Societal and Economic Impact of Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine (LAIB) Compared With Standard Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) in France
Author(s)
Mathieu Chappuy, PharmD PhD1, Nicolas Petit, MD2, Pascal Melin, MD3, Romain Primel, MSc4, Jérémy CARETTE, PharmD4, Henri Leleu, PhD, MD4, Laurence Allain, PharmD5, Arnaud Vesin, MSc5, Stojan Zavisic, BSc, MBA6.
1Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France, 2Groupement Hospitalier de Territoire Coeur Grand Est, Verdun, France, 3Centre Hospitalier de Gaulle Anthonioz, Saint-Dizier, France, 4Public Health Expertise - Cencora, Paris, France, 5Camurus, Paris, France, 6Camurus, Lund, Sweden.
1Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France, 2Groupement Hospitalier de Territoire Coeur Grand Est, Verdun, France, 3Centre Hospitalier de Gaulle Anthonioz, Saint-Dizier, France, 4Public Health Expertise - Cencora, Paris, France, 5Camurus, Paris, France, 6Camurus, Lund, Sweden.
OBJECTIVES: Around 202,500 people suffer from problematic opioid use in France. Of them, 176,000 are treated by standard opioid substitution therapy (OST) (methadone, sublingual buprenorphine). Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) is an innovative, sustained-release (weekly or monthly) therapeutic alternative. It ensures patient stability by delivering a constant dosage and optimizing compliance. Its regulatory status as a professional drug (i.e. patients do not keep their own treatment) removes the potential for misuse, resale and trafficking. It enhances individual functioning, particularly employability. This analysis aims to demonstrate the societal and economic benefits of LAIB compared with standard OST in France.
METHODS: A budget impact model based on a literature review and expert opinion were carried out to estimate the wider socio-economic costs of LAIB compared standard OST treatment in France. The costs were categorized according to the following sectors of society: healthcare, economy, social care and criminal justice. Uncertainty was assessed through sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS: The societal cost per patient on standard OST is estimated at €23,000 per year, whereas it is estimated at €20,000 per year for a patient treated with LAIB. Despite the higher cost of LAIB compared to standard OST, the use of LAIB would save around €3,000 per patient per year (13%). More than 80% of these savings relate to social consequences (deaths and use of social housing) and productivity losses. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the treatment cost and the employment rate were the parameters with the greatest impact on the result resulting in cost savings of €2,214 to €3,942 per patient per year).
CONCLUSIONS: With over 23,000 patients with problematic opioid use in French Care Centres for Support and Prevention in Addictology (CSAPA), hospitals, or care units in prisons, increased the use of LAIB could significantly reduce the economic burden to society by several million euros.
METHODS: A budget impact model based on a literature review and expert opinion were carried out to estimate the wider socio-economic costs of LAIB compared standard OST treatment in France. The costs were categorized according to the following sectors of society: healthcare, economy, social care and criminal justice. Uncertainty was assessed through sensitivity analyses.
RESULTS: The societal cost per patient on standard OST is estimated at €23,000 per year, whereas it is estimated at €20,000 per year for a patient treated with LAIB. Despite the higher cost of LAIB compared to standard OST, the use of LAIB would save around €3,000 per patient per year (13%). More than 80% of these savings relate to social consequences (deaths and use of social housing) and productivity losses. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the treatment cost and the employment rate were the parameters with the greatest impact on the result resulting in cost savings of €2,214 to €3,942 per patient per year).
CONCLUSIONS: With over 23,000 patients with problematic opioid use in French Care Centres for Support and Prevention in Addictology (CSAPA), hospitals, or care units in prisons, increased the use of LAIB could significantly reduce the economic burden to society by several million euros.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE659
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Mental Health (including addition)