[Are "biologics" in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis really cost effective?]

Since the biologics have been introduced in clinical rheumatology, the landscape for medication of rheumatoid arthritis has changed substantially. A completely new family of drugs had to be evaluated for efficacy with regard to its impact on amelioration of disease activity but also with regard to long-term side effects and costs. This evaluation of effectiveness of biologics belongs to the most intensively discussed topics in rheumatology, and at present, only for the clinical side adequate answers can be obtained from the published data. On the other hand, more long-term observation and prospective studies are needed to be able to answer the question of real cost-effectiveness adequately. However, when all current data are summarized, the cost for a TNF-inhibitor in regard of one quality-adjusted life-year ranges below the internationally recommended critical amount of 40,000 euro.