OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the budget impact of incorporating encorafenib with binimetinib (a BRAF-MEK inhibitor approach) for the treatment of irresectable or metastatic melanoma in BRAFV600 mutated adult patients from a Social Security perspective in Argentina.

METHODS: The budget-impact analysis was estimated using the social-security health subsystem perspective over three years. The model compared two scenarios: a reference scenario including all the currently available systemic treatments, such as anti-PD-1 and anti-CTL4 monoclonal antibodies and other BRAF-MEK inhibitors; and a new scenario reflecting the availability of encorafenib+binimetinib. Healthcare cost parameters were expressed in 2023 US dollars (average exchange rate: $185, Jan 2023).

RESULTS: The incorporation of encorafenib+binimetinib for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in BRAFV600-mutated patients was associated with total savings of USD $3,063,994 for social security. The number of candidate patients was estimated at 342 for the 3 years. Considering the market shares assumed, 60 (18%) of them would be receiving encorafenib+binimetinib treatment in total (treatment duration of 12 months on average), starting at 8 patients in the first year, 17 the second year and reaching 35 in the third year. Savings are mainly explained by the lower acquisition costs of encorafenib+binimetinib compared to its comparators and disease progression costs, representing up to USD $1261 saved per treated patient per month in the last year of this analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: the incorporation of encorafenib+binimetinib for the treatment of irresectable or metastatic melanoma in BRAFV600 mutated adult patients results in cost savings to the Social Security system.