Economic impact of different preparations of leuprolide acetate in the management of advanced prostate cancer

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the economic impact of 1-,3-and 6-monthly preparations of leuprolide acetate, a luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRHa), in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Using three published open-label multicentre clinical trials involving the use of each of the three LHRHa preparations, a cost minimisation analysis was undertaken.

The mean annual costs of managing advanced prostate cancer patients with the 1-,3-and 6-monthly preparations were e2,839 (standard deviation (sd) e233), e1,777 (sd e1 95) and e1,567 (sDe204), respectively.

The study concludes that, despite a higher unit price, use of the 6-monthly formulation of leuprolide acetate provides the lowest cost treatment option, the cost driver being the reduction in the number of treatments required. Germany was used as a case study to highlight the impact of health policies on the adoption of such cost optimisation treatment options in prostate cancer patients.

Key words: :

• prostate cancer
• economics
• cost minimisation
• LHRH agonist