COST-CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF RUXOLITINIB 1.5% CREAM IN ADULTS WITH MODERATE ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Author(s)
Sajad Emamipour, PhD1, Sophie Welk, MSc1, Suzanne Timmermans, MBA2, Mitchell Landburg, MSc2, Lisa Aniek de Jong, PharmD, PhD1, Pim van Dorst, MSc1, Cornelis Boersma, PhD1.
1Health-Ecore, Zeist, Netherlands, 2Incyte, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
1Health-Ecore, Zeist, Netherlands, 2Incyte, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
OBJECTIVES: First-line treatment for moderate atopic dermatitis (mAD) consists of topical corticosteroids (TCS) and/or topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCI). Despite TCS/TCI, many patients with mAD remain uncontrolled and require escalation to conventional systemic therapy (CST). CST (ciclosporin A, methotrexate, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil) necessitates frequent hospital visits and monitoring due to high systemic exposure and adverse reactions. Patients uncontrolled on CST may require escalation to advanced systemic therapy (AST). Ruxolitinib 1.5% cream (RUX) offers a non-systemic treatment option that may delay escalation to CST and subsequent AST (biologicals and oral JAK inhibitors). We assessed the cost consequences of RUX prior to CST versus CST directly, over a five-year horizon from a Dutch payer perspective.
METHODS: A hybrid decision tree-Markov model was developed. Patients entered the decision tree at baseline and were followed for 52 weeks before transitioning to the Markov model. The population consisted of adults with mAD, a body surface area (BSA)≤20%, who were eligible for CST. Drug survival data for CST and AST were derived primarily from Dutch patient data; for RUX, from a US claims data study.
RESULTS: The eligible population was estimated at 11,509 patients with mAD in the Netherlands. After five years, RUX prior to CST was associated with a lower rate of escalation to AST compared with direct CST initiation (30% vs. 83%). Total five-year costs were calculated at €420,946,413 (RUX) versus €600,793,069 (CST), yielding potential cost savings of €179,846,656 with RUX (€13,069 per patient). Additionally, RUX was associated with 110,390 fewer healthcare professional consultations (8.0 fewer per patient) compared with direct CST initiation.
CONCLUSIONS: RUX prior to CST is associated with cost savings versus direct CST initiation in the Netherlands. These savings are primarily driven by reduced AST escalation and lower monitoring burden, supporting RUX as a cost-saving non-systemic option that may delay escalation to CST and AST.
METHODS: A hybrid decision tree-Markov model was developed. Patients entered the decision tree at baseline and were followed for 52 weeks before transitioning to the Markov model. The population consisted of adults with mAD, a body surface area (BSA)≤20%, who were eligible for CST. Drug survival data for CST and AST were derived primarily from Dutch patient data; for RUX, from a US claims data study.
RESULTS: The eligible population was estimated at 11,509 patients with mAD in the Netherlands. After five years, RUX prior to CST was associated with a lower rate of escalation to AST compared with direct CST initiation (30% vs. 83%). Total five-year costs were calculated at €420,946,413 (RUX) versus €600,793,069 (CST), yielding potential cost savings of €179,846,656 with RUX (€13,069 per patient). Additionally, RUX was associated with 110,390 fewer healthcare professional consultations (8.0 fewer per patient) compared with direct CST initiation.
CONCLUSIONS: RUX prior to CST is associated with cost savings versus direct CST initiation in the Netherlands. These savings are primarily driven by reduced AST escalation and lower monitoring burden, supporting RUX as a cost-saving non-systemic option that may delay escalation to CST and AST.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE765
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas