Cost-efficacy comparison of biological therapies for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis in Japan

Abstract

Background: Biological therapies have recently been introduced for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis in Japan. Objectives: This research aims to assess the cost efficacy of adalimumab, infliximab and ustekinumab treatments for psoriasis in a Japanese environment. Methods: A mixed-treatment comparison was performed to estimate the comparative efficacy of biological therapies using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores based on data from randomized, double-blind, controlled studies. Costs included only the drug costs calculated by the approved dosing and schedule. Cost efficacy was determined by dividing the cost by the probability of achieving a PASI 75 response. Results: Infliximab had the highest probability of a PASI 75 response (83%), followed by ustekinumab 45 mg (74%) and adalimumab (59%). Infliximab was the most expensive biologic, whereas the costs of ustekinumab 45 mg and adalimumab were similar. In the first year of induction treatment, the lowest cost per responder was for ustekinumab 45 mg, followed by adalimumab and infliximab. In the subsequent year of maintenance treatment, the cost per responder of ustekinumab 45 mg remained the lowest while infliximab and adalimumab had similar cost efficacy. Conclusions: Ustekinumab was a more cost-efficient biological therapy than adalimumab or infliximab for psoriasis patients in a Japanese setting.

Key words::

• mixed-treatment comparison
• adalimumab
• infliximab
• ustekinumab

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., a member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies.

Declarations of interest: A. Igarashi has served as an investigator and advisor to Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K. H. Kuwabara is an employee of Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K. B. Schenkel is an employee of Johnson & Johnson and owns stock in Johnson & Johnson.