Triptans for migraine therapy: a comparison based on number needed to treat and doses needed to treat.
OBJECTIVE
Managed care and other decision makers need sound comparative information to support the formulary selection process and reimbursement decisions for the treatment of migraine. The objective of this study was to compare currently marketed triptan therapies using number-needed-to-treat (NNT) and doses-needed-to-treat (DNT) measures. DNT was further used to derive triptan treatment cost to achieve 100 successfully treated patients such that the cost-effectiveness of each treatment regime could be compared from the payer perspective.


METHODS
Using published meta-analysis data to categorize patients as treatment success or failure, an NNT and a DNT were derived for each triptan. Treatment success was defined as achieving a 2-hour pain response, sustained through 24 hours postdose. Costs were derived by multiplying DNT by the average wholesale price (AWP) minus 15% for each triptan.


RESULTS
Eletriptan 40 mg had the lowest NNT, with 361 patients needing to be treated in order to have 100 patients achieve clinical benefit; rizatriptan 5 mg had the highest NNT (597 patients). Eletriptan 40 mg required 388 doses to successfully treat 100 patients.the lowest number of doses of the triptans considered; rizatriptan 5 mg required the highest number (662 doses). Eletriptan 40 mg had the lowest total triptan cost of USD 5,630 to successfully treat 100 patients. The highest total triptan cost of treatment was USD 11,136 for naratriptan 2.5 mg.


CONCLUSIONS
Eletriptan 40 mg provides the best value in terms of the lowest DNT, assuming an approximately equal AWP discount for each triptan. Eletriptan 40 mg also was found to have the lowest total triptan cost to successfully treat 100 patients. Future research should further explore the utility of DNT in managed care decision making.
Mullins
C Daniel
CD
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 515 W. Lombard St., 2nd Fl., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. dmullins@rx.umaryland.edu
Weis
Kathleen A
KA
Perfetto
Eleanor M
EM
Subedi
Prasun R
PR
Healey
Paul J
PJ
D000465:Algorithms; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D010880:Piperidines; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014230:Triazoles; D014363:Tryptamines; C115647:eletriptan; C093622:rizatriptan; C106783:naratriptan