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Batran RA, Kamel M, Bahr A, Waheb J, Khalil A, Elsokary M. Multiple sclerosis: economic burden, therapeutic advances, and future forecasts in the Middle East and North Africa region. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2024; 24:873-882. [PMID: 38832693 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2024.2364832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a persistent condition characterized by immune-mediated processes in the central nervous system, affecting around 2.8 million individuals globally. While historically less prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, recent trends mirror the global rise in MS. AREA COVERED The impact of MS is substantial, particularly in the MENA region, with costs per patient surpassing nominal GDP per capita in certain countries. Disease-modifying therapies aim to alleviate MS effects, but challenges persist, especially in managing progressive MS as it shifts from inflammatory to neurodegenerative phases. Limited resources in the MENA region hinder care delivery, though awareness initiatives and multidisciplinary centers are emerging. Contrary to global projections of a decline in the MS market, the MENA region is poised for growth due to increased prevalence, healthcare expenditures, and infrastructure investments. EXPERT OPINION This review underscores the urgent necessity for effective treatments, robust disease management, and early diagnosis in tackling MS's repercussions in the MENA region. Bolstering resources tailored to MS patients and elevating the quality of care stand as pivotal strategies for enhancing health outcomes in this context. Taking decisive action holds the key to enhancing the overall well-being of individuals grappling with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa Ahmed Batran
- Medical Affairs Department, Volaris LLC, Dubai, UAE
- Clinical Pharmacy & HEOR, Cairo University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohab Kamel
- Medical Affairs Department, Volaris LLC, Dubai, UAE
| | - Ayman Bahr
- Medical Affairs Department, Volaris LLC, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joseph Waheb
- Medical Affairs Department, Volaris LLC, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Khalil
- Medical Affairs Department, Volaris LLC, Dubai, UAE
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Alping P, Neovius M, Piehl F, Frisell T. Real-World Healthcare Cost Savings and Reduced Relapse Rate with Off-Label Rituximab versus Disease-Modifying Treatments Approved for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Nationwide Cost-Effectiveness Study. Ann Neurol 2024; 95:1099-1111. [PMID: 38529711 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although off-label use of rituximab is a common alternative to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) approved for multiple sclerosis (MS) in several countries, the impact of this on treatment cost-effectiveness is not well known. METHODS We evaluated the relative cost-effectiveness of rituximab and MS-approved DMTs in a register-based cohort study of Swedish residents with relapsing-remitting MS, aged 18-65 years, starting treatment with rituximab, natalizumab, fingolimod, or dimethyl fumarate between January 2010 and July 2016, and followed through July 2021 (n = 5,924). By linking the population-based Swedish MS register to several Swedish health care and demographic registers, we estimated health care costs in relation to number of relapses, over 5 years from treatment start. Differences between treatments were estimated in inverse probability of treatment-weighted regression models, adjusting for a broad range of potential confounders covering demographics, medical history, and MS-related clinical characteristics. RESULTS Off-label rituximab was associated with both lower total health care costs (mean cost savings ranged $35,000-$66,000 vs. each approved DMT), and fewer relapses (mean number of prevented relapses ranged 0.12-0.22), per started therapy over 5 years. Results were robust to variations in discounting and pricing of health care visits, with the main driver of cost-savings being the price of the index drug itself. INTERPRETATION The cost-effectiveness of rituximab dominated the MS-approved alternatives. Off-label, low-dose rituximab should be considered for persons with MS and could reduce barriers to treatment, especially in resource-limited settings. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:1099-1111.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Alping
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Neovius
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Piehl
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Frisell
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Gallehzan NA, Khosravi M, Jamebozorgi K, Mir N, Jalilian H, Soleimanpour S, Hoseini S, Rezapour A, Eshraghi A. Cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analysis of disease-modifying drugs of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a systematic review. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2024; 14:12. [PMID: 38363408 PMCID: PMC10870486 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-024-00478-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune, and inflammatory disease. The economic burden of MS is substantial, and the high cost of Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) prices are the main drivers of healthcare expenditures. We conducted a systematic review of studies evaluating the cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of DMDs for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). MATERIALS AND METHOD Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. The search covered articles published between May 2001 and May 2023. Studies that were written in English and Persian and examined the cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of DMDs in patients with MS were included in our review. Data extraction was guided by the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist, and the quality of economic evaluations was assessed using the Quality of Health Economics Studies Instrument (QHES). All costs were converted to 2020 U.S. dollars using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). RESULTS The search yielded 1589 studies, and 49 studies were eligible for inclusion. The studies were mainly based on a European setting. Most studies employed Markov model to assess the cost-effectiveness. The lowest and highest numerical value of outcome measures were -1,623,918 and 2,297,141.53, respectively. Furthermore, the lowest and highest numerical value of the cost of DMDs of RRMS were $180.67, and $1474840.19, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results of all studies, it can be concluded that for the treatment of patients with MS, care-oriented strategies should be preferred to drug strategies. Also, among the drug strategies with different prescribing methods, oral disease-modifying drugs of RRMS should be preferred to injectable drugs and intravenous infusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasrin Abulhasanbeigi Gallehzan
- Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Khosravi
- Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | | | - Nazanin Mir
- Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Habib Jalilian
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Samira Soleimanpour
- Department of Medical Library and Information Science, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Hoseini
- Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aziz Rezapour
- Health Management and Economics Research Center, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Eshraghi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Alharbi MA, Aldosari F, Althobaiti AH, Abdullah FM, Aljarallah S, Alkhawajah NM, Alanazi M, AlRuthia Y. Clinical and economic evaluations of natalizumab, rituximab, and ocrelizumab for the management of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Saudi Arabia. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:552. [PMID: 37237257 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09462-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The advent of new disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), resulted in significant changes in the treatment guidelines for Multiple sclerosis (MS) and improvement in the clinical outcomes. However, mAbs, such as rituximab, natalizumab, and ocrelizumab, are expensive with variable effectiveness rates. Thus, the present study aimed to compare the direct medical cost and consequences (e.g., clinical relapse, disability progression, and new MRI lesions) between rituximab and natalizumab in managing relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in Saudi Arabia. Also, the study aimed to explore the cost and consequence of ocrelizumab in managing RRMS as a second-choice treatment. METHODS The electronic medical records (EMRs) of patients with RRMS were retrospectively reviewed to retrieve the patients' baseline characteristics and disease progression from two tertiary care centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Biologic-naïve patients treated with rituximab or natalizumab or those switched to ocrelizumab and treated for at least six months were included in the study. The effectiveness rate was defined as no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) (i.e., absence of new T2 or T1 gadolinium (Gd) lesions as demonstrated by the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), disability progression, and clinical relapses), while the direct medical costs were estimated based on the utilization of healthcare resources. In addition, bootstrapping with 10,000 replications and inverse probability weighting based on propensity score were conducted. RESULTS Ninety-three patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis (natalizumab (n = 50), rituximab (n = 26), ocrelizumab (n = 17)). Most of the patients were otherwise healthy (81.72%), under 35 years of age (76.34%), females (61.29%), and on the same mAb for more than one year (83.87%). The mean effectiveness rates for natalizumab, rituximab, and ocrelizumab were 72.00%, 76.92%, and 58.83%, respectively. Natalizumab mean incremental cost compared to rituximab was $35,383 (95% CI: $25,401.09- $49,717.92), and its mean effectiveness rate was 4.92% lower than rituximab (95% CI: -30-27.5) with 59.41% confidence level that rituximab will be dominant. CONCLUSIONS Rituximab seems to be more effective and is less costly than natalizumab in the management of RRMS. Ocrelizumab does not seem to slow the rates of disease progression among patients previously treated with natalizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansour A Alharbi
- Department of Pharmacy, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, 12746, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Aldosari
- Department of Pharmacy, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, 12746, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Faris M Abdullah
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, 24382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salman Aljarallah
- Department of Medicine, Neurology Division, College of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O. Box 3145, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nuha M Alkhawajah
- Department of Medicine, Neurology Division, College of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O. Box 3145, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia
| | - Miteb Alanazi
- Department of Pharmacy, King Khalid University Hospital, P.O. Box 3145, Riyadh, 12372, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yazed AlRuthia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
- Pharmacoeconomics Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2454, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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