ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system and is characterised by inflammation, demyelination, gliosis, and axonal damage. The introduction of dimethyl fumarate and teriflunomide has led to an increase in the number of alternative first-line therapies for MS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic impact of the incorporation of new oral therapies at the reference unit (CSUR) at Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study including patients diagnosed with MS, who underwent treatment with disease-modifying drugs in 2015 and were followed up for a minimum mean time of one year. Data were collected from patients' electronic clinical histories and the pharmacy service's programme for dispensing drugs to outpatients. RESULTS: Evaluating the cost of changing 125 patients' treatment from other drugs to dimethyl fumarate and teriflunomide, and comparing this with the cost that would have resulted from maintaining their previous treatment, demonstrated a total saving of 169,107.31 over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to contributing new therapeutic alternatives, dimethyl fumarate and teriflunomide produced an economic saving in MS treatment at our hospital.
Subject(s)
Immunosuppressive Agents , Multiple Sclerosis , Administration, Oral , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Dimethyl Fumarate/therapeutic use , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/economics , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Multiple Sclerosis/drug therapy , Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/drug therapyABSTRACT
El SIS tiene por objetivo la capacitación y gestión de fondos para el aseguramiento de las prestaciones de salud y la cobertura de riesgos de salud de los asegurados, y que con este fin ha establecido como líneas estratégicas de accón: ser garante del asegurado en la oportunidad, continuidad de las prestaciones de saud financiadas, y promover una gerencia moderna, eficiencia del financiamento y nuevos mecanismos de pago de las prestaciones de salud con énfasis en la atención primaria y salud como derecho. Entre los objetivos generales del SIS destacan fomentar la cultura del aseguramiento en salud de la población, fortalecer los mecanismos de control a las IPRESS en la utilización óptima de los recursos trasnferidos por el SIS y contribuir con el control de enfermedades no transmisibles. El medicamento teriflunomida es una alternativa de tratamiento en pacientes con diagnóstico de esclerosis múltiple remitente-recurrente y formas progresivas que presentan recaídas, de acuerdo a prescripción médica.
Subject(s)
Healthcare Financing , Health Planning Guidelines , Isoxazoles/therapeutic use , Multiple Sclerosis/therapy , Technology Assessment, BiomedicalABSTRACT
The development of new disease-modifying drugs (DMD) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), which share the common denominator of oral administration, considerably improves patient expectations in terms of effectiveness, tolerability and treatment adherence compared with currently available drugs. However, the common route of administration of these drugs does not mean that they are equivalent, since the heading of "oral route" encompasses drugs with distinct indications and mechanisms of action, as well as heterogeneous results in terms of efficacy and safety, allowing treatment to be personalized according to the each patient' s characteristics. Currently, four oral DMD are available or in an advanced stage of clinical development: fingolimod, teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate and laquinimod. In pivotal trials versus placebo, these molecules reduced the annualized rate of exacerbations versus placebo by 54%, 31%, 53% and 23%, respectively, the risk of progression of disability by 31%, 30%, 38% and 36%, and the number of active lesions showing contrast uptake on magnetic resonance imaging by 82%, 80%, 90% and 37%, respectively. Based on the risk/benefit ratio, fingolimod is indicated in patients with suboptimal response to initial DMD or in severe rapidly progressing RRMS, while the remaining drugs can be used as first-line options. Clinical experience with these treatments will provide new data on safety and effectiveness, which will be determinant when establishing therapeutic algorithms.