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ABSTRACT
Objective: This study estimated the health economic impact of olopatadine (Opatanol*) compared to branded cromoglycate (Opticrom†) and generic sodium cromoglycate in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) in the UK.
* Opatanol is a registered trade name of Alcon Laboratories Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK
† Opticrom is a registered trade name of Sanofi Aventis, Guildford, UK
Design and setting: This was a modelling study performed from the perspective of the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
Methods: A decision model was constructed depicting the management of SAC sufferers who are 4 years of age or above over a typical allergy season of 4 months and considers the decision by a GP to initially treat a patient with olopatadine, branded or generic cromoglycate. The analysis assumed both drugs to be equally effective. Consequently, a cost-minimisation analysis was performed to identify the least costly alternative.
Main outcome measures and results: Starting treatment with olopatadine is expected to lead to a healthcare cost of £92 (95% CI: £46; £150) over 4 months compared to £109 (95% CI: £65; £166) with branded cromoglycate and £95 (95% CI: £51; £152) with generic cromoglycate, resulting in a 16% and 3% reduction in healthcare costs respectively over 4 months of treatment. This cost-difference is primarily due to fewer GP visits among olopatadine-treated patients.
Conclusion: Use of olopatadine instead of branded or generic cromoglycate affords an economic benefit to the NHS. Hence, within the limitations of the model, olopatadine is the preferred first-line treatment for use in SAC sufferers, since it is expected to lead to fewer GP visits, thereby releasing healthcare resources for alternative use.
Notes
* Opatanol is a registered trade name of Alcon Laboratories Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK
† Opticrom is a registered trade name of Sanofi Aventis, Guildford, UK