News Release

Treating MS is expensive, but cost falls over time

Modelling the cost effectiveness of interferon beta and glatiramer acetate in the management of multiple sclerosis BMJ Volume 326, pp 522-5

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BMJ

The cost of drug treatment multiple sclerosis is high, but decreases with prolonged treatment up to 20 years, concludes a study in this week's BMJ.

Researchers evaluated the cost effectiveness of four drugs currently licensed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in the United Kingdom (three interferon betas and glatiramer acetate). They assessed the effect of each drug against conventional management over 20 years using the best available evidence.

They calculated that the cost of each year of life saved or prolonged by using any of the four treatments ranged from £42,000 to £98,000. Price had a considerable effect on the cost effectiveness for each drug.

The authors stress, however, that uncertainty surrounding these estimates is substantial, largely due to the unpredictability of the disease and the difficulty in capturing all aspects of its impact on patients. Further research to establish the true impact of these treatments would be of considerable value, they conclude.

In the face of such uncertainties, the Department of Health has introduced a risk-sharing scheme for providing these treatments in the NHS, writes Professor David Miller in an accompanying commentary. Although the scheme will need substantial investment, it is a constructive approach in addressing a difficult problem, and it is hard to see a realistic alternative.

Further research is needed to identify those who will benefit most from disease modifying treatments. Meanwhile, work must go on to develop more effective treatments, he concludes.

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