The stroke therapy research boom: implications for the hospital formulary

Research into drug therapy for the acute treatment of ischemic stroke is now booming, and a number of promising drugs with very different mechanisms of action are at an advanced stage of development. Ideally, use of single agents or combinations of agents will result in favorable neurologic and functional outcomes for the majority of stroke patients. Given the current focus within our society on controlling health care costs, pharmacoeconomic tools will be important in determining which of these agents should achieve formulary acceptance. Cost-minimization analysis, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-utility analysis are all likely to be valuable methodologies to aid in decision making. More complex situations may require the use of decision-tree analysis.