title: Economic evaluation of agomelatine relative to other antidepressants for treatment of major depressive disorders in Greece.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Major depressive disorder (MDD) constitutes an important public health problem, as it is highly prevalent in the industrialized world and it is associated with substantial economic consequences for patients, health care providers, insurance and social security organizations and employers. To conduct an economic evaluation comparing agomelatine with other commonly used alternatives for treating patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  An existing international Markov model designed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of agomelatine was adapted to the Greek setting. It reflects six different health states, in which patients may move on a monthly basis. The analysis was undertaken from a societal perspective. Transition probabilities, utilities and costs assigned to each health state were extracted from the published literature, government sources and expert opinion. Data reflects the year 2012 and was discounted using a rate of 3.5%. Probabilistic analysis was undertaken to deal with uncertainty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Base case analyses revealed that agomelatine is a dominant therapy for MDD relative to escitalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline, and it appeared to be cost-effective compared to venlafaxine (ICER: €547/QALY). Agomelatine remained a dominant treatment against generic sertraline and fluoxetine, and it appeared to be a cost-effective alternative compared to generic venlafaxine and escitalopram (ICER: €1,446/QALY and €3,303/QALY, respectively). Excluding the indirect cost from the analysis, agomelatine remained a cost-effective alternative over all comparators. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis agomelatine was dominant in 44.5%, 89.6%, 70.6% and 84.6% of simulated samples against branded venlafaxine, escitalopram, fluoxetine and sertraline, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present evaluation indicates that agomelatine is either a dominant or a cost-effective alternative relative to branded or generic alternatives, in Greece.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Organization & Management, National School of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Avenue, Athens 11521, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maniadakis
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kourlaba
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mougiakos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chatzimanolis
authors.forename: Linus
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jonsson
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D008875:Middle Aged; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D009281:Naphthalenes
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes