Thus, the investigators found that a combination of adalimumab and MTX offers an acceptable ICER relative to MTX mono-therapy in patients with early, aggressive RA. The findings are consistent with a previous study that found that a combination of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and MTX therapy was cost effective relative to MTX alone when given early. The previous findings also included irreversible joint damage, which was assumed to affect functional outcomes as determined by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ).
The investigators note, however, that their current findings should not be extrapolated beyond their patient population (early, aggressive RA) or their therapies (MTX monotherapy or MTX + adalimumab combination therapy).
Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.
References
- Stephens S, Botteman MF, Cifaldi MA, et al. Modelling the cost-effectiveness of combination therapy for early, rapidly progressing rheumatoid arthritis by simulating the reversible and irreversible effects of the disease. BMJ Open. 2015 Jun 9;5(6):e006560. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006560
