The cost–effectiveness of infliximab in Crohn’s disease

Abstract

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It leads to severe symptoms and reduced quality of life. Infliximab is a monoclonal antibody against TNF-α and is effective in treating moderate to severe CD. It is associated with high treatment costs, but subsequent reductions in hospitalisation and surgery have been reported. This review examines the evidence for the cost–effectiveness of infliximab for the treatment of CD. Studies have been found to be very heterogeneous depending on setting, costs assumed and clinical data. Within the UK setting infliximab has been found to be cost effective with increased costs of around £25,000 per quality adjusted life year gained.

Keywords::

• cost
• cost–effectiveness
• Crohn's disease
• inflammatory bowel disease
• infliximab

Financial & competing interests disclosure

C Selinger has received research grants from Shire, Nycomed, Ferring and Warner Chilcott. As well as speaker fees from MSD, abbvie and Warner Chilcott. 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.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Infliximab is a very effective drug for moderate-to-severe Cohn’s disease.

• It is associated with high drug and drug administration costs.

• Cost–effectiveness studies are difficult to compare due to country-specific drug and healthcare costs.

• Within the UK, infliximab cost effectiveness falls within the limits for funding.