[Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of telbivudine vs. lamivudine in treating the patients with HBeAg-positive and negative chronic hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate long-term cost effectiveness of telbivudine and lamivudine for the treatment of CHB.


METHODS
Cost effectiveness was conducted from social health insurance perspective. A Markov model was established based on disease progression pattern and the data from the 2 years GLOBE clinical trial. The information of annual medical expenditure and quality-of-life assessment for different CHB-related diseases was obtained from literature. Incremental cost per life year or quality-adjusted life year gained was measured.


RESULTS
Compared with lamivudine, the incremental cost for 1 additional QALY gained with telbivudine in treating HBeAg-positive and -negative CHB were 5403 yuan and 28239 yuan in Beijing, as well 4916 yuan and 29618 yuan in Guangzhou, respectively. According to national economic burden of CHB-related diseases, the ICER with telbivudine vs lamivudine were 1282 yuan and 31565 yuan for HBeAg-positive and -negative CHB.


CONCLUSIONS
According to WHO recommendation for ICER threshold, telbivudine is cost effective in treating HBeAg-positive and -negative CHB, as compared to lamivudine.
Chen
Wen
W
Center for Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation and Research, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. wenchen@fudan.edu.cn
Hou
Jin-Lin
JL
D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007353:Insurance, Long-Term Care; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D000077712:Telbivudine; D013936:Thymidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D009705:Nucleosides; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011744:Pyrimidinones; D000077712:Telbivudine; D019259:Lamivudine; D013936:Thymidine