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Published on: November 10, 2017
Cost efficiency and formulary considerations for statin therapy
1The Regence Group, 1211 W Myrtle, #110, Boise, ID 83701, USA. tkillilea.id@regence.com
Generic statins like lovastatin and simvastatin are most cost-effective for LDL-C reduction under 40%. For greater reductions, branded rosuvastatin and ezetimibe/simvastatin offer the best value.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacoeconomics
Background:
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a primary target for reducing coronary event risk.
- Managed care must find cost-effective strategies for LDL-C reduction, especially with newer, potent statins available.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the cost-efficiency of various statins for achieving different levels of LDL-C reduction.
Main Methods:
- Cost-efficiency analysis comparing different statin therapies.
- Evaluation based on cost per 1% LDL-C reduction for low-to-moderate (<40%) and high (>40%) reduction targets.
Main Results:
- For LDL-C reduction <40%, generic lovastatin and simvastatin are the most cost-efficient.
- For LDL-C reduction >40%, branded rosuvastatin and ezetimibe/simvastatin demonstrate the lowest cost per 1% LDL-C reduction.
Conclusions:
- The choice of statin for optimal cost-efficiency depends on the target LDL-C reduction percentage.
- Market changes, including generic availability and new formulations, enable significant LDL-C reduction at lower costs.
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