A prospective economic evaluation of basiliximab (Simulect) therapy following renal transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Immunoprophylaxis with basiliximab (Simulect), an anti-interleukin-2-receptor (anti-IL-2R; CD25) chimeric monoclonal antibody, has been demonstrated to significantly reduce the incidence of acute cellular rejection in adult renal allograft recipients (32% vs. placebo, p < 0.01).


METHODS
An economic evaluation was conducted as part of a U.S. multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial comparing basiliximab plus dual immunosuppressive therapy (cyclosporine modified [Neoral] and corticosteroids) to dual therapy alone. Healthcare resources utilized by the 346 subjects in the 'intent-to-treat' population were prospectively collected over the 1-yr study period. Direct medical costs were determined for all hospitalizations, outpatient provider visits, procedures (excluding the initial transplant procedure), laboratory and diagnostic tests, and immunosuppressants, including basiliximab when administered.


RESULTS
Total first-year medical costs were lower for the basiliximab group than for the placebo group ($28 927 vs. $32 300, difference = $3373). although this difference was not statistically significant. First-year hospital costs for treating acute rejection were also lower for the basiliximab group ($9328 vs. $10761, difference = $1433); however, this difference did not achieve statistical significance. Importantly, the efficacy analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in the incidence of acute rejection (38 vs. 55%, p < 0.01) in the basiliximab arm, and this was accomplished without increasing the overall cost of care. Fewer basiliximab-treated patients (8 vs. 15%,, p = 0.03) were hospitalized. This observation suggested less serious illness and reduced treatment costs among basiliximab-treated patients, because the overall incidence of infection was similar between the groups. The adverse event profile of patients receiving basiliximab was clinically and economically indistinguishable from that of those treated with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Induction immunosuppression with basiliximab, combined with cyclosporine modified and corticosteroids, was therapeutically beneficial and contained medical costs during the initial post-transplant year.
Lorber
M I
MI
Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8062, USA.
Fastenau
J
J
Wilson
D
D
DiCesare
J
J
Hall
M L
ML
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D003363:Cost Control; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004180:Direct Service Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000077552:Basiliximab