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Economic evaluation of nimotuzumab treatment for head and neck cancer in Cuba

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of nimotuzumab in the treatment of the patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) included in the clinical trial. Methods: It was analyzed retrospectively the database of the patients included in the double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. In this study, control patients received a placebo plus radiotherapy (RT). From the records of this clinical trial, cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA), incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and sensibility analysis in both group were calculated. Direct costs of the treatment with nimotuzumab/placebo were taken into account. Results: Life years gained (LYG) per patient with the nimotuzumab was 1.71 vs 1.44 years in the control group. CEA of the study group was $ 2 499.37/LYC per patient in comparisson placebo group ($ 1 658.73/LYG). Nevertheless, in the ICER the extra benefit in health of the nimotuzumab compensated the higher level of cost incurred to obtain an efficiency of $ 5 402,1/LYG additional per patient. Conclusion: Although the treatment with monoclonal antibody in patients with SCCHN was more expensive, its higher therapeutic effectiveness made it the most efficient alternative, because it was obtained additional benefit in the survival of the patients, with a reasonable cost for national economy. All patients showed a quality of life improvement and a reduction of the general and specific symptoms of the disease.