PMH30 Cost-Minimization-Analysis of Paliperidon Palmitate in the Treatment of Schizophrenia in Austria

Abstract

Schizophrenia is marked by a characteristic interference pattern of various psychological areas such as perception, ego-function, affectivity and psychomotricity. Thus, the objective of this economic analysis is the evaluation of the cost saving potential through the use of Paliperidone Palmitate compared to Risperidon Depot. The pharmaeconomic evaluation was performed using a cost-minimization analysis, in which the above mentioned therapeutic alternatives with equal effectiveness and efficiency are compared based on the net costs to determine the most cost-effective alternative. The equivalence of the comparators was confirmed in the study of Pandina et al. (2011). Clinical data derived from this 13-week, double-blind “head-to-head” study. The time horizon is 2-years. From the perspective of the health insurance, the average costs of the therapy algorithm of Paliperidone Palmitate amount to €5,024.02 for the first year of treatment. A patient treated with Risperidone Depot is causing costs of €4,750.63. If the patient is treated with Paliperidone Palmitate as a first-line treatment in the following year, costs of €4,222.32 arise. In case of a treatment with Risperidone Depot costs amount to €4,594.76 EUR. If a patient is treated with Paliperidone Palmitate throughout the period under observation, the discounted total costs for 2-years amount to €9,247.02. Treatment with Risperidone Depot is causing costs of €9,345.40, resulting in a cost advantage for Paliperidone Palmitate compared to Risperidone Depot of €98.37 for the period of two years. Observing the costs over a time horizon of five years, a treatment with Paliperidone Palmitate is causing costs in the amount of 20,008.15 EUR. For the same period, a treatment with Risperidone Depot is causing costs of €20,851.47. In the treatment of schizophrenia, Paliperidone Palmitate is a cost-effective alternative therapy. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis shows that the analysis is, with the exception of doctor consultations, robust.