title: Annual biologic treatment cost for new and existing patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in Greece.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to estimate the annual per-patient cost of treatment with adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, and ustekinumab by response status for new and existing patients with moderate to severe psoriasis in Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  An economic analysis was developed from a national health care perspective to estimate the direct cost of treatment alternatives for new and existing patients within a 1-year time horizon. The model included drug acquisition and administration costs for responders and nonresponders. Real-world treatment pattern and resource use data were extracted through nationwide field research using telephone-based interviews with a representative sample of dermatologists. Unit costs were collected from official sources in the public domain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean annual cost of treatment for new patients who responded (or did not respond) to treatment was as follows: adalimumab €10,686 (€3,821), etanercept €10,415 (€3,224), infliximab €14,738 (€7,582), and ustekinumab €17,155 (€9,806). For existing patients the mean annual cost was €9,916, €9,462, €12,949, and €17,149, respectively. Results did not change significantly under several one-way sensitivity and scenario analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under the base-case scenario, the cost of treatment with etanercept is lower than that of the other biological agents licensed for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in Greece, for both new and existing patients, irrespective of response status.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Organization and Management, National School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Vassilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fragoulakis
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Hellas, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efklidis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raptis
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Hellas, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Elli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vitsou
authors.affiliation: Health Services Organization and Management, National School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maniadakis
keywords: adalimumab; biologics; economic evaluation; etanercept; infliximab; ustekinumab