Benefits of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulators in relapsing MS estimated with a treatment sequence model

Three sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulators are currently available as disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing MS in the Netherlands (i.e. fingolimod, ozanimod and ponesimod). We aimed to identify which S1PR modulator yields the highest benefit from a health-economic and societal perspective during a patient's lifespan.

Incorporating Dutch DMT list prices, we used the ErasmusMC/iMTA MS model to compare DMT sequences, including S1PR modulators and eight other DMT classes, for treatment-naïve patients with relapsing MS in terms of health outcomes (number of lifetime relapses, time to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 6, lifetime quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)) and cost-effectiveness (net health benefit (NHB)). We estimated the influence of list price and EDSS progression on cost-effectiveness outcomes.

In deterministic and probabilistic analysis, DMT sequences with ponesimod have lower lifetime costs and higher QALYs resulting in a higher average NHB compared to sequences with other S1PR modulators. Ponesimod remains the most cost-effective S1PR modulator when EDSS progression is class-averaged. Given the variable effects on disability progression, list price reductions could make fingolimod but not ozanimod more cost-effective than ponesimod.

Our model favours ponesimod among the S1PR modulators for the treatment of relapsing MS. This implies that prioritizing ponesimod over other S1PR modulators translates into a more efficacious spending of national healthcare budget without reducing benefit for people with MS. Prioritizing cost-effective choices when counselling patients contributes to affordable and accessible MS care.