[Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of telbivudine vs. lamivudine in treating the patients with HBeAg-positive and negative chronic hepatitis B]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate long-term cost effectiveness of telbivudine and lamivudine for the treatment of CHB.

Methods: Cost effectiveness was conducted from social health insurance perspective. A Markov model was established based on disease progression pattern and the data from the 2 years GLOBE clinical trial. The information of annual medical expenditure and quality-of-life assessment for different CHB-related diseases was obtained from literature. Incremental cost per life year or quality-adjusted life year gained was measured.

Results: Compared with lamivudine, the incremental cost for 1 additional QALY gained with telbivudine in treating HBeAg-positive and -negative CHB were 5403 yuan and 28239 yuan in Beijing, as well 4916 yuan and 29618 yuan in Guangzhou, respectively. According to national economic burden of CHB-related diseases, the ICER with telbivudine vs lamivudine were 1282 yuan and 31565 yuan for HBeAg-positive and -negative CHB.

Conclusion: According to WHO recommendation for ICER threshold, telbivudine is cost effective in treating HBeAg-positive and -negative CHB, as compared to lamivudine.