Review of the pharmacoeconomic research on gemcitabine in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Gemcitabine is a novel nucleoside analogue with unique activity against a range of solid tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
This report reviews a series of retrospective economic evaluations that have taken place over the past 4 years comparing gemcitabine, both as a single agent and in combination therapy, with other treatment modalities for NSCLC in the following countries: United States, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Canada, and Italy. These economic evaluations were in the form of simple cost identification, cost minimization, and cost-effectiveness in order to estimate the economic impact of gemcitabine in NSCLC treatment compared with other treatment modalities.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of these retrospective economic evaluations suggest that gemcitabine as monotherapy or in a combination regimen may be cost saving or perhaps even cost effective. This is largely because the chemotherapy can be administered in an outpatient setting and because the side-effect and toxicity profile is lower. This economic advantage assumes equivalent efficacy of gemcitabine and other treatment modalities for treatment of NSCLC.
Minshall
M E
ME
Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA. mem@Lilly.com
Liepa
A M
AM
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017059:Models, Econometric; D014481:United States; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000093542:Gemcitabine