OBJECTIVES

: Ankylosing Spondylitis is an inflammatory rheumatoid disease that primarily affects the spine causing chronic back pain that may be accompanied by inflammation, pain and stiffness in other body parts leading in advanced cases to fusion of spine bones in a fixed, immobile position causing disability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the costs of secukinumab versus adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, and infliximab from private sector perspective over a time horizon of 6 months.

METHODS

: A cost minimization analysis was conducted for patients with ankylosing spondylitis without extra- articular manifestations over 6 months. Direct medical costs were collected from the private sector hospitals. Treatment costs were calculated for a patient weighing an average of 78 kg. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

: The study revealed that estimated total cost of treatment of one patient with ankylosing spondylitis is EPG43, 554 for secukinumab compared to EPG65, 988 for adalimumab, EPG74, 400 for certolizumab pegol, EPG48, 768 for etanercept, EPG41, 772 for golimumab, and EPG72, 978 for infliximab. One way sensitivity analysis showed that decreasing secukinumab cost by 20 % could affect the results making secukinumab the lowest cost option. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the economic advantage of golimumab in 60% of model replications compared to 40 % for secukinumab.

CONCLUSIONS

: Golimumab yields the lowest cost per course of 6 months compared to adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, infliximab, and secukinumab in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis from private sector perspective.