Cost-effectiveness study comparing imatinib with interferon-alpha for patients with newly diagnosed chronic-phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from the Chinese public health-care system perspective (CPHSP).

OBJECTIVE

Imatinib, a breakthrough oral molecular-targeted therapy, has demonstrated durable responses and significant survival advantage compared with interferon-based treatment. This study compares imatinib with interferon in newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP) patients from the Chinese public health-care system perspective (CPHSP).

METHODS

One-year cost responder and lifetime cost-utility analyses were conducted, respectively. Complete cytogenetic response was used to define a responder. Direct medical costs were included. Response rates as well as survival estimates were obtained from published literature.

RESULTS

The cost per responder for interferon was close to 20 times higher than that for imatinib. The cost per additional responder was RMB36,545. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) comparing imatinib with interferon was RMB73,674 (95% confidence interval RMB67,712-RMB79,637) per quality-adjusted life-year.

CONCLUSION

In newly diagnosed CML-CP, the cost per responder for patients treated with imatinib is much lower than that for patients treated with interferon. In the cost-utility analysis, the ICER is below the cost-effectiveness threshold recommended by the World Health Organization for developing countries. Therefore, imatinib is more cost-effective than interferon from the CPHSP.