Cost-effectiveness of tositumomab and iodine I-131 tositumomab (Bexxar therapeutic regimen (BTR)), in treatment of non- Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)

Abstract

8089 Background: BTR has demonstrated efficacy in NHL patients and it has potential to prolong time to progression (TTP) in relapsed/refractory, low grade, follicular, or transformed NHL. This study assessed effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of BTR compared to alternative therapies in first, second, and third line NHL therapy. Methods: Time-to-event models were constructed with 2 events: progression and death. Patient data from 8 BTR clinical trials were combined to fit Weibull models for TTP and overall survival (OS) by including FLIPI covariates. Estimates for BTR were compared with estimates for alternatives from Weibull models fitted to published TTP and BTR OS data by lines of therapy and measured in life-years (LY). Estimated pre-progression costs included drug costs, lab tests, monitoring, and adverse events; post progression costs included NHL costs until death, all valued in 2006 $US and discounted at 3%. Indirect comparisons yielded incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER=Δ cost/Δ LYs) in each line of therapy. Results: As observed in the table , cost of care estimates in BTR were often comparable with alternative therapies, but typically LY gain favored BTR. Mostly in first and third line, a BTR strategy had an ICER less than the cost-effectiveness threshold of $50,000 per LY gained. Conclusion: Overall, a BTR strategy has a favorable cost-effectiveness profile to alternative strategies including rituximab maintenance (RXM) in first, second, and third line NHL therapy. Results imply both a possible survival gain with early BTR use, and the cost-effectiveness of BTR. This modeling approach can aid in clinical decision making regarding the sequence and timing of therapy for patients with follicular NHL. No significant financial relationships to disclose. [Table: see text]