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. 2025 Apr;18(4):387-392.
doi: 10.25122/jml-2025-0087.

Cost-effectiveness of Cerebrolysin as an add-on treatment for neurorecovery after traumatic brain injury

Stefan Strilciuc  1   2 , Diana Alecsandra Grad  2 , Cristian Vlădescu  3   4 , Anca Dana Buzoianu  5 , Carmen Albu  6   7 , Dafin Fior Mureșanu  2   8
Affiliations

Cost-effectiveness of Cerebrolysin as an add-on treatment for neurorecovery after traumatic brain injury

Stefan Strilciuc et al. J Med Life. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide, with incidence and injury mechanisms varying by age group and region. Impairment of functional status, diagnoses of anxiety and depression are encountered post-TBI. Studies have shown that Cerebrolysin can have positive effects among TBI survivors. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) among patients with moderate TBI, using data from the CAPTAIN II trial. This exercise was carried out on a three-month timeline from the provider's perspective. Two models were incorporated in the CEA: control (placebo group) and treatment (Cerebrolysin group). Our analysis showed that Cerebrolysin had a high probability of being cost-effective, based on Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) (in over 80% of patients with moderate TBI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Depression and Anxiety scores (for the former two, in over 95% of patients with moderate TBI), when assuming a lasting effect (12 months) of the CAPTAIN trial intervention protocol. A model-based approach is needed to account for potential sources of bias beyond the 90-day observation period of this clinical trial. Furthermore, economic evaluations incorporating patients diagnosed with all TBI severities are needed.

Keywords: Cerebrolysin; anxiety; cost-effectiveness analysis; depression; functional outcome; mild traumatic brain injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

DFM discloses major financial activities (travel/accommodation/meeting expenses) with the Foundation for the Study of Nanoneuroscience and Neuroregeneration, as well as being a principal investigator in the Cerebrolysin REGistry Study in Stroke (CREGS 2) and the CARS I trial, funded by EVER Neuro Pharma, the producer of Cerebrolysin, and a principal investigator in the CAPTAIN II, CAPTAIN rTMS, CODEC, ESCAS, and C-RETURN clinical trials, funded academically. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC) for QALYs (based on corresponding utilities for GOS-E). Green and red shading highlights a cost-effectiveness threshold of 50.000 EUR per QALY, drawn from the extrapolation of treatment effects to a 12-month timeframe.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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