Cladribine tablets for the treatment of highly active recurrent multiple sclerosis: budget impact analysis from the perspective of the Brazilian supplementary health system

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the budget impact of adopting cladribine tablets as a treatment strategy for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis with high disease activity (RRMS HDA), from the Brazilian private healthcare system perspective. Methods: A budget impact analysis, under private healthcare system perspective, with a 4-years time horizon was conducted, considering the open cohort approach in which the number of patients eligible for treatment varies each year with the introduction of newly diagnosed RRMS HDA patients and the drop out of prevalent individuals due to death or secondary progression. Direct medical costs, including acquisition, drug administration, monitoring, adverse events and relapses were considered. Comparators used in the analysis were: alentuzumab, fingolimod, natalizumab and ocrelizumab. Costs were presented in Brazilian real (BRL). Results: The incremental cost of incorporating cladribine tablets into the private healthcare system was estimated at 463,265BRL, 739,961BRL, -1,414,963 BRL, -3,716,007 BRL, in years 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. This resulted in a total incremental cost of -3,931,015 BRL over the period analyzed, representing 1.5% of the total budget reduction in the treatment of RRMS HDA. Conclusion: Incorporation of cladribine tablets for the management of RRMS HDA could generate substantial savings for the private healthcare system, reaching a value of approximately 3.9 million BRL in a 4-years period.