OBJECTIVES: Metastatic melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, affecting over 150,000 new patients annually worldwide. The WHO estimates that 66,000 patients worldwide die from malignant melanoma every year. The objective of this study is to estimate the potential budget impact of Cobimetinib plus Vemurafenib over a three-year time horizon from a third-party payer perspective in Greece.

METHODS: A budget impact model is adapted to the Greek context to assess the budgetary consequences of the addition of Cobimetinib to Vemurafenib for the treatment of previously untreated BRAF V600-mutated metastatic melanoma. The model estimates the expected costs of alternative treatment approaches after the launch of Cobimetinib plus Vemurafenib and compares these costs with a counterfactual situation without Cobimetinib plus Vemurafenib combination therapy. Epidemiological, clinical and resource use data were obtained from published literature and expert interviews. Once the eligible population has been determined, the anticipated market uptake of Cobimetinib, as well as the market share estimates of all comparator regimens have been assumed. An expert panel of oncologists provided resource use data and externally validated the model inputs. Cost parameters were derived from official sources (National Medicines Agency-EOF, Ministry of Health, Social Insurance Fund-EOPYY) in Greece.

RESULTS: Under the assumption of a gradual increase of the market share of Cobimetinib and Vemurafenib up to 39,5% in the third year since launch the total budget impact is estimated at €387.346 in the first, €945.984 in the second, and €973.924 in the third year since launch. Over the entire three-year period the estimated budget impact amounts to €2.307.254. The results are sensitive to the prices of Cobimetinib and Vemurafenib and the evolution of market shares.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of Cobimetinib plus Vemurafenib for the treatment of metastatic melanoma presents a reasonable budget impact for the third party payer in Greece.