Cost–effectiveness of denosumab in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporotic women

Abstract

Denosumab is a novel biological agent for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with increased risk of fractures. With limited healthcare resources, economic evaluations are increasingly being used by decision-makers to optimize healthcare resource allocation. The cost–effectiveness of denosumab has been evaluated in various studies, and a systematic literature study was conducted up to April 2012 to identify all published research articles and research abstracts presented at various congresses. This article provides a systematic review of four articles and eight abstracts reporting on the cost–effectiveness of denosumab in the treatment of osteoporosis. In most economic evaluations, denosumab has been considered as a cost-effective treatment compared with first-line and second-line options (including generic alendronate) in the treatment of women with high risk of fractures.

Keywords::

• cost–effectiveness
• denosumab
• osteoporosis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

M Hiligsmann received research grants and/or consulting fees from Amgen, Novartis, Servier, SMB and Pfizer. A Boonen received educational grants from Abbott Pharma and Pfizer, and received speaker’s honoraria from Pfizer. JY Reginster received consulting fees or payments for participating in advisory boards for Servier, Novartis, Negma, Lilly, Wyeth, Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, Merckle, Nycomed, NPS, Theramex and UCB. He has received lecture fees when speaking at the invitation of Merck Sharp & Dohme, Eli Lilly, Rottapharm, IBSA, Genevrier, Novartis, Servier, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Teijin, Teva, Ebewee Pharma, Zodiac, Analis, Theramex, Nycomed and Novo Nordisk; and grant support from Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Rottapharm, Teva, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen and Servier. No funding was received for the writing of the manuscript. 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.