THERAPEUTIC INNOVATION, COST PER RESPONDER, AND PHARMACEUTICAL EXPENDITURE GROWTH IN CROHN'S DISEASE AND IMMUNE-MEDIATED DISEASES IN GREECE
Author(s)
Isidoros Kougioumtzoglou, MBA1, Panagiotis Rigopoulos, MSc2, Apostolos Stratopoulos, MSc, PhD2, Kallia Mortaki, MSc2, Michail Barous, MSc2, Louiza Chatzigeorgiou, Bsc2.
1PhD Candidate, Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece, 2VIANEX SA, Athens, Nea Erithraia, Greece.
1PhD Candidate, Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece, 2VIANEX SA, Athens, Nea Erithraia, Greece.
OBJECTIVES: Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) are associated with substantial and increasing pharmaceutical expenditure due to the expanding use of biologic DMARDs and targeted therapies, including Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis). Although therapeutic innovation has significantly improved disease management and clinical outcomes, the introduction of newer advanced therapies has also increased budgetary pressure on healthcare systems. At the same time, considerable variability may exist in the economic efficiency of available treatment options. Cost-per-responder analyses may provide a clinically meaningful and payer-relevant framework for evaluating whether higher pharmaceutical expenditure translates into proportional therapeutic value.
METHODS: A cost-per-responder analysis was conducted for advanced therapies used in moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. Comparative efficacy estimates and number needed to treat (NNT) values were derived from published network meta-analyses, while annual net pharmaceutical costs were estimated using real-world payer costs after rebates and paybacks. Cost per responder was calculated as: Cost per responder=Annual treatment cost x NNT. Additionally, national expenditure data for biologic DMARDs and JAK inhibitors across IMIDs were analyzed to evaluate trends in total pharmaceutical expenditure and mean expenditure per beneficiary between 2023 and 2025.
RESULTS: Considerable variability was observed in the economic efficiency of advanced therapies for Crohn’s disease. Cost per responder ranged from approximately €25,000 to over €300,000 across evaluated therapies. TNF inhibitors demonstrated the lowest cost per responder, whereas selected IL inhibitors and advanced targeted therapies were associated with substantially higher costs per clinical response.
CONCLUSIONS: Significant heterogeneity exists in the economic efficiency of advanced therapies for Crohn’s disease. Concurrently, pharmaceutical expenditure across immune-mediated diseases continues to increase substantially, with expenditure growth outpacing beneficiary growth. These findings highlight the importance of integrating value-based and sustainability-oriented approaches into treatment positioning and healthcare decision-making.
METHODS: A cost-per-responder analysis was conducted for advanced therapies used in moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease. Comparative efficacy estimates and number needed to treat (NNT) values were derived from published network meta-analyses, while annual net pharmaceutical costs were estimated using real-world payer costs after rebates and paybacks. Cost per responder was calculated as: Cost per responder=Annual treatment cost x NNT. Additionally, national expenditure data for biologic DMARDs and JAK inhibitors across IMIDs were analyzed to evaluate trends in total pharmaceutical expenditure and mean expenditure per beneficiary between 2023 and 2025.
RESULTS: Considerable variability was observed in the economic efficiency of advanced therapies for Crohn’s disease. Cost per responder ranged from approximately €25,000 to over €300,000 across evaluated therapies. TNF inhibitors demonstrated the lowest cost per responder, whereas selected IL inhibitors and advanced targeted therapies were associated with substantially higher costs per clinical response.
CONCLUSIONS: Significant heterogeneity exists in the economic efficiency of advanced therapies for Crohn’s disease. Concurrently, pharmaceutical expenditure across immune-mediated diseases continues to increase substantially, with expenditure growth outpacing beneficiary growth. These findings highlight the importance of integrating value-based and sustainability-oriented approaches into treatment positioning and healthcare decision-making.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE181
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Gastrointestinal Disorders, Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)