Cost-effectiveness of caspofungin versus liposomal amphotericin B in the treatment of systemic fungal infections: a systematic review of economic analyses

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The treatment of fungal infections in severely ill patients is a clinical and economic challenge worldwide. Liposomal amphotericin B and caspofungin are highly effective antifungal drugs; however, they are very expensive and health systems must select the drug that results in the best clinical outcomes and is economically feasible.

Areas covered: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Health Economic Evaluation Database, and Centre for Review and Dissemination to find complete economic evaluations that directly compared the two treatment strategies.

Expert commentary: Because of the high cost, patients in developing countries experience difficulty accessing highly effective treatments. These data can subsidize a decision for an effective antifungal treatment with reduced costs from all perspectives.

KEYWORDS:

• Liposomal amphotericin B
• caspofungin
• cost-effectiveness
• pharmacoeconomics
• review
• severely ill patients

Acknowledgments

The authors thank to Bartyra Lima de Almeida Leite (B. Pharm, MSc), Márcio Galvão Guimarães Oliveira (B. Pharm, PhD) and Marianne Silveira Camargo (B. Pharm), for the support during the manuscript preparation.

Declaration of interest

This review was funded by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development; Foundation for Research Support of Bahia-Brazil; and Federal University of Bahia-Brazil. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.