OBJECTIVES : Thrombocytopenia is a serious clinical conditions after cancer chemotherapy and the condition could result potential drug dose reduction and treatment delay. At the same time, thrombocytopenia can affect the quality of life of patients and increase healthcare cost substantially. In China, recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) was recommended to treat chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) by China cancer chemotherapy expert panel in 2014. The objective of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of rhTPO versus IL-11 in treating Chinese CIT patients.

METHODS : An economic model was constructed to assess the cost-effectiveness of rhTPO and IL-11 in the treatment of CIT. All data required by the model were derived from literature review and key opinion leader (KOL) survey. The clinical efficacy data were obtained from published literature. Cost data were collected from Chinese leading hospitals located in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jinan, Wuhan and Chengdu with a total of 51 experts interviewed in the 6 cities. A one-way sensitivity analysis was conducted.

RESULTS : The total medical cost of rhTPO and IL-11 is RMB 8533.3 and RMB 6820.9 respectively. The incidence rate of grade III thrombocytopenia is 39.7%, 67.6% and grade IV thrombocytopenia is 11.1%, 35.2% respectively of rhTPO and IL-11 group. Compared with IL-11, the increased cost for one grade III thrombocytopenia patient and grade IV thrombocytopenia patient averted by rhTPO is RMB 5990 and RMB 7100 respectively. Both of which are lower than the calculated cost from questionnaires collected from the 51 experts (The cost for one grade III thrombocytopenia patient and grade IV thrombocytopenia patient averted is RMB 6190 and RMB 10650 yuan respectively). With rhTPO cost changing 10% on the basis value, the model shows robustness according to the result.

CONCLUSIONS : RhTPO is a cost effective treatment compared with IL-11 in China CIT patients. The sensitivity analysis results indicated that the model is robust.