“The approval of lenalidomide for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) is expected to further improve the prognosis of multiple myeloma in Chinese patients. However, the cost-effectiveness of lenalidomide for newly diagnosed MM is still needed to support patient access to this highly effective and convenient oral treatment”
The superior treatment effects of lenalidomide for multiple myeloma have been well established by large and multiple-center randomized clinical trials. The Chinese State Food and Drug Administration has approved the indication of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in February 2018. However, patient access to lenalidomide heavily relies on reimbursement coverage. The cost-effectiveness of lenalidomide-contained regimen for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma is needed to support the reimbursement for lenalidomide for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
Normin Health has worked with Prof. Jin Lu, the leading expert in treating multiple myeloma, to develop the cost-effectiveness assessment framework with fully taking into account the patient characteristics, treatment pattern, treatment administration methods, lifetime disease natural history, quality of life, and direct medical costs in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma but ineligible for stem cell transplant. To maximize the generalizability of the cost-effectiveness analysis, this study leveraged the published Chinese observational studies to estimate model variables and estimate the medical costs associated with treatment administration and the management of grade 3 or 4 adverse events of treatments for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and also relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma over lifetime simulation.
"The cost-effectiveness analysis supported the reimbursement of lenalidomide for newly diagnosed MM under current Chinese cost-effectiveness threshold"
The cost-effectiveness analysis estimated that lenalidomide plus low dose dexamethasone cost less than 2018 Chinese gross domestic products per capita (GDPPC) to gain a full healthy life year when compared to bortezomib-contained therapy in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed MM. Based on the model simulation, lenalidomide plus low dose dexamethasone could extend the median overall survival time by 7 months (58 months vs. 51 months). The cost-effectiveness proportion of lenalidomide plus low dose dexamethasone was over 90% under the recommended Chinese cost-effectiveness threshold (3 times of 2018 GDPPC).
For further details about this study, please click here.