Pharmacoeconomics of levocetirizine in allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria: considerations for the USA

Abstract

Background: Levocetirizine, a recent, second-generation oral antihistamine, was approved by the US FDA in May 2007 to treat symptoms of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. Objective: To review the economic literature for levocetirizine. Methods: Two reviewers conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify abstracts that met the inclusion criteria. Abstracts that were considered acceptable were retrieved with full text for further assessment. Results: A total of 82 potential studies were identified. After reviewing abstracts, 11 articles were preselected for potential inclusion. Of the 11 full-text articles, three articles met the inclusion criteria. Conclusion: The pharmacoeconomic literature for levocetirizine was limited. The findings were consistent across the literature, suggesting levocetirizine improved outcomes, leading to incremental cost savings and cost-effectiveness. Since many of the available levocetirizine data come from European studies, differences in practice patterns and medical resources should be considered when extrapolating data to a US clinical setting.

Keywords::

• absenteeism
• allergic rhinitis
• chronic idiopathic urticaria
• health-related quality of life
• incremental cost savings
• indirect costs
• presenteeism

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank PharmIdeas USA, Inc. and MarCom Group International, Inc., for their editorial assistance with the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Lawrence M DuBuske has served as a speaker for Alcon, Allergy Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Meda, Merck, Novartis, sanofi-aventis, Schering-Plough, Sepracor, and UCB. He has received Clinical Trial Research Grants from Alcon, Allergy Therapeutics, Altana/Nycomed, DST-Bioagency, Genentech, Novartis, RefLab, Schering-Plough, UCB and Wyeth. Dr DuBuske has also served as a Consultant/Advisory Board Member for Abbott, Allergy Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Genentech, Inspire, Merck, Novartis, sanofi-aventis, Schering-Plough, Sepracor and UCB. Brian Seal is an employee of sanofi-aventis. Martin CJ Brown is an employee of UCB, Inc.

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.

Editorial support was funded by UCB, Inc. and by sanofi-aventis US, LLC.