Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of poractant alfa (Curosurf) in the treatment of infants with respiratory distress syndrome

Aim

Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of poractant alfa compared to beractant in the in-patient treatment of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).

Material and methods

Retrospective pharmacoeconomic study was conducted from the perspective of a hospital. Therefore, we estimated only direct costs for surfactant administration and for the treatment of one patient with RDS. We used the cost-effectiveness analysis and the budget impact analysis on the basis of the interactive pharmacoeconomic model. The results of modelling were not discounted since a time horizon did not exceed one year. Efficacy data were obtained via a search of clinical studies in the literature.

Results

Average costs for treatment with poractant alfa in preterm infants with RDS were lower compared with those of beractant. Poractant alfa at a starting dose of 200 mg/kg not only reduces hospital mortality in comparison with beractant, but was also a dominant drug in terms of cost-effectiveness and provided cost-savings from the perspective of budget impact analysis (up to 4.06 mln RUR for 200 patients as a result of a lower incidence of severe complications). The results of the study were sensitive to changes in the cost of the dominant drug.

Conclusion

Poractant alfa at a starting dose of 200 mg/kg is a preferred surfactant in infants with RDS and provides cost-savings for a budget compared with beractant.

Key words

Pharmacoeconomics, respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants, cost-effectiveness analysis, budget impact analysis, beractant, poractant alfa.