[Cost-utility analysis of ranibizumab (Lucentis) in neovascular macular degeneration]

Ranibizumab (Lucentis) stabilizes or improves visual acuity in a high percentage of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As this therapy is associated with significant costs, the aim of this study was to provide a cost-utility analysis, which considers both costs and utility of a therapy with ranibizumab in an economic model.

The incremental utility for the patient was modelled based on visual acuity data of the MARINA and ANCHOR study. The utility data used assume that the better seeing eye is affected. The study groups used for comparison consisted of patients who only received best supportive care, e. g., low-vision aids. The baseline scenario of the model assumes 6 treatments per year over a 2 year time period - based on the assessment of an expert panel. Treatment costs were based on German pharmacy prices and recommendations for reimbursement of the intravitreal injections. In a univariate sensitivity analysis all important parameters were varied to assess the stability of the results.

The baseline scenario yields for predominantly classic lesions 16,882 euro/QALY (quality adjusted life year), for minimally classic CNV 24,766 euro/QALY and for occult CNV 26,170 euro/QALY. If a distribution of the CNV types with 18 - 25 - 57 % is assumed, the mean cost of therapy with ranibizumab amounts to 24,147 euro/QALY. Sensitivity analysis showed that all reasonable variations yielded results which are considered cost-effective ( 0.4) visual acuity, for a variation of costs per treatment of +/- 20 %, and a prolonged treatment duration of 3 years.

In the investigated szenario a therapy of neovascular AMD with ranibizumab is cost-effective for all angiographic subtypes as well as in the sensitivity analysis.