EVALUATING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND DIAGNOSTIC EFFICIENCY OF PLASMA PTAU217 TESTING IN THE UK NHS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATHWAY
Author(s)
Sophie Roth, MSc1, Mohammad Ali Ani, MSc2, Abbie Malyon, MSc2, Varyam Memon, MSc2, Ramin Nilforooshan, MD3, Chris Lear, MD4.
1Access Evidence Manager, Roche Diagnostics International, Rotkreuz ZG, Switzerland, 2Roche Diagnostics, Burgess Hill, United Kingdom, 3Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Chertsey, United Kingdom, 4National Health Service, Bristol, United Kingdom.
1Access Evidence Manager, Roche Diagnostics International, Rotkreuz ZG, Switzerland, 2Roche Diagnostics, Burgess Hill, United Kingdom, 3Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Chertsey, United Kingdom, 4National Health Service, Bristol, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: The arrival of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) requires efficient diagnostic pathways in the UK. This study evaluates the economic impact of introducing plasma pTau217 testing into the NHS compared to standard of care (SoC).
METHODS: A cohort-based model simulated the NHS pathway from primary to specialist care and confirmatory testing with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or amyloid positron emission tomography (PET). PTau217 test results indicated high, intermediate or low-risk of amyloid pathology in patients. Three pTau217 scenarios were evaluated against SoC. In the base case scenario (secondary care), high/intermediate patients proceeded to confirmatory CSF or amyloid PET tests. In Scenario 1 (secondary care), high-risk patients proceeded directly to DMTs, and intermediate to CSF or PET. In Scenario 2 (primary care), high/intermediate patients proceeded to specialist care. Published literature and UK expert interviews informed model inputs.
RESULTS: Across all scenarios, pTau217 improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced calendar time to diagnosis. In the base case, diagnostic accuracy increased from 33% to 38%, and time to diagnosis decreased by 147 days (9%), with a marginal pathway cost increase of 1%. Scenario 1 yielded the largest reduction in time to diagnosis (-579 days, -36%) and use of confirmatory testing (-66%). It reduced diagnostic costs by 26% (£1,274 vs £1,721) and increased timely diagnoses by 85% and diagnostic accuracy by 15%. Scenario 2 improved diagnostic accuracy to 41%, reduced total diagnostic pathway costs by 15% (£1,007 vs £1,182), reduced healthcare visits by 13%, and reduced time to diagnosis by 192 days (12%).
CONCLUSIONS: Implementing pTau217 in the NHS could significantly enhance diagnostic efficiency and timely DMT initiation. Primary care implementation has the potential to reduce diagnostic costs, procedures, and specialist visits. Secondary care implementation, especially with replacing confirmatory testing by pTau217, could drastically accelerate time to diagnosis.
METHODS: A cohort-based model simulated the NHS pathway from primary to specialist care and confirmatory testing with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or amyloid positron emission tomography (PET). PTau217 test results indicated high, intermediate or low-risk of amyloid pathology in patients. Three pTau217 scenarios were evaluated against SoC. In the base case scenario (secondary care), high/intermediate patients proceeded to confirmatory CSF or amyloid PET tests. In Scenario 1 (secondary care), high-risk patients proceeded directly to DMTs, and intermediate to CSF or PET. In Scenario 2 (primary care), high/intermediate patients proceeded to specialist care. Published literature and UK expert interviews informed model inputs.
RESULTS: Across all scenarios, pTau217 improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced calendar time to diagnosis. In the base case, diagnostic accuracy increased from 33% to 38%, and time to diagnosis decreased by 147 days (9%), with a marginal pathway cost increase of 1%. Scenario 1 yielded the largest reduction in time to diagnosis (-579 days, -36%) and use of confirmatory testing (-66%). It reduced diagnostic costs by 26% (£1,274 vs £1,721) and increased timely diagnoses by 85% and diagnostic accuracy by 15%. Scenario 2 improved diagnostic accuracy to 41%, reduced total diagnostic pathway costs by 15% (£1,007 vs £1,182), reduced healthcare visits by 13%, and reduced time to diagnosis by 192 days (12%).
CONCLUSIONS: Implementing pTau217 in the NHS could significantly enhance diagnostic efficiency and timely DMT initiation. Primary care implementation has the potential to reduce diagnostic costs, procedures, and specialist visits. Secondary care implementation, especially with replacing confirmatory testing by pTau217, could drastically accelerate time to diagnosis.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE362
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care, Medical Technologies
Disease
Geriatrics, Neurological Disorders