Cost-Effectiveness of Prophylactic Naldemedine for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with Cancer.

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines recommend naldemedine for opioid-induced constipation in patients with cancer, either with conventional laxatives or as a first-choice option. Making prophylactic naldemedine a new standard treatment for opioid-induced constipation requires a demonstration of its value for money.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of prophylactic naldemedine in patients with cancer initiating strong opioid therapy.

DESIGN

We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of prophylactic naldemedine replacing standard, nonprophylactic use from the payer's perspective, using a decision tree model based on data from a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trial in Japan.

SETTING/SUBJECTS: The study population included patients aged ≥20 years and initiating strong opioid therapy for the first time.

RESULTS

The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of prophylactic naldemedine for opioid-induced constipation was 1,445,276 Japanese yen (¥) or 9,635 United States dollars (USD) with an exchange rate of 1 USD = 150 ¥ per quality-adjusted life year. Using the official value of social willingness-to-pay threshold in Japan of 5 million ¥ or 33,333 USD per quality-adjusted life year gained, prophylactic naldemedine was found to be cost-effective.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first global cost-effectiveness analysis of prophylactic naldemedine in patients with cancer. Prophylactic naldemedine for opioid-induced constipation in patients with cancer initiating strong opioid therapy could be justifiable as an efficient use of finite health care resources.