OBJECTIVE: Anemia, a common chemotherapy complication, is often treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), DA, EA or EB. The objective of this study was to assess, from a French societal perspective, the cost consequence of Q3W_DA administration (500µg) compared to QW_EA or QW_EB at the European label doses, based on the results of a European retrospective observational study. METHOD: A decision-tree model making explicit the conduct of the patients in the 16-week observational study (drug administrations, transfusion and response to treatment) was developed in Excel®. Transition probabilities, average Hb value over treatment period, number of blood transfusions and ESA administration settings were extracted from the observational study. Unit costs were applied to medical resources used (red blood cells packs, healthcare professional visits, hospital stays) and to patients' time, further specified by a panel of 20 French clinical experts. Time was valued at gross hourly wage rate. Both time and medical costs were extracted from official sources (AMELI; INSEE) and adjusted to €2006. A 5,000-replications probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed with @RISK® using distributions for probabilities (binomial), medical resources used (triangular), time (triangular) and outcome measures (normal). RESULTS: Compared to either EA or EB, DA showed slightly greater increases in Hb levels (0.128g/dL [95%CI:-0.160;0.411] vs. EA; 0.186g/dL [-1.995; 0.384] vs. EB) and a lower cost (€-422 [-920;42.9] vs. EA; -€114 [95%CI:-452;211] vs. EB). Probabilistic sensitivity analysis revealed for DA_Q3W 80% of the replications vs EA and 73% vs EB with better Hb values and lower costs (dominant); 3% vs EA and 22% vs EB with higher costs and better Hb values. CONCLUSION: This analysis provides real-life information to decision makers about the costs and consequences of Q3W_DA compared to QW_EA and QW_EB. A decision in favor of Q3W_DA has the highest probability to be beneficial from a health economic viewpoint.