Cost-Utility of Belimumab in Treating Lupus Nephritis: A Brazilian Private Healthcare System Perspective

Speaker(s)

Silva D1, Marchesan T1, Araujo M2, Tanaka S3, Bernardino G1
1GSK, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, 2GSK, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3GSK, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Presentation Documents

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the cost-utility of belimumab to treat active lupus nephritis (LN) in Brazilian patients assisted by private healthcare.

METHODS: The BLISS-LN study demonstrated superiority of belimumab combined with standard therapy (ST) versus ST alone (cyclophosphamide followed by azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil) in protecting renal function measured by glomerular filtration rate (GFR). A Markov model was constructed with six health states: three related to estimated GFR (stage I/II chronic kidney disease [CKD]; stage III; stage IV) and three related to end-stage kidney disease (dialysis-dependent; kidney transplant; post-transplant with dialysis dependence). With annual cycles and a lifetime horizon, transition probabilities in the first two years were extracted from BLISS-LN; subsequent years were based on relative transition rates from a longitudinal study. Utilities and mortality risk were derived from CKD and lupus burden studies. Unit costs were based on Brazilian private health perspective; annual discount rate was 5% for costs and outcomes. Treatment duration with belimumab was three years with continuous ST.

RESULTS: Base case resulted in BRL 139.885/QALY versus ST alone. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, using the public system standard for severe illnesses (BRL 120,000.00/QALY) as the Brazilian private system lacks a willingness-to-pay threshold, the result was cost-effective in 51.3% of simulations.

CONCLUSIONS: Belimumab plus ST reverses or slows the progression of CKD, improving patients' quality of life and mortality. It is more expensive but provides savings on dialysis and transplantation.

Code

EE198

Topic

Economic Evaluation, Health Technology Assessment

Topic Subcategory

Cost-comparison, Effectiveness, Utility, Benefit Analysis, Systems & Structure

Disease

Biologics & Biosimilars, Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain), Urinary/Kidney Disorders