Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 can be treated with sofosbuvir without interferon. Because sofosbuvir is costly, its benefits should be compared with the additional resources used.Objective
To estimate the cost-effectiveness of sofosbuvir-based treatments for HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection in the United States.Design
Monte Carlo simulation, including deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.Data sources
Randomized trials, observational cohorts, and national health care spending surveys.Target population
8 patient types defined by HCV genotype (2 vs. 3), treatment history (naive vs. experienced), and cirrhosis status (noncirrhotic vs. cirrhotic).Time horizon
Lifetime.Perspective
Payer.Intervention
Sofosbuvir-based therapies, pegylated interferon-ribavirin, and no therapy.Outcome measures
Discounted quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).Results of base-case analysis
The ICER of sofosbuvir-based treatment was less than $100,000 per QALY in cirrhotic patients (genotype 2 or 3 and treatment-naive or treatment-experienced) and in treatment-experienced noncirrhotic patients but was greater than $200,000 per QALY in treatment-naive noncirrhotic patients.Results of sensitivity analysis
The ICER of sofosbuvir-based therapy for treatment-naive noncirrhotic patients with genotype 2 or 3 infection was less than $100,000 per QALY when the cost of sofosbuvir was reduced by approximately 40% and 60%, respectively. In probabilistic sensitivity analyses, cost-effectiveness conclusions were robust to uncertainty in treatment efficacy.Limitation
The analysis did not consider possible benefits of preventing HCV transmission.Conclusion
Sofosbuvir provides good value for money for treatment-experienced patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection and those with cirrhosis. At their current cost, sofosbuvir-based regimens for treatment-naive noncirrhotic patients exceed willingness-to-pay thresholds commonly cited in the United States.Primary funding source
National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
SUBMITTER: Linas BP
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4420667 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Linas Benjamin P BP Barter Devra M DM Morgan Jake R JR Pho Mai T MT Leff Jared A JA Schackman Bruce R BR Horsburgh C Robert CR Assoumou Sabrina A SA Salomon Joshua A JA Weinstein Milton C MC Freedberg Kenneth A KA Kim Arthur Y AY
Annals of internal medicine 20150501 9
<h4>Background</h4>Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 or 3 can be treated with sofosbuvir without interferon. Because sofosbuvir is costly, its benefits should be compared with the additional resources used.<h4>Objective</h4>To estimate the cost-effectiveness of sofosbuvir-based treatments for HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection in the United States.<h4>Design</h4>Monte Carlo simulation, including deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.<h4>Data sources</h4>Randomiz ...[more]