SOCIETY-LEVEL IMPACT OF OCRELIZUMAB IN THE TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IN ALGERIA
Author(s)
Mustapha Chelghoum, PharmD1, Khalifa Islam BENGANA, PharmD2, Asrar DERRADJI, MSc2, Boubekeur Saddik Fekraoui, MD3, Hassane Zoubiri, MD4, Soraya Belarbi, MD5, Mohamed Islam Kediha, MD6, Mounia Kohil, MD7, Zahira Barka, MD8.
1Hospital Pharmacy Service Chu Hassani Abdelkader, Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, 2Roche Algérie SPA, Algiers, Algeria, 3Department of Neurology, Chu Ibn Badis, Constantine, Algeria, 4Department of Neurology, CHU Saadna Abdenour, Setif, Algeria, 5Department of Neurology , EHS Ali Ait Idir, Algiers, Algeria, 6Department of Neurology, CHU Mustapha Bacha, Algiers, Algeria, 7Department of Neurology, Chu Benflis Touhami, Batna, Algeria, 8Department of Neurology Chu Telemcen, Telemcen, Algeria.
1Hospital Pharmacy Service Chu Hassani Abdelkader, Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria, 2Roche Algérie SPA, Algiers, Algeria, 3Department of Neurology, Chu Ibn Badis, Constantine, Algeria, 4Department of Neurology, CHU Saadna Abdenour, Setif, Algeria, 5Department of Neurology , EHS Ali Ait Idir, Algiers, Algeria, 6Department of Neurology, CHU Mustapha Bacha, Algiers, Algeria, 7Department of Neurology, Chu Benflis Touhami, Batna, Algeria, 8Department of Neurology Chu Telemcen, Telemcen, Algeria.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the socio-economic impact of introducing Ocrelizumab for the treatment of relapsing and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Algeria, adopting a societal perspective to integrate often-overlooked indirect costs.
METHODS: The research was conducted in two phases: A systematic review and retrospective analysis of international data (UK, Germany, Canada) documenting the economic savings associated with the molecule. Analysis with a statistical model of data extracted from field survey across 7 healthcare institutions in 6 Algerian Wilayas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 24 neurologists and over 50 MS patients and their relatives. Data from a cohort of 1,592 patients was analyzed for the 2021/2022 period , consisting of 77.26% relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and 22.74% primary progressive MS (PPMS). Based on international insights, local analysis prioritized non-drug parameters: community services, informal care, and productivity loss.
RESULTS: In the primary progressive MS (PPMS) cohort, 5-year quantitative modeling demonstrated that Ocrelizumab significantly lowered costs compared to untreated scenarios, yielding substantial socio-economic savings: informal care saved 106,592,790 DZD (total cost: 649,230,227 DZD) ; community services saved 50,257,255 DZD (total cost: 360,290,918 DZD) ; and unemployment/productivity loss saved 31,470,462 DZD (total cost: 456,706,698 DZD). For the broader Algerian disease burden annual non-drug costs for PPMS vs. RRMS forms were distributed as follows: informal care represented 106M vs. 127M DZD ; productivity loss amounted to 31M vs. 94M DZD ; and community services reached 50M vs. 86M DZD.
CONCLUSIONS: Ocrelizumab offers substantial socio-economic benefits in Algeria for patients, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare system. This study demonstrates the critical importance for decision-makers to include a societal perspective and indirect costs in future healthcare technology and pharmacoeconomic evaluations.
METHODS: The research was conducted in two phases: A systematic review and retrospective analysis of international data (UK, Germany, Canada) documenting the economic savings associated with the molecule. Analysis with a statistical model of data extracted from field survey across 7 healthcare institutions in 6 Algerian Wilayas. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 24 neurologists and over 50 MS patients and their relatives. Data from a cohort of 1,592 patients was analyzed for the 2021/2022 period , consisting of 77.26% relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and 22.74% primary progressive MS (PPMS). Based on international insights, local analysis prioritized non-drug parameters: community services, informal care, and productivity loss.
RESULTS: In the primary progressive MS (PPMS) cohort, 5-year quantitative modeling demonstrated that Ocrelizumab significantly lowered costs compared to untreated scenarios, yielding substantial socio-economic savings: informal care saved 106,592,790 DZD (total cost: 649,230,227 DZD) ; community services saved 50,257,255 DZD (total cost: 360,290,918 DZD) ; and unemployment/productivity loss saved 31,470,462 DZD (total cost: 456,706,698 DZD). For the broader Algerian disease burden annual non-drug costs for PPMS vs. RRMS forms were distributed as follows: informal care represented 106M vs. 127M DZD ; productivity loss amounted to 31M vs. 94M DZD ; and community services reached 50M vs. 86M DZD.
CONCLUSIONS: Ocrelizumab offers substantial socio-economic benefits in Algeria for patients, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare system. This study demonstrates the critical importance for decision-makers to include a societal perspective and indirect costs in future healthcare technology and pharmacoeconomic evaluations.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE203
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Technology Assessment, Methodological & Statistical Research
Topic Subcategory
Novel & Social Elements of Value, Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
Neurological Disorders