Cost comparisons between nafarelin and leuprolide in the treatment of endometriosis

The objective of this study was to compare the cost and effectiveness of nafarelin versus leuprolide in the treatment of endometriosis. To compare the economic impact of treating endometriosis with leuprolide or nafarelin and to facilitate cost comparisons between the two, we statistically analyzed information concerning the costs of medications for the treatment of endometriosis, outpatient services, and management of adverse effects, as well as other related costs. A national claims database, MarketScan, was used to obtain data on patients with a principal diagnosis of endometriosis who were treated with either leuprolide or nafarelin. During the calendar years 1992-1994, 114 patients with endometriosis had claims for nafarelin, and 343 had claims for leuprolide. There were no significant differences between nafarelin and leuprolide recipients with respect to demographic variables, types of concomitant drug used, types of outpatient service received, or major outpatient diagnostic categorization. In 1994 dollars, the cost of using leuprolide was $326.7 greater than that of using nafarelin. The results of this study suggest that nafarelin is a less expensive alternative to leuprolide for the treatment of endometriosis.