Author:

Keywords:

Biosimilars, Cost-effectiveness analysis, EFFICACY, FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE, In vitro fertilization, INFERTILITY, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Medically assisted reproduction, Obstetrics & Gynecology, SAFETY, Science & Technology, In vitro fertilization, r-hFSH-alfa, Pregnancy, Female, Humans, Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals, Cost-Effectiveness Analysis, Reproductive Techniques, Assisted, Embryo Transfer, Ovulation Induction, 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine, Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine, 3215 Reproductive medicine, 4204 Midwifery

Abstract:

This study compared the cost per live birth and cost-effectiveness of the originator recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone follitropin alfa (r-hFSH-alfa) and r-hFSH-alfa biosimilars for ovarian stimulation prior to assisted reproductive technology treatment in Spain. A decision tree model was developed, comprising pregnancy and live birth for one treatment cycle with fresh embryo transfer. Clinical inputs were based on a recent meta-analysis by Chua et al. [4]. Cost inputs were extracted from publicly available Spanish sources. The costs per live birth were lower with originator r-hFSH-alfa (€18,138) versus r-hFSH-alfa biosimilars (€20,377). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €7208 for originator r-hFSH-alfa versus biosimilars. Drug acquisition costs for originator r-hFSH-alfa represented 10.5% of total costs in the base case analysis, and 6.2% in a treatment cycle resulting in live birth with one fresh embryo transfer. Results from the sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings.