Economic evaluation of highly purified menotropin compared with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone in assisted reproduction.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the cost of achieving pregnancy with different gonadotropin preparations.


METHODS
Cost-minimization analysis of a prospective randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Twenty-two centers in six countries.


METHODS
Women 18 to 36 years of age with infertility for more than 1 year who were undergoing IVF or ICSI.


METHODS
Highly purified hMG or recombinant FSH.


RESULTS
Mean cost of achieving an ongoing pregnancy. The mean cost per patient treatment cycle was estimated to be pound 2423 with highly purified hMG (95% CI, pound 2356 to pound 2495) and pound 2745 with recombinant FSH (95% CI, pound 2658 to pound 2830). The ongoing pregnancy rate was 22% with highly purified hMG and 19% with recombinant FSH. The cost per ongoing pregnancy was pound 10781 with highly purified hMG (95% CI, pound 9056 to pound 12919) and pound 14284 with recombinant FSH (95% CI, pound 11883 to pound 17891).


CONCLUSIONS
Highly purified hMG and recombinant FSH are equally effective, but highly purified hMG is less expensive per cycle. Using highly purified hMG instead of recombinant FSH would translate into a 13% increase in the number of cycles that could be offered.
Lloyd
Adam
A
Fourth Hurdle Consulting Ltd, London, United Kingdom. adamlloyd@fourthhurdle.com
Kennedy
Richard
R
Hutchinson
Julia
J
Sawyer
Will
W
D000328:Adult; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003363:Cost Control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000191:economics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000191:economics*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008596:Menotropins / Q000191:economics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000191:economics; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D008596:Menotropins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone