Cost-effectiveness analysis of pirfenidone versus nintedanib on the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in the perspective of the Brazilian private healthcare system

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pirfenidone in comparison to nintedanib in the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) under the Brazilian private healthcare system perspective. Methods: The model was performed considering a lifetime time horizon. The main outcome was life years (LY) gained. The drug acquisition costs were obtained from official price lists, considering taxes of 18%. The other related costs (disease management, lung transplantation and end-of-life costs) were calculated by a micro-costing based on specialists’ opinion and procedures price lists, costs are presented in 2017 (R$). The efficacy data was extracted from CAPACITY 1, 2 and ASCEND studies, and extrapolated by the parametric distribution Weibull. The data related to nintedanib was extrapolated by an indirect comparison. Results: The total costs of pirfenidone and nintedanibe were R$ 319,689 and R$ 522,887, respectively. The LY results were 6.536 for pirfenidone and 5.726 for nintedanib, resulting in an incremental value of 0.810. Conclusion: Therefore, pirfenidone demonstrated to be a dominant therapeutic option when compared to nintedanib, based on incremental values of cost and effectiveness.