Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology

Cost-effectiveness of first generation nanotherapy: Comparing gemcitabine and PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin for recurrent or progressive ovarian cancer in Flanders

4^th International Conference on Nanotek & Expo

December 01-03, 2014 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Francisco Airport, USA

Rita Bosetti

Accepted Abstracts: J Nanomed Nanotechnol

Abstract:

Since chemotherapy frequently results in severe adverse events, nanobased agents are being considered as an alternative treatment for cancer. The latter, which is significantly more expensive (acquisition cost) will gain greater support if it can prove to be cost-effective. Comprehensive cost taxonomy is necessary and was used to examine the costs and cost-effectiveness of chemotherapy (gemcitabine) and a first generation nanotherapy (PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin) to treat ovarian cancer in a Flemish context. The base case used data reported in a phase III trial. To test to robustness of the model, results were subject to Monte Carlo analyses. As expected, initial drug costs were significantly higher for the nanotherapy. They were ?2,830.93 compared with ?595.76 for chemotherapy, a difference of ?2,235.17 per patient in favor of chemotherapy. Hospitalization costs for nanotherapy were ?2,197.02. They were significantly higher for chemotherapy, namely, ?5,547.30, resulting in a difference of ?3,350.28 per patient in favor of nanotherapy. Tangible indirect costs were in favor of the nanobased agent. They were estimated at ?2,319.97 versus ?2,492.33, a difference of ?172.36 (without productivity costs). Productivity costs were as high as ?35,495 for nanotherapy and ?39,165.34 for chemotherapy per patient, resulting in a difference of ?3,670.34. The cost per quality-adjusted life week (QALW) for the nanotherapy was estimated at ?266.52/QALW compared with ?417.22/ QALW for chemotherapy. In Flanders, the clinical benefit associated with nanotherapy was achieved yielding not only positive cost-effectiveness results, but surprisingly also financial savings. Although more comprehensive analyses are necessary to corroborate these results, this analysis supports the further use of nanotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Biography :

Rita Bosetti obtained her PhD in Applied Economics in 2012 at the age of 29 years from Hasselt University (Belgium) in collaboration with Professor Mauro Ferrari of the University of Texas ? Health Science Center at Houston (USA). Currently, she has an appointment as a post-doctoral researcher at Hasselt University (Belgium). She has published several articles in a leading nanomedicine journal as well as in a chemistry journal, showing the multidisciplinary of her research.