Are PCSK9 Inhibitors Cost-Effective?
Alirocumab and evolocumab, the newly approved LDL-lowering drugs known as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, would need to see a price decrease of 85% in order to be considered cost-effective, according to a recent report.
The report, conducted by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (a non-profit, independent research group), examined both the cost-effectiveness and budgetary impact of treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors at their current price of $14,600.
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For their analysis, researchers used 3 conventional willingness-to-pay thresholds ($50,000/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), $100,000/QALY, and $150,000/QALY) to determine at what prices the drugs would be considered cost-effective.
When all measured subpopulations were merged to reflect the entire eligible population, prices needed to achieve $50,000/ QALY, $100,000/QALY, and $150,000/QALY were $2,412, $3,615, and $4,811, respectively.
“Achieving cost-effectiveness at a threshold of $100,000/QALY would require price reductions of 63% to 82% compared with current prices. And the results of our analysis of potential budget impact suggest that even deeper reductions may be required to avoid excessive cost burdens to the health care system,” they concluded.
“Our value-based price benchmark for each PCSK9 inhibitor is $2,177 annually, which represents an 85% reduction from the list price of $14,600.”
—Michael Potts
Reference:
Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. 2015 PCSK9 inhibitors for treatment of high cholesterol: effectiveness, value, and value-based price benchmarks draft report. September 8, 2015. http://cepac.icer-review.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/PCSK9_Draft_Report_0908151.pdf.