Is it a chimera? A systematic review of the economic evaluations of CAR-T cell therapy - an update

The new class of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell has emboldened health-care professionals and patients for a more effective treatment of hematological malignancies, indicatively lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myeloma. Nevertheless, their burgeoning procurement costs comprise a litmus stress for health systems across the globe. In this context, this systematic review aims to update the current body of evidence assessing CAR-T economic evaluations and elucidate their financial efficiency.

A systematic review of the economic evaluations of tisagenlecleucel, axicabtagene ciloleucel, idecabtagene vicleucel, lisocabtagene maraleucel, ciltacabtagene autoleucel and brexucabtagene autoleucel was performed.

The updated results corroborated the previously reported favorable cost-effectiveness ratio of CAR-T. They also pointed out differences among CAR-T agents. However, their budget impact emerges as a significant barrier in the reimbursement process. Any proposed Managed Entry Agreement must integrate the ingrained uncertainty of long-term efficacy and precede reimbursement decisions.