A scoping review. THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS : HEPAC : HEALTH ECONOMICS IN PREVENTION AND CARE 2023; 24:1151-1216. [PMID: 36335234 PMCID: PMC10406664 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-022-01541-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rare diseases negatively impact patients' quality of life, but the estimation of health state utility values (HSUVs) in research studies and cost-utility models for health technology assessment is challenging. OBJECTIVES This study compared the methods for estimating the HSUVs included in manufacturers' submissions of orphan drugs to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) with those of published studies addressing the same rare diseases to understand whether manufacturers fully exploited the existing literature in developing their economic models. METHODS All NICE Technology Appraisal (TA) and Highly Specialized Technologies (HST) guidance documents of non-cancer European Medicines Agency (EMA) orphan medicinal products were reviewed and compared with any published primary studies, retrieved via PubMed until November 2020, and estimating HSUVs for the same conditions addressed in manufacturers' submissions. RESULTS We identified 22 NICE TA/HST appraisal reports addressing 19 different rare diseases. Sixteen reports presented original HSUVs estimated using EQ-5D or Health Utility Index (n = 12), direct methods (n = 2) or mapping (n = 2), while the other six included values obtained from the literature only. In parallel, we identified 111 published studies: 86.6% used preference-based measures (mainly EQ-5D, 60.7%), 12.5% direct techniques, and 2.7% mapping. The collection of values from non-patient populations (using 'vignettes') was more frequent in manufacturers' submissions than in the literature (22.7% vs. 8.0%). CONCLUSIONS The agreement on methodological choices between manufacturers' submissions and published literature was only partial. More efforts should be made by manufacturers to accurately reflect the academic literature and its methodological recommendations in orphan drugs submissions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Meregaglia
- Research Centre on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, Italy.
| | - Elena Nicod
- Research Centre on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rosenberg S, Södergård B, Rosenholm JM, Rauha JP. A qualitative study on the views of experts on the social impact of the high-priced orphan drug nusinersen. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH IN CLINICAL AND SOCIAL PHARMACY 2023; 9:100227. [PMID: 36785795 PMCID: PMC9918416 DOI: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Escalating medical costs due to the increasing occurrence of high-priced orphan drugs is a topic discussed in the media and specialist literature. However, there is no study investigating the social impact of such drugs through the views of experts. Objectives The aim was to demonstrate the social impact of the orphan drug nusinersen based on the views of experts within the community. Methods The study was conducted using two methods for data collection: a media analysis and qualitative semi-structured interviews. In the media analysis, expert comments on nusinersen were extracted from the Finnish media. Interviews were conducted with experts from the fields of pharmacy, medicine, politics/academia, law/economics, hospital management and patient organisations from different parts of Finland, who encountered nusinersen in their profession. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and the overall data were analysed thematically. Results Twenty-nine media references were collected, and 16 interviews conducted. Three main themes were identified: ethical aspects, financial aspects, and call for new strategies. Expert views were divided between the ethical and financial aspects of nusinersen. These existed alongside each other, showing that different attitudes and values compete with each other, and may be classified in different ways depending on the situation. However, the discussion quickly evolved into a call for new strategies in order to find solutions to issues concerning orphan drugs and the social impact created as a result. Conclusions This study reveals the social impact of nusinersen thus far within the community and it appears somewhat different when seen from the perspectives of patients and decision-makers. Even though impact has been created, such as the establishment of a disease-specific patient organisation, other issues still require further research. Among these are the potential establishment of international collaboration forums for price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rosenberg
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland,Corresponding author at: Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, ÅboAkademi University, Tykistökatu 6, 20520 Turku, Finland.
| | - Björn Södergård
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Jessica M. Rosenholm
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hu J, Zhu L, Bao H, Liu Y, Xing H, Kang Q, Jin C. Utility estimations of different health states of patients with type I, II, and III spinal muscular atrophy in China: A mixed approach study with patient and proxy-reported data. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1054931. [PMID: 36605247 PMCID: PMC9809905 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1054931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare autosomal-recessive neuromuscular disease. Health state utility values (HSUV) are used in health economic evaluation regarding the desirability of health outcomes such as a certain health state or change in health states over time. There is no utility data of Chinese patients with SMA. Materials and methods Vignettes were developed for 10 pediatric neurologists to value the utility of Chinese patients with Type I SMA. A mixed patient/proxy derived approach using EQ-5D-Y-3L, EQ-5D-3L, and CHU9D was adopted to estimate the HSUV data of patients with Type II and III SMA, including 112 patients and 301 caregivers. Result The utility of Type I SMA patients ranged from 0.19 to 0.72 with the health state improved from "permanent ventilation" to "walking". The utility of children patients with Type II and III SMA derived from EQ-5D-Y-3L ranged from 0.33 to 0.82 while that derived from CHU9D ranged from 0.46 to 0.75. The utility of adult patients with Type II and III SMA measured by EQ-5D-3L ranged from 0.30 to 0.83. Conclusion The better health states the patients with SMA were in, the higher were the HSUV. The utilities derived from population with different age and disease subtypes were not statistically different when patients with SMA were in the same health states. We recommend further studies on the Chinese specific value set for EQ-5D-Y-3L and other PBMs for children to derive more robust utility data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Hu
- Shanghai Health Development Research Centre (Shanghai Medical Information Centre), Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Shanghai Health Development Research Centre (Shanghai Medical Information Centre), Shanghai, China
| | - Han Bao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Economics, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhan Liu
- Shanghai Health Development Research Centre (Shanghai Medical Information Centre), Shanghai, China
| | - Huanping Xing
- Meier Advocacy & Support Centre for SMA, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Kang
- Shanghai Health Development Research Centre (Shanghai Medical Information Centre), Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Qi Kang
| | - Chunlin Jin
- Shanghai Health Development Research Centre (Shanghai Medical Information Centre), Shanghai, China,Chunlin Jin
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cost-effectiveness analysis of gene-based therapies for patients with spinal muscular atrophy type I in Australia. J Neurol 2022; 269:6544-6554. [PMID: 35980467 PMCID: PMC9618547 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11319-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder and regarded as one of the most frequent genetic causes of infant mortality. The aim of this study is to develop a cost-effectiveness analysis of AVXS-101 (Onasemnogene Abeparvovec/Zolgensma®) and nusinersen (Spinraza®) for SMA to inform decision-making on reimbursement policies in Australia. Methods A Markov model was developed with five health states to evaluate the costs and effects for patients with SMA Type I from a healthcare system perspective over a time-horizon of 100 years. The model parameters were based on clinical trials, parametric distributions, published literature, and Australian registries. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to appraise the uncertainties of the parameters in the model. A threshold analysis was conducted to estimate the cost of AVXS-101 of being cost-effective. Results The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of AVXS-101 was $1,808,471 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and that of nusinersen was $2,772,798 per QALY, compared to standard of care, respectively. The ICER of AVXS-101 was $1,238,288 per QALY compared to nusinersen. The key drivers influencing on ICERs were costs of using treatments and utility values of sitting and walking independently. Conclusion Both nusinersen and AVXS-101 resulted in health benefits, but they were not cost-effective with a commonly used willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50,000 per QALY. Developing high-quality clinical data and exploring appropriate WTP thresholds are critical for decision-making on reimbursement policies in the treatment of rare diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00415-022-11319-0.
Collapse
|
11
|
Modelling the Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Impact of a Newborn Screening Program for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. Int J Neonatal Screen 2022; 8:ijns8030045. [PMID: 35892475 PMCID: PMC9326684 DOI: 10.3390/ijns8030045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) are rare, inherited genetic disorders with severe mortality and morbidity. The benefits of early diagnosis and initiation of treatment are now increasingly recognized, with the most benefits in patients treated prior to symptom onset. The aim of the economic evaluation was to investigate the costs and outcomes associated with the introduction of universal newborn screening (NBS) for SCID and SMA, by generating measures of cost-effectiveness and budget impact. A stepwise approach to the cost-effectiveness analyses by decision analytical models nested with Markov simulations for SMA and SCID were conducted from the government perspective. Over a 60-year time horizon, screening every newborn in the population and treating diagnosed SCID by early hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and SMA by gene therapy, would result in 95 QALYs gained per 100,000 newborns, and result in cost savings of USD 8.6 million. Sensitivity analysis indicates 97% of simulated results are considered cost-effective against commonly used willingness-to-pay thresholds. The introduction of combined NBS for SCID and SMA is good value for money from the long-term clinical and economic perspectives, representing a cost saving to governments in the long-term, as well as improving and saving lives.
Collapse
|
12
|
Yang M, Awano H, Tanaka S, Toro W, Zhang S, Dabbous O, Igarashi A. Systematic Literature Review of Clinical and Economic Evidence for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Adv Ther 2022; 39:1915-1958. [PMID: 35307799 PMCID: PMC9056474 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-022-02089-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The recent advent of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) has dramatically changed the treatment landscape of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and the multifaceted impact of this advancement has not been assessed thoroughly in the growing body of literature. We sought to summarize the literature on the natural history of SMA and the impact of SMA DMTs, including health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and utilities, clinical efficacy and safety, and economic impact. METHODS Systematic literature reviews were conducted following PRISMA guidelines with no inclusive dates. Relevant studies were identified by searching full-text databases on November 12-13, 2020, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EconLit, conference proceedings, health technology assessment databases, and clinical trial registries. All searches used a combination of MeSH and key terms. Studies were screened according to criteria based upon population, intervention, outcomes, and study design structure. RESULTS Findings from 17, 23, 32, and 42 studies were included for the evaluation of natural history of SMA, HRQOL and utilities, clinical efficacy and safety, and economic impact of DMTs, respectively. Currently available data indicate that untreated SMA is associated with considerable humanistic and economic burden, with estimates of costs varying by treatment. While a variety of interventions have been evaluated in SMA clinical trials, quantitative synthesis of safety and efficacy findings was not feasible because of inconsistencies in reported outcomes. Data assessing impacts of DMTs on HRQOL were also lacking. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this systematic literature review highlights a clear need for up-to-date and methodologically rigorous clinical, HRQOL, and economic data to support unbiased assessments of the relative clinical and economic effectiveness of SMA treatments. More research is required to extend our understanding of the burden of SMA on HRQOL utility assessments and the impact of new DMTs on HRQOL and utilities for patients with SMA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Yang
- Analysis Group, Inc., 111 Huntington Avenue, Fourteenth Floor, Boston, MA, 02199, USA.
| | - Hiroyuki Awano
- Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | | | - Walter Toro
- Novartis Gene Therapies, Inc., Bannockburn, IL, USA
| | - Su Zhang
- Analysis Group, Inc., 111 Huntington Avenue, Fourteenth Floor, Boston, MA, 02199, USA
| | - Omar Dabbous
- Novartis Gene Therapies, Inc., Bannockburn, IL, USA
| | - Ataru Igarashi
- Unit of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
- Department of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Paracha N, Hudson P, Mitchell S, Sutherland CS. Systematic Literature Review to Assess the Cost and Resource Use Associated with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Management. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2022; 40:11-38. [PMID: 34761360 PMCID: PMC8994738 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-021-01105-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neuromuscular disease that is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner with an estimated incidence of 1 in 10,000 live births. The traditional classification of SMA includes five types (Types 0-4 SMA) based on patient age at disease onset and the highest motor milestone achieved. Spinal muscular atrophy leads to progressive muscle denervation, skeletal muscle atrophy and loss of motor function and ambulation, though phenotypes vary along a disease continuum. Regardless of disease severity, or access to treatment, a multidisciplinary approach to care is required to ease the burden of disease. To date, limited global data exist regarding the cost and resource use associated with SMA management. OBJECTIVE We planned to perform a systematic literature review to identify studies on cost and healthcare resource use associated with SMA. METHODS A comprehensive search was conducted in 2019 using several electronic databases in addition to supplementary sources and updated in 2021 in order to capture recently published studies. Electronic searches performed in Embase, MEDLINE, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews and EconLit via the Ovid platform were supplemented by searches of the grey literature (reference lists, conference proceedings, global Health Technology Assessment body websites and other relevant sources). Study eligibility criteria were based on the population, interventions, comparators and outcomes (PICO) framework. Quality assessment of full-text publications was evaluated with reference to a published checklist. To accommodate heterogeneity across studies including countries, currencies, populations, time units and methods of reporting used, costs were reported in Euros in 2019. RESULTS A total of 51 publications, comprising 49 unique studies of patients with SMA that met all eligibility criteria were included in the final selection. The publications comprised data from 14 countries and seven additional studies that reported multi-national data. Because of the heterogeneity between the different types of SMA, data were frequently reported separately for individuals with Type 1 or early-onset SMA and for Types 2, 3, and 4 SMA or later-onset SMA. Generally, direct medical costs and resource use were reported to be highest for patients with Type 1 SMA, decreasing incrementally for patients with Type 2 and Type 3 disease. Where cost categories were similar, direct costs were much lower in Europe than in the USA. Indirect costs were primarily associated with informal care, which was a substantial burden on patients and families in terms of both cost and time. Cost drivers were generally found to be dependent on SMA type. CONCLUSIONS Long-term robust studies are required to fully elucidate the economic burden of SMA. Considering that motor function can vary broadly, especially in Type 2 SMA, it would be beneficial to understand how costs and resource use are affected by different degrees of ambulation. Reporting data in terms of achieved motor function could also mitigate the challenges of comparing global data studies of small populations. Global, regional, and/or local data collection platforms and disease registry networks could play an important role in helping to address current data gaps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noman Paracha
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124 Building 001/OG13, CH, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - C Simone Sutherland
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124 Building 001/OG13, CH, 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Paracha N, Hudson P, Mitchell S, Sutherland CS. Systematic Literature Review to Assess Economic Evaluations in Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). PHARMACOECONOMICS 2022; 40:69-89. [PMID: 34658008 PMCID: PMC8994739 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-021-01095-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease that affects individuals with a broad age range. SMA is typically characterised by symmetrical muscle weakness but is also associated with cardiac defects, life-limiting impairments in respiratory function and bulbar function defects that affect swallowing and speech. Despite the advent of three innovative disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for SMA, the cost of DMTs in addition to the costs of standard of care can be a barrier to treatment access for patients. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) decision makers evaluate the cost effectiveness of a new treatment before making a reimbursement decision. OBJECTIVE The primary objective was to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the modelling approaches used in economic evaluations that assess current approved treatments in SMA, with a secondary objective to widen the scope and identify economic evaluations assessing other (non-SMA) neuromuscular disorders. METHODS An SLR was performed to identify available economic evaluations associated with any type of SMA (Type 1, 2, 3 and/or 4). Economic evaluations associated with other (non-SMA) neuromuscular disorders were identified but not further analysed. Electronic searches were conducted in Embase, MEDLINE, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews and EconLit via the Ovid platform in August 2019, and were supplemented by searches of the grey literature (reference lists, conference proceedings, global HTA body websites and other relevant sources). Eligibility criteria were based on the population, interventions, comparators and outcomes (PICO) framework. Quality assessment of full publications was conducted with reference to a published checklist. RESULTS Nine publications covering eight unique studies met all eligibility criteria for inclusion in the SLR, including four conference abstracts, two peer-reviewed original research articles and three HTA submissions (conducted in Canada, the US and the UK). Evaluations considered patients with early infantile-onset (most likely to develop Type 1 or Type 2 SMA), later-onset SMA and both infantile- and later-onset SMA. Data for the identified economic models were collected from literature reviews and relatively short-term clinical trials. Several intent-to-treat clinical trial populations were used in the studies, which resulted in variation in cycle length and different outcome measures to determine clinical efficacy. The results of the quality assessment on the five full-text, peer-reviewed publications found that they generally provided clear descriptions of objectives, modelling methods and results. However, key decisions, such as choice of economic evaluation, model type and choice of variables for sensitivity analysis, were often not adequately justified. CONCLUSIONS This SLR highlights the need for economic evaluations in SMA to better align in modelling approaches with respect to (i) consistency in model structure and use of motor function milestones as health states; (ii) consensus on measuring quality of life to estimate utilities; (iii) consistency in data collection by registries; and (iv) consensus on SMA-type classification and endpoints that determine intervention efficacy. Future economic evaluations should also incorporate the review group critiques of previous HTA submissions relating to data inputs and approaches to modelling and should include patient data reflective of the SMA population being modelled. Economic evaluations would also be improved with inclusion of long-term efficacy and safety data from clinical trials and valid patient and caregiver utility data.
Collapse
|
15
|
Sutherland CS, Hudson P, Mitchell S, Paracha N. Systematic Literature Review to Identify Utility Values in Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Their Caregivers. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2022; 40:39-67. [PMID: 34907515 PMCID: PMC8994729 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-021-01115-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder that has a substantial impact on health-related quality of life for patients with SMA and their caregivers. Utility values ('utilities') are used in health economic analyses to incorporate individual or societal perspectives regarding the desirability of health outcomes such as a certain health state or change in health states over time. OBJECTIVES The primary objective of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to identify published utilities associated with patients with SMA and their caregivers and to determine the extent to which Health Technology Assessment (HTA) requirements of methods used to generate utilities are met. A secondary objective was to broaden the scope to identify utilities associated with other (non-SMA) neuromuscular disorders. METHODS A comprehensive search to capture published utilities associated with patients with SMA and their caregivers was performed in 2019 and updated in 2021 using several electronic databases in addition to supplementary sources. As we anticipated that few published utilities associated with SMA would be identified, the search also captured utilities for other (non-SMA) neuromuscular disorders that may serve as useful surrogate values for studies of SMA and other rare diseases. Electronic searches were performed in Embase, MEDLINE, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, and EconLit via the Ovid platform and were supplemented by searches of the grey literature (reference lists, conference proceedings, global HTA body websites, and other relevant sources). Study eligibility criteria were based on the population, interventions, comparators, and outcomes (PICO) framework. The quality of the full-text publications was assessed using a checklist based on UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technical support documents. RESULTS In total, 14 publications that reported SMA-related patient or caregiver utilities or disutilities met the eligibility criteria to be included in the SLR; the included studies demonstrate the substantial health-related quality-of-life burden of SMA on both patients with SMA and their caregivers. A variety of preference-based measures were used to derive utilities for patients with SMA and their caregivers. Different methods for collecting utility data included patient and proxy assessment of health states using questionnaires, vignette methodologies, structured forms of expert elicitation, and mapped data from results of clinical trials. A range of utilities was reported from both patient- and proxy-reported data, which reflects the degree of disability associated with early- and later-onset SMA. Methods for deriving utilities were assessed with respect to three reference cases from HTA bodies in the UK, the USA, and Canada. None of the 14 publications met the requirements of all three HTA bodies because of differing tariff requirements between countries; one study met the requirements of HTA bodies in Canada and the UK. Also, six studies did not report the method of valuation, which precluded analysis with respect to the HTA reference cases. CONCLUSIONS This SLR provides a comprehensive repository of the currently available utilities relevant to patients with SMA and their caregivers. This SLR provides recommendations for establishing consensus on the approach to generating utility values for the SMA patient population and their caregivers for health economic decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Simone Sutherland
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124 Building 001/OG13, CH 4070, Basel, Switzerland.
| | | | | | - Noman Paracha
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124 Building 001/OG13, CH 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Blonda A, Barcina Lacosta T, Toumi M, Simoens S. Assessing the Value of Nusinersen for Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Comparative Analysis of Reimbursement Submission and Appraisal in European Countries. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:750742. [PMID: 35126102 PMCID: PMC8814578 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.750742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Nusinersen is an orphan drug intended for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a severe genetic neuromuscular disorder. Considering the very high costs of orphan drugs and the expected market entry of cell and gene therapies, there is increased interest in the use of health technology assessment (HTA) for orphan drugs. This study explores the role of the economic evaluation and budget impact analysis on the reimbursement of nusinersen. Methods: Appraisal reports for nusinersen were retrieved from reimbursement and HTA agencies in Belgium, Canada, France, England and Wales, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States. Detailed information was extracted on the economic evaluation, the budget impact, the overall reimbursement decision, and the managed entry agreement (MEA). Costs were adjusted for inflation and currency. Results: Overall, the reports included limited data on budget impact, excluding information on the sources of data for cost and patient estimates. Only three jurisdictions reported on total budget impact, estimated between 30 and 40 million euros per year. For early-onset SMA, the incremental cost-effectiveness threshold (ICER) ranged from €464,891 to €6,399,097 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained for nusinersen versus standard of care. For later-onset SMA, the ICER varied from €493,756 to €10,611,936 per QALY. Although none of the jurisdictions found nusinersen to be cost-effective, reimbursement was granted in each jurisdiction. Remarkably, only four reports included arguments in favor of reimbursement. However, the majority of the jurisdictions set up an MEA, which may have promoted a positive reimbursement decision. Conclusion: There is a need for more transparency on the appraisal process and conditions included in the MEA. Additionally, by considering all relevant criteria explicitly during the appraisal process, decision-makers are in a better position to justify their allocation of funds among the rising number of orphan drugs that are coming to the market in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Blonda
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Mondher Toumi
- Department of Public Health, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Steven Simoens
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abbas KS, Eltaras MM, El-Shahat NA, Abdelazeem B, Shaqfeh M, Brašić JR. The Safety and Efficacy of Nusinersen in the Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58020213. [PMID: 35208537 PMCID: PMC8874456 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58020213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to progressive proximal muscle weakness and muscle atrophy. To assess the beneficial and adverse effects of nusinersen, a promising intervention for SMA, we conducted a systematic search and meta-analysis of the published randomized control trials (RCTs) of nusinersen for SMA. Materials and methods: Utilizing the Preferred Reporting for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), we searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, and Clinicaltrials.gov from inception to 22 July 2021. Results: Three RCTs satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria covered 274 patients: 178 patients in the nusinersen group. Our results show a significant risk difference (RD) in the motor milestone response (RD: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.62; p < 0.00001) and improvement in the HINE-2 score (RD: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.40; p < 0.0003) in the nusinersen group compared to the control group. Moreover, a significant decrease in the risk ratio (RR) for severe adverse events (RR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.92; p = 0.007) and any adverse event leading to treatment discontinuation (RR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.22, 0.74; p = 0.004) was observed. An insignificant result was found for any adverse effects (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.01; p = 0.14) and for serious adverse effects (RR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.60, 1.07; p = 0.14). Conclusions: This review provides evidence that nusinersen treatment was effective in treatment for infants with SMA and was associated with fewer severe adverse events; however, more RCTs are needed to establish evidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nahla Ahmed El-Shahat
- Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11754, Egypt; (M.M.E.); (N.A.E.-S.)
| | - Basel Abdelazeem
- Department of Medicine, McLaren Health Care, Flint, MI 48532, USA;
- Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, MI, USA
| | - Mahmoud Shaqfeh
- Department of Neurology, McLaren Health Care, Flint, MI 48532, USA;
| | - James Robert Brašić
- Section of High Resolution Brain Positron Emission Tomography Imaging, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-410-986-0341
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Rare Neurological Diseases: an Overreview of Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Clinical Features and Pharmacoeconomic Considerations in the Treating. SERBIAN JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/sjecr-2021-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Rare diseases (RD) are serious chronic diseases affecting small number of people compared to the general population. There are between 6000 and 8000 RDs, which affect about 400 million people worldwide. Drugs used for causal treatment of RDs are called orphan drugs. RDs bear great clinical and economic burden for patients, their families, healthcare systems and society overall. There are at least two reasons for the high cost of treatment of RDs. First, there is no causal therapy for majority of RDs, so exacerbations, complications, and hospitalizations in those patients are common. The second reason is high price of available orphan drugs, which are not cost-effective when traditional pharmacoeconomic evaluation is employed. The pharmacoeconomic aspect of the treatment of RDs is especially important in the field of neurology, since at least one fifth of all RDs is composed of neurological conditions. The aim of this paper was to provide a concise overview of the pathophysiological, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of some of the most important and common rare neurological diseases, with special reference to their impact on society and economy.
Collapse
|
19
|
Shih ST, Farrar MA, Wiley V, Chambers G. Newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy with disease-modifying therapies: a cost-effectiveness analysis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2021; 92:1296-1304. [PMID: 34321343 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess cost-effectiveness of newborn screening (NBS) for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and early treatment with nusinersen or onasemnogene abeparvovec (gene therapy), compared with nusinersen without SMA screening. METHODS Informed by an Australian state-wide SMA NBS programme, a decision analytical model nested with Markov models was constructed to evaluate costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) from a societal perspective with sensitivity analyses. RESULTS By treating one presymptomatic SMA infant with nusinersen or gene therapy, an additional 9.93 QALYs were gained over 60 years compared with late treatment in clinically diagnosed SMA. The societal cost was $9.8 million for early nusinersen treatment, $4.4 million for early gene therapy and $4.8 million for late nusinersen treatment. Compared with late nusinersen treatment, early gene therapy would be dominant, gaining 9.93 QALYs while saving $360 000; whereas early nusinersen treatment would result in a discounted incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $507 000/QALY.At a population level, compared with no screening and late treatment with nusinersen, NBS and early gene therapy resulted in 0.00085 QALY gained over 60 years and saving $24 per infant screened (85 QALYs gained and $2.4 million saving per 100 000 infants screened). More than three quarters of simulated ICERs by probability sensitivity analyses showed NBS and gene therapy would be dominant or less than $50 000/QALY, compared with no screening and late nusinersen treatment. CONCLUSION NBS coupled with gene therapy improves the quality and length of life for infants with SMA and would be considered value-for-money from an Australian clinical and policy context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophy Tf Shih
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle Anne Farrar
- Neurology, Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Veronica Wiley
- NSW Newborn Screening Programme, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Georgina Chambers
- School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Centre for Big Data Research in Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Chen G, Sharif B, Gerber B, Farris MS, Cowling T, Cabalteja C, Wu JW, Maturi B, Klein-Panneton K. Epidemiology, healthcare resource utilization and healthcare costs for spinal muscular atrophy in Alberta, Canada. J Med Econ 2021; 24:51-59. [PMID: 34906030 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2021.2013676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neuromuscular disease associated with the degeneration of motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord. Studies examining the epidemiology and economic impact of SMA are limited in Canada. This study aimed to estimate the epidemiology as well as healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and healthcare costs for children with SMA in Alberta, Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective study using anonymized data from administrative healthcare databases provided by Alberta Health. Data from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2018, were extracted for patients <18 years of age identified with SMA. Five-year incidence and prevalence were calculated for cases identified between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2017. HRU and healthcare costs were assessed one year after SMA diagnosis, including hospitalizations, physician visits, ambulatory care visits and long-term care admissions. RESULTS The five-year incidence and prevalence of pediatric onset SMA were 1.03 per 100,000 person-years and 9.97 per 100,000 persons, respectively. General practitioner, specialist, and ambulatory care visits were common among children with SMA in the first-year post-diagnosis. The mean (SD) total annual direct cost per patient in the first-year post-diagnosis was $29,774 ($38,407); hospitalizations accounted for 41.7% of these costs ($12,412 [$21,170]), followed by practitioner visits at 32.3% ($9,615 [$13,054]), and ambulatory care visits at 26.0% ($7,746 [$9,988]). CONCLUSIONS Children with SMA experience substantial HRU, particularly for hospitalizations and practitioner visits, following diagnosis. Given the high costs of SMA, timely access to effective treatment strategies, such as the novel survival motor neuron (SMN)-restoring treatments recently approved for use, are needed to improve health outcomes and HRU.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guanmin Chen
- Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Behnam Sharif
- Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brittany Gerber
- Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Megan S Farris
- Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tara Cowling
- Medlior Health Outcomes Research Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Jennifer W Wu
- Hoffmann-La Roche Limited, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chong LC, Gandhi G, Lee JM, Yeo WWY, Choi SB. Drug Discovery of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) from the Computational Perspective: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8962. [PMID: 34445667 PMCID: PMC8396480 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), one of the leading inherited causes of child mortality, is a rare neuromuscular disease arising from loss-of-function mutations of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene, which encodes the SMN protein. When lacking the SMN protein in neurons, patients suffer from muscle weakness and atrophy, and in the severe cases, respiratory failure and death. Several therapeutic approaches show promise with human testing and three medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to date. Despite the shown promise of these approved therapies, there are some crucial limitations, one of the most important being the cost. The FDA-approved drugs are high-priced and are shortlisted among the most expensive treatments in the world. The price is still far beyond affordable and may serve as a burden for patients. The blooming of the biomedical data and advancement of computational approaches have opened new possibilities for SMA therapeutic development. This article highlights the present status of computationally aided approaches, including in silico drug repurposing, network driven drug discovery as well as artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted drug discovery, and discusses the future prospects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Chuin Chong
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (L.C.C.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Gayatri Gandhi
- Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (G.G.); (W.W.Y.Y.)
| | - Jian Ming Lee
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (L.C.C.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Wendy Wai Yeng Yeo
- Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (G.G.); (W.W.Y.Y.)
| | - Sy-Bing Choi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Suite 9.2, 9th Floor, Wisma Chase Perdana, Changkat Semantan, Kuala Lumpur 50490, Malaysia; (L.C.C.); (J.M.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Cost effectiveness of caplacizumab in acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Blood 2021; 137:969-976. [PMID: 33280030 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020006052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disease characterized by thrombotic microangiopathy leading to end-organ damage. The standard of care (SOC) treatment is therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) alongside immunomodulation with steroids, with increasing use of rituximab ± other immunomodulatory agents. The addition of caplacizumab, a nanobody targeting von Willebrand factor, was shown to accelerate platelet count recovery and reduce TPE treatments and hospital length of stay in TTP patients treated in 2 major randomized clinical trials. The addition of caplacizumab to SOC also led to increased bleeding from transient reductions in von Willebrand factor and increased relapse rates. Using data from the 2 clinical trials of caplacizumab, we performed the first-ever cost-effectiveness analysis in TTP. Over a 5-year period, the projected incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in our Markov model was $1 482 260, significantly above the accepted 2019 US willingness-to-pay threshold of $195 300. One-way sensitivity analyses showed the utility of the well state and the cost of caplacizumab to have the largest effects on ICER, with a reduction in caplacizumab cost demonstrating the single greatest impact on lowering the ICER. In a probabilistic sensitivity analysis, SOC was favored over caplacizumab in 100% of 10 000 iterations. Our data indicate that the addition of caplacizumab to SOC in treatment of acquired TTP is not cost effective because of the high cost of the medication and its failure to improve relapse rates. The potential impact of caplacizumab on health system cost using longer term follow-up data merits further study.
Collapse
|
23
|
Landfeldt E, Pechmann A, McMillan HJ, Lochmüller H, Sejersen T. Costs of Illness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Systematic Review. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2021; 19:501-520. [PMID: 33576939 PMCID: PMC8270802 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-020-00624-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of our study was to conduct a systematic literature review of estimates of costs of illness of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). METHODS We searched MEDLINE (through PubMed), CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, and the National Health Service Health Technology Assessment Database for studies published from inception up until 31 August, 2020, reporting direct medical, direct non-medical, and/or indirect costs of any phenotype of SMA. Two reviewers independently screened records for eligibility, extracted the data, and assessed studies for risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Costs were adjusted and converted to 2018 US dollars. RESULTS The search identified 14 studies from eight countries (Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA). The mean per-patient annual direct medical cost of illness was estimated at between $3320 (SMA type III, Italy) and $324,410 (SMA type I, USA), mean per-patient annual direct non-medical cost between $25,880 (SMA types I-III, Spain) and $136,800 (SMA type I, Sweden), and mean per-patient annual indirect cost between $9440 (SMA type I, Germany) and $74,910 (SMA type II, Australia). Most studies exhibited a risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS The current body of evidence of costs of illness of SMA is relatively scarce and characterized by considerable variability across geographical settings and disease phenotypes. Our review provides data pertaining to the economic impact of SMA, which is of particular relevance in light of emerging treatments and ongoing research in this field, and underscores the substantial unmet medical need in this patient population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erik Landfeldt
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Vägen 37A, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Astrid Pechmann
- Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Centre-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hugh J McMillan
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hanns Lochmüller
- Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Centre-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital; and Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas Sejersen
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska Vägen 37A, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
- Karolinska University Hospital, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Restoring Protein Expression in Neuromuscular Conditions: A Review Assessing the Current State of Exon Skipping/Inclusion and Gene Therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. BioDrugs 2021; 35:389-399. [PMID: 34097287 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-021-00486-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The debilitating neuromuscular disorders Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which harm 1 in 5000 newborn males and 1 in 11,000 newborns, respectively, are marked by progressive muscle wasting among other complications. While DMD causes generalized muscle weakness due to the absence of the dystrophin protein, SMA patients generally face motor neuron degeneration because of the lack of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Many of the most promising therapies for both conditions restore the absent proteins dystrophin and SMN. Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated exon skipping and inclusion therapies are advancing clinically with the approved DMD therapies casimersen, eteplirsen, golodirsen, and viltolarsen, and the SMA therapy nusinersen. Existing antisense therapies focus on skeletal muscle for DMD and motor neurons for SMA, respectively. Through innovative techniques, such as peptide conjugation and multi-exon skipping, these therapies could be optimized for efficacy and applicability. By contrast, gene replacement therapy is administered only once to patients during treatment. Currently, only onasemnogene abeparvovec for SMA has been approved. Safety shortcomings remain a major challenge for gene therapy. Nevertheless, gene therapy for DMD has strong potential to restore dystrophin expression in patients. In light of promising functional improvements, antisense and gene therapies stand poised to elevate the lives of patients with DMD and SMA.
Collapse
|
25
|
Priority setting at the clinical level: the case of nusinersen and the Norwegian national expert group. BMC Med Ethics 2021; 22:54. [PMID: 33947377 PMCID: PMC8094497 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00623-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Nusinersen is one of an increasing number of new, expensive orphan drugs to receive authorization. These drugs strain public healthcare budgets and challenge principles for resource allocation. Nusinersen was introduced in the Norwegian public healthcare system in 2018. A national expert group consisting of physicians was formed to oversee the introduction and continuation of treatment in light of specific start and stop criteria. Methods We have studied experiences within the expert group with a special emphasis on their application of the start and stop criteria, rationing of treatment, and experienced moral dilemmas. A research interview with six members of the national expert group was performed, then analysed with manifest content analysis. The analysis was supplemented with publically available sources on priority setting and the process leading up to the introduction of nusinersen and the establishment of the expert group. Results Sixty-six patients have received treatment within the first 25 months since the national expert group’s establishment. Treatment has not been discontinued for any patient. No patients under 18 years of age have been denied treatment, as those who were referred at this age were all deemed to fulfill the start criteria. The expert group has, however, increased geographical treatment equity and facilitated important cooperation at the national level. Furthermore, it has enhanced open and critical discussions of both medical issues and new ethical dilemmas. Conclusion Although facilitating equal access to treatment for SMA patients, the national expert group has not discontinued treatment for any patient. It is suggested that in order for clinicians to be able to ration care for individual patients, they require both adequate support and sufficient formal authority. Start and stop criteria need to be re-evaluated as more knowledge and experience are gained regarding the treatment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12910-021-00623-5.
Collapse
|
26
|
Dangouloff T, Botty C, Beaudart C, Servais L, Hiligsmann M. Systematic literature review of the economic burden of spinal muscular atrophy and economic evaluations of treatments. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2021; 16:47. [PMID: 33485382 PMCID: PMC7824917 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01695-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare and devastating condition for which new disease-modifying treatments have recently been approved. Given the increasing importance of economic considerations in healthcare decision-making, this review summarizes the studies assessing the cost of SMA and economic evaluations of treatments. A systematic review of the literature in PubMed and Scopus up to 15 September 2020 was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Results Nine studies reporting the annual cost of care of patients with SMA and six evaluations of the cost-effectiveness of SMA treatments were identified. The average annual cost of SMA1, the most frequent and severe form in which symptoms appear before the age of 6 months were similar according to the different studies, ranged from $75,047 to $196,429 per year. The yearly costs for the forms of the later-onset form, called SMA2, SMA3, and SMA4, which were usually pooled in estimates of healthcare costs, were more variable, ranging from $27,157 to $82,474. The evaluations of cost-effectiveness of treatment compared nusinersen treatment against standard of care (n = 3), two treatments (nusinersen and onasemnogene abeparvovec) against each other and no drug treatment (n = 1), nusinersen versus onasemnogene abeparvovec (n = 1), and standard of care versus nusinersen with and without newborn screening (n = 1). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of nusinersen compared to standard of care in SMA1 ranged from $210,095 to $1,150,455 per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained and that for onasemnogene abeparvovec ranged from $32,464 to $251,403. For pre-symptomatic patients, the ICER value ranged from $206,409 to $735,519. The ICERs for later-onset forms of SMA (2, 3 and 4) were more diverse ranging from $275,943 to $8,438,049. Conclusion This review confirms the substantial cost burden of standard of care for SMA patients and the high cost-effectiveness ratios of the approved drugs at the current price when delivered in post-symptomatic patients. Since few studies have been conducted so far, there is a need for further prospective and independent economic studies in pre- and post-symptomatic patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Charlotte Beaudart
- Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands
| | - Laurent Servais
- University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.,Department of Paediatrics, Neuromuscular Reference Center Disease, Liège, Belgium.,Department of Paediatrics, MDUK Neuromuscular Center, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Mickaël Hiligsmann
- Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
AlRuthia Y, Almuaythir GS, H Alrasheed H, Alsharif WR, Temsah MH, Alsohime F, Sales I, Alwhaibi M, Bashiri FA. Proxy-Reported Quality of Life and Access to Nusinersen Among Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Saudi Arabia. Patient Prefer Adherence 2021; 15:729-739. [PMID: 33880016 PMCID: PMC8053517 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s305849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The recent approval of innovative therapies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), such as nusinersen, has brought hope to patients and their families. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to compare the characteristics and HRQoL of SMA patients treated with nusinersen and those treated with the standard of care. METHODS This was a cross-sectional, interviewer-administered telephone questionnaire, which used a purposive sampling of SMA patients through a social support network. EuroQol five-dimensions-3-level (EQ-5D-3L) and the visual analog scale (VAS) have been used to assess the HRQoL. Different descriptive and inferential tests have been performed to compare the characteristics, EQ-5D responses, and mean scores of EQ-VAS between patients on nusinersen and the standard of care. RESULTS Eleven out of 36 SMA patients (30.55%) have been treated with nusinersen. Patients with type I SMA represented 54% of those treated with nusinersen (P=0.012). Only 12.5% of SMA patients living in the Mecca region are treated with nusinersen in comparison to 50% of patients living in the Riyadh region (P=0.029). No difference was noticed in the proxy-responses for the five domains of the EQ-5D or the mean VAS scores for patients on nusinersen and the standard of care despite controlling for the SMA type and the ability to breathe independently (β= 1.39, 95% CI= - 5.15-7.93, P=0.667). However, the mean VAS score for patients who are unable to breathe independently was significantly lower than their counterparts who are able to breathe independently even after controlling for the SMA type and nusinersen treatment (β= -31.61, 95% CI= - 51.59 - -11.63, P=0.003). CONCLUSION The results of this study highlight the uncertainty about the impact of nusinersen on SMA patients' HRQoL. Therefore, the impact of nusinersen on HRQoL should be examined using more robust study designs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yazed AlRuthia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacoeconomics Research Unit, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: Yazed AlRuthia Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaTel +996 114677483Fax +966 114677480 Email
| | - Ghadah S Almuaythir
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hala H Alrasheed
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wejdan R Alsharif
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamad-Hani Temsah
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Alsohime
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Department, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Sales
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Monira Alwhaibi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad A Bashiri
- College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Kerpel-Fronius S, Baroutsou V, Becker S, Carlesi R, Collia L, Franke-Bray B, Kleist P, Kurihara C, Laranjeira LF, Matsuyama K, Naseem S, Schenk J, Silva H. Development and Use of Gene Therapy Orphan Drugs-Ethical Needs for a Broader Cooperation Between the Pharmaceutical Industry and Society. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:608249. [PMID: 33425952 PMCID: PMC7785873 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.608249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy orphan medicinal products constitute a unique group of new drugs which in case of hereditary diseases are usually administered only once at an early age, in the hope to provide sufficient gene product to last for the entire life of the patients. The combination of an exceptionally large single payment and the life-long clinical follow-up needed for understanding the long-term benefits and safety of gene therapy, represent new types of scientific, financial, social and ethical challenges for the pharmaceutical industry, regulators and society. With special consideration of the uniqueness and importance of gene therapy, the authors propose a three points plan for a close cooperation between the pharmaceutical industry and society to develop orphan gene therapy. (1) In fully transparent health technology negotiations a close and long-lasting, contractually fixed cooperation should be established between the manufacturers and local health-care stakeholders for sharing the medical and scientific benefits, the financial risks as well as the burdens of the post-authorization clinical and regulatory development. (2) The parties should agree on a fair, locally affordable drug price without the usually very high premium price calculated to compensate for the low number of patients. In case of high manufacturing costs, the companies should offer prolonged, 15–20 years long payment by installment with risk-sharing, especially considering that the late outcome of the treatment is unknown. Society should assist scientifically and financially organizing a specific patient registry, treatment in specialized hospitals and adequate long-term follow-up of patients, the coordinated management of financial transactions related to the risk sharing program. (3) The post-authorization treatment and prolonged observation of additional new cases coordinated by society should provide real world data needed for the modern complex regulatory evaluation of gene therapy products by the competent authorities. We assume that fair sharing of the benefits and risks as well as a well-organized cooperation of society with the industry in collecting real world evidence might result in better drug evaluation and improved accessibility due to lower prices. The outlined concept might support gene therapy more efficiently than the presently requested outstandingly high prices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandor Kerpel-Fronius
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Varvara Baroutsou
- Independent Medical Consultant & Pharmaceutical Medicine Consultant, Athens, Greece
| | - Sander Becker
- Consultants in Pharmaceutical Medicine, Dover Heights, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Chieko Kurihara
- Quality Assurance and Audit Office, Quantum Medical Science Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Jalali A, Rothwell E, Botkin JR, Anderson RA, Butterfield RJ, Nelson RE. Cost-Effectiveness of Nusinersen and Universal Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. J Pediatr 2020; 227:274-280.e2. [PMID: 32659229 PMCID: PMC7686158 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of nusinersen with and without universal newborn screening for infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). STUDY DESIGN A Markov model using data from clinical trials with US epidemiologic and cost data was developed. The primary interventions studied were nusinersen treatment in a screening setting, nusinersen treatment in a nonscreening setting, and standard care. Analysis was conducted from a societal perspective. RESULTS Compared with no screening and no treatment, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for nusinersen with screening was $330 558 per event-free life year (LY) saved, whereas the ICER for nusinersen treatment without screening was $508 481 per event-free LY saved. For nusinersen with screening to be cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50 000 per event-free LY saved, the price would need to be $23 361 per dose, less than one-fifth its current price of $125 000. Preliminary data from the NURTURE trial indicated an 85.7% improvement in expected LYs saved compared with our base results. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, nusinersen and screening was a preferred strategy 93% of the time at a $500 000 WTP threshold. CONCLUSION Universal newborn screening for SMA provides improved economic value for payers and patients when nusinersen is available.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Jalali
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY.
| | - Erin Rothwell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine
| | - Jeffrey R. Botkin
- Utah Center of Excellence in ELSI Research;,Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine
| | - Rebecca A. Anderson
- Utah Center of Excellence in ELSI Research;,Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine
| | | | - Richard E. Nelson
- IDEAS Center, Veterans Administration Salt Lake City Health Care System;,Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah School of Medicine
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Menduti G, Rasà DM, Stanga S, Boido M. Drug Screening and Drug Repositioning as Promising Therapeutic Approaches for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treatment. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:592234. [PMID: 33281605 PMCID: PMC7689316 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.592234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common genetic disease affecting infants and young adults. Due to mutation/deletion of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene, SMA is characterized by the SMN protein lack, resulting in motor neuron impairment, skeletal muscle atrophy and premature death. Even if the genetic causes of SMA are well known, many aspects of its pathogenesis remain unclear and only three drugs have been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (Nusinersen-Spinraza; Onasemnogene abeparvovec or AVXS-101-Zolgensma; Risdiplam-Evrysdi): although assuring remarkable results, the therapies show some important limits including high costs, still unknown long-term effects, side effects and disregarding of SMN-independent targets. Therefore, the research of new therapeutic strategies is still a hot topic in the SMA field and many efforts are spent in drug discovery. In this review, we describe two promising strategies to select effective molecules: drug screening (DS) and drug repositioning (DR). By using compounds libraries of chemical/natural compounds and/or Food and Drug Administration-approved substances, DS aims at identifying new potentially effective compounds, whereas DR at testing drugs originally designed for the treatment of other pathologies. The drastic reduction in risks, costs and time expenditure assured by these strategies make them particularly interesting, especially for those diseases for which the canonical drug discovery process would be long and expensive. Interestingly, among the identified molecules by DS/DR in the context of SMA, besides the modulators of SMN2 transcription, we highlighted a convergence of some targeted molecular cascades contributing to SMA pathology, including cell death related-pathways, mitochondria and cytoskeleton dynamics, neurotransmitter and hormone modulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marina Boido
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Kamusheva MS, Dimitrova MJ. Clinical and economic assessment of nusinersen: the Bulgarian perspective. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2020.1835641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stefanova Kamusheva
- Department of Organization and Economics of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Jordanova Dimitrova
- Department of Organization and Economics of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Thokala P, Stevenson M, Kumar VM, Ren S, Ellis AG, Chapman RH. Cost effectiveness of nusinersen for patients with infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy in US. COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION 2020; 18:41. [PMID: 33041673 PMCID: PMC7539471 DOI: 10.1186/s12962-020-00234-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare, genetic neuromuscular disease, do not achieve key motor function milestones (e.g., sitting) and have short life expectancy in the absence of treatment. Nusinersen is a disease-modifying therapy for patients with SMA. Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of nusinersen compared to best supportive care (BSC) in patients diagnosed with infantile-onset SMA in the US. Methods A de novo economic model was developed with the following health states: “permanent ventilation”, “not sitting”, “sitting”, “walking”, and “death”. Short-term data were sourced from the pivotal clinical trials and studies of nusinersen (ENDEAR and SHINE). Motor function milestones achieved at the end of follow-up in the clinical trials were assumed to be sustained until death. Mortality risks were based on survival modelling of relevant published Kaplan–Meier data. Costs, life years (LYs), and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were discounted at 3% per annum, and the analyses were performed from a US health care sector perspective. Scenario analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the results to key parameters. Results In our base-case analysis, nusinersen treatment achieves greater QALYs and more LYs (3.24 and 7.64, respectively) compared with BSC (0.46 QALYs and 2.40 LYs, respectively), resulting in an incremental cost per QALY gained of approximately $1,112,000 and an incremental cost per LY gained of $590,000 for nusinersen compared to BSC. The incremental cost effectiveness ratios did not fall below $990,000 per QALY gained in scenario and sensitivity analyses. Results were most sensitive to the length of survival, background health care costs, and utility in the “not sitting” and “sitting” health states. Conclusions The estimated incremental cost-effectiveness of nusinersen from a US health care sector perspective exceeded traditional cost-effectiveness thresholds. Cost-effectiveness was dependent on assumptions made regarding survival, costs, utilities, and whether the motor function milestones were sustained over lifetime. Given the relatively short-term effectiveness data available for the treatment, a registry to collect long-term data of infantile-onset SMA patients is recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Thokala
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Matt Stevenson
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Varun M Kumar
- Previously At Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), Boston, MA USA
| | - Shijie Ren
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Alexandra G Ellis
- Previously At Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), Boston, MA USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Bartoli L, Messori A. Outcomes in patients with spinal muscular atrophy given nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec or no treatment: an analysis based on restricted mean survival time. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2020.1802719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Messori
- HTA Unit, Regional Health Service, Florence, Italy
- Scientific Committee of SIFACT (Italian Society of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics), Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Connock M, Andronis L, Auguste P, Dussart C, Armoiry X. Will the US$5 million onasemnogene abeparvosec treatment for spinal muscular atrophy represent 'value for money' for the NHS? A rapid inquiry into suggestions that it may be cost-effective. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 20:823-827. [PMID: 32434404 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2020.1772747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Nusinersen (Spinraza®, Biogen) and onasemnogene abeparvosec (Zolgensma®, Novartis) are novel gene-based therapies for the orphan disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Onasemnogene abeparvosec has been allocated an acquisition cost of up to US$5 million per patient. We undertook a rapid inquiry to evaluate if onasemnogene abeparvosec is likely to be cost-effective for the UK NHS. METHODS We used publicly available cost-effectiveness data and recommended methodology to perform cost-utility evaluation of onasemnogene abeparvosec versus best supportive care and nusinersen. RESULTS Our evaluations highlight wide variations in cost and benefit estimates of nusinersen and indicate that onasemnogene abeparvosec is unlikely to represent value for money according to current standards of reimbursement. Results are discussed in the context of reimbursement decisions for orphan diseases. CONCLUSION Commonly implemented commercial confidentiality practices combined with uncertain data obscure scrutiny and justification of past and present reimbursement decisions for orphan drugs. Future cutting edge expensive therapies will be numerous, they will entail very substantial economic strains. We conclude that there is an urgent and increasing need for the development of improved procedures that can lead to equitable, consistent, and transparent decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Connock
- Warwick Medical School, Faculty of Science Engineering and Medicine, University of Warwick , Coventry, UK
| | - Lazaros Andronis
- Warwick Medical School, Faculty of Science Engineering and Medicine, University of Warwick , Coventry, UK
| | - Peter Auguste
- Warwick Medical School, Faculty of Science Engineering and Medicine, University of Warwick , Coventry, UK
| | - Claude Dussart
- School of Pharmacy (ISPB)/EA P2S/Pharmacy Department, University of Lyon , Lyon, France
| | - Xavier Armoiry
- Warwick Medical School, Faculty of Science Engineering and Medicine, University of Warwick , Coventry, UK.,School of Pharmacy (ISPB)/UMR CNRS 5510 MATEIS/Edouard Herriot Hospital, Pharmacy Department, University of Lyon , Lyon, France
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Barthélémy I, Hitte C, Tiret L. The Dog Model in the Spotlight: Legacy of a Trustful Cooperation. J Neuromuscul Dis 2020; 6:421-451. [PMID: 31450509 PMCID: PMC6918919 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-190394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Dogs have long been used as a biomedical model system and in particular as a preclinical proof of concept for innovative therapies before translation to humans. A recent example of the utility of this animal model is the promising myotubularin gene delivery in boys affected by X-linked centronuclear myopathy after successful systemic, long-term efficient gene therapy in Labrador retrievers. Mostly, this is due to unique features that make dogs an optimal system. The continuous emergence of spontaneous inherited disorders enables the identification of reliable complementary molecular models for human neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). Dogs’ characteristics including size, lifespan and unprecedented medical care level allow a comprehensive longitudinal description of diseases. Moreover, the highly similar pathogenic mechanisms with human patients yield to translational robustness. Finally, interindividual phenotypic heterogeneity between dogs helps identifying modifiers and anticipates precision medicine issues. This review article summarizes the present list of molecularly characterized dog models for NMDs and provides an exhaustive list of the clinical and paraclinical assays that have been developed. This toolbox offers scientists a sensitive and reliable system to thoroughly evaluate neuromuscular function, as well as efficiency and safety of innovative therapies targeting these NMDs. This review also contextualizes the model by highlighting its unique genetic value, shaped by the long-term coevolution of humans and domesticated dogs. Because the dog is one of the most protected research animal models, there is considerable opposition to include it in preclinical projects, posing a threat to the use of this model. We thus discuss ethical issues, emphasizing that unlike many other models, the dog also benefits from its contribution to comparative biomedical research with a drastic reduction in the prevalence of morbid alleles in the breeding stock and an improvement in medical care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inès Barthélémy
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Christophe Hitte
- CNRS, University of Rennes 1, UMR 6290, IGDR, Faculty of Medicine, SFR Biosit, Rennes, France
| | - Laurent Tiret
- U955 - IMRB, Team 10 - Biology of the neuromuscular system, Inserm, UPEC, EFS, École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
“The Whole Game is Changing and You’ve Got Hope”: Australian Perspectives on Treatment Decision Making in Spinal Muscular Atrophy. PATIENT-PATIENT CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2020; 13:389-400. [DOI: 10.1007/s40271-020-00415-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
37
|
Hully M, Barnerias C, Chabalier D, Le Guen S, Germa V, Deladriere E, Vanhulle C, Cuisset JM, Chabrol B, Cances C, Vuillerot C, Espil C, Mayer M, Nougues MC, Sabouraud P, Lefranc J, Laugel V, Rivier F, Louvier UW, Durigneux J, Napuri S, Sarret C, Renouil M, Masurel A, Viallard ML, Desguerre I. Palliative Care in SMA Type 1: A Prospective Multicenter French Study Based on Parents' Reports. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:4. [PMID: 32133329 PMCID: PMC7039815 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA-1) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder, which in the absence of curative treatment, leads to death before 1 year of age in most cases. Caring for these short-lived and severely impaired infants requires palliative management. New drugs (nusinersen) have recently been developed that may modify SMA-1 natural history and thus raise ethical concerns about the appropriate level of care for patients. The national Hospital Clinical Research Program (PHRC) called "Assessment of clinical practices of palliative care in children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA-1)" was a multicenter prospective study conducted in France between 2012 and 2016 to report palliative practices in SMA-1 in real life through prospective caregivers' reports about their infants' management. Thirty-nine patients were included in the prospective PHRC (17 centers). We also studied retrospective data regarding management of 43 other SMA-1 patients (18 centers) over the same period, including seven treated with nusinersen, in comparison with historical data from 222 patients previously published over two periods of 10 years (1989-2009). In the latest period studied, median age at diagnosis was 3 months [0.6-10.4]. Seventy-seven patients died at a median 6 months of age[1-27]: 32% at home and 8% in an intensive care unit. Eighty-five percent of patients received enteral nutrition, some through a gastrostomy (6%). Sixteen percent had a non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Seventy-seven percent received sedative treatment at the time of death. Over time, palliative management occurred more frequently at home with increased levels of technical supportive care (enteral nutrition, oxygenotherapy, and analgesic and sedative treatments). No statistical difference was found between the prospective and retrospective patients for the last period. However, significant differences were found between patients treated with nusinersen vs. those untreated. Our data confirm that palliative care is essential in management of SMA-1 patients and that parents are extensively involved in everyday patient care. Our data suggest that nusinersen treatment was accompanied by significantly more invasive supportive care, indicating that a re-examination of standard clinical practices should explicitly consider what treatment pathways are in infants' and caregivers' best interest. This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov under the reference NCT01862042 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01862042?cond=SMA1&rank=8).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Hully
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France.,Physical Rehabilitation Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Christine Barnerias
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Chabalier
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Le Guen
- Clinical Research Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Virginie Germa
- Physical Rehabilitation Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Elodie Deladriere
- Physical Rehabilitation Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | | | - Jean-Marie Cuisset
- Pediatric Neurology Department and Neuromuscular Diseases Reference Center, CHU, Lille, France
| | - Brigitte Chabrol
- Pediatric Neurology Department, La Timone Hospital, APHM, Marseille, France
| | - Claude Cances
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Enfants Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Carole Vuillerot
- Pediatric Physical Rehabilitation Department, Femme Mère Enfants Hospital, Bron, France
| | - Caroline Espil
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Pellegrin Hospital, Bordeaux, France
| | - Michele Mayer
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Armand Trousseau Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Jeremie Lefranc
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Morvan Hospital, Brest, France
| | - Vincent Laugel
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Hautepierre Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Francois Rivier
- Pediatric Neurology Department & Neuromuscular Diseases Reference Center AOC, CHU Montpellier, PhyMedExp, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Ulrike Walther Louvier
- Pediatric Neurology Department & Neuromuscular Diseases Reference Center AOC, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Julien Durigneux
- Pediatric Neurology Department, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - Sylvia Napuri
- Pediatric Department, South Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Catherine Sarret
- Pediatric Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Michel Renouil
- Pediatric Department, St-Pierre Hospital, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Alice Masurel
- Genetic Department, Children Hospital, CHU Dijon, Dijon, France
| | - Marcel-Louis Viallard
- Palliative Care Team, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France.,Research Team "ETRES", UMR des Cordeliers, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Desguerre
- Pediatric Neurology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, APHP, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
244th ENMC international workshop: Newborn screening in spinal muscular atrophy May 10-12, 2019, Hoofdorp, The Netherlands. Neuromuscul Disord 2019; 30:93-103. [PMID: 31882184 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2019.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
|
39
|
Parker AP. Quality of life for children and families affected by neurological disorders. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2019; 23:762. [PMID: 31690533 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alasdair Pj Parker
- Department of Paediatric Neuroscience, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lloyd AJ, Thompson R, Gallop K, Teynor M. Estimation Of The Quality Of Life Benefits Associated With Treatment For Spinal Muscular Atrophy. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2019; 11:615-622. [PMID: 31749625 PMCID: PMC6818531 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s214084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare, genetic, progressive neuromuscular disorder characterized by severe muscle atrophy and weakness and is a leading genetic cause of death in infants and children. Nusinersen was the first treatment targeting the underlying cause of disease approved by the FDA, EMA and other countries for patients with SMA. There are currently very limited data available on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) burden of SMA suitable for use in a cost-effectiveness analysis. Objective This study was designed to estimate quality of life weights or utilities for different SMA states. Methods SMA case studies were developed describing Type I (infantile onset) and Type II (later-onset) patients and different outcomes from treatment. These were developed so that quality of life weights or utilities (where the value of health ranges from 1 – full health to 0 – dead) could be estimated for cost-effectiveness analysis. Clinical experts (n=5) rated each of the case studies using standardized HRQoL instruments – the EQ-5D-Y and PedsQL-NMM (baseline states only). Results The SMA Type I utilities ranged from −0.33 (requires ventilation) to 0.71 (Type I patient reclassified as Type III following treatment), with quite substantial differences between some states. Most Type I states had a utility score below zero indicating the severity of the states. The SMA Type II utilities ranged from −0.13 (worsened) to 0.72 (stands/walks unaided). In general, the results showed HRQoL improved in line with better health states. Conclusion The utility scores obtained in this study highlight the very substantial burden experienced by SMA patients. Despite the limitations in the methods used, this study produced data with face validity and is a useful starting point for understanding the burden of SMA Types I and II in cost-effectiveness analysis.
Collapse
|
41
|
Dangouloff T, Servais L. Clinical Evidence Supporting Early Treatment Of Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Current Perspectives. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2019; 15:1153-1161. [PMID: 31632042 PMCID: PMC6778729 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s172291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have dramatically altered prognosis. Rather than a rapidly lethal disease, SMA type 1, the most severe form with the earliest onset of SMA, has become a disease in which long-term event-free survival with the acquisition of important motor milestones is likely. Prognosis for patients with SMA type 2 has shifted from slow and progressive deterioration to long-term stability. Nevertheless, there is a large heterogeneity in terms of clinical response to currently available treatments, ranging from absence of response to impressive improvement. The only factor identified that is predictive of treatment success is the age of the patient at the initiation of treatment, which is closely related to disease duration. The aim of this paper is to review available evidence that support early intervention using currently available treatment approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Dangouloff
- Division of Child Neurology, Centre de Références des Maladies Neuromusculaires, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Liège & University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Laurent Servais
- Division of Child Neurology, Centre de Références des Maladies Neuromusculaires, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Liège & University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- MDUK Neuromuscular Center, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Vita G, Vita GL, Musumeci O, Rodolico C, Messina S. Genetic neuromuscular disorders: living the era of a therapeutic revolution. Part 2: diseases of motor neuron and skeletal muscle. Neurol Sci 2019; 40:671-681. [PMID: 30805745 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-019-03764-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
This is the second part of a two-part document intended to discuss recent therapeutic progresses in genetic neuromuscular disorders. The present review is for diseases of motor neuron and skeletal muscle, some of which reached recently the most innovative therapeutic approaches. Nusinersen, an SMN2 mRNA splicing modifier, was approved as first-ever therapy of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) by FDA in 2016 and by EMA in 2017. The orally administered small-molecule risdiplam, which increases SMN protein levels similarly but also in peripheral organs, is tested in ongoing phase 2 and 3 trials. After positive results with phase 1 treatment with AAV9-SMN, the first gene therapy for SMA, a phase 3 clinical trial is ongoing. Ataluren is the first approved drug for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients with premature stop codon mutations and its indication has been recently extended since the age of 2 years. Exon skipping technology was and is currently tested in many phase 3 trials, and eteplirsen received a conditional approval by FDA for patients amenable to exon 51 skipping, but not by EMA. Many other compounds with different mechanisms of action are now tested in DMD by phase 2 and 3 trials, including phase 1 gene therapy. Other innovative approaches are under investigation, i.e., gene therapy in X-linked myotubular myopathy and Pompe disease, and antisense oligonucleotides in myotonic dystrophy type 1. Positive evidences are discussed about lamotrigine and ranolazine in non-dystrophic myotonias, chaperons in Pompe disease, and nucleosides in mitochondrial DNA depletion induced by thymidine kinase 2 deficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Vita
- Unit of Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. .,Nemo Sud Clinical Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Messina, Italy.
| | - Gian Luca Vita
- Nemo Sud Clinical Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Messina, Italy
| | - Olimpia Musumeci
- Unit of Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Carmelo Rodolico
- Unit of Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Sonia Messina
- Unit of Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Nemo Sud Clinical Centre for Neuromuscular Disorders, Messina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|