Cost-effectiveness analysis of gene-based therapies for patients with spinal muscular atrophy type I in Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder and regarded as one of the most frequent genetic causes of infant mortality. The aim of this study is to develop a cost-effectiveness analysis of AVXS-101 (Onasemnogene Abeparvovec/Zolgensma®) and nusinersen (Spinraza®) for SMA to inform decision-making on reimbursement policies in Australia. METHODS: A Markov model was developed with five health states to evaluate the costs and effects for patients with SMA Type I from a healthcare system perspective over a time-horizon of 100 years. The model parameters were based on clinical trials, parametric distributions, published literature, and Australian registries. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to appraise the uncertainties of the parameters in the model. A threshold analysis was conducted to estimate the cost of AVXS-101 of being cost-effective. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of AVXS-101 was $1,808,471 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and that of nusinersen was $2,772,798 per QALY, compared to standard of care, respectively. The ICER of AVXS-101 was $1,238,288 per QALY compared to nusinersen. The key drivers influencing on ICERs were costs of using treatments and utility values of sitting and walking independently. CONCLUSION: Both nusinersen and AVXS-101 resulted in health benefits, but they were not cost-effective with a commonly used willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50,000 per QALY. Developing high-quality clinical data and exploring appropriate WTP thresholds are critical for decision-making on reimbursement policies in the treatment of rare diseases.

Nusinersena: eficácia, segurança e custo-efetividade para o tratamento da atrofia muscular espinhal / Nusinersena: efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy

As Atrofias Musculares Espinhais (AME) são um grupo de doenças neuromusculares hereditárias raras (incidência de cerca de 1 para cada 11.000 nascidos vivos).Caracterizam-se pela degeneração dos neurônios motores na medula espinhal e tronco encefálico, resultando em fraqueza muscular progressiva. As AME são categorizadas em subtipos clínicos (tipo I, II, III e IV) com base na idade de início dos sintomas e sua gravidade. O medicamento Nusinersena é eficaz, seguro e custo efetivo para o tratamento de pessoas com Atrofia Muscular Espinhal?

A gestão municipal de saúde de Campo Grande-MS recebeu solicitação de acesso ao medicamento de alto custo Nusinersena (Spinraza®) para crianças diagnosticadas com AME. Diante da necessidade de aprofundamento dos conhecimentos acerca da doença e possibilidades de tratamento, a Secretaria Municipal de Saúde encomendou este estudo para elucidar melhor a tomada de decisão da gestão. Estudos evidenciam que o Nusinersena prolonga a sobrevida livre de ventilação para portadores de AME tipo I e melhora a função motora para portadores de AME tipo I e II. Estas revisões indicam que a maior potencialidade da terapia ocorre nos estágios iniciais da doença pois existe uma janela de oportunidade para ação do medicamento com vistas a resgatar ou estabilizar a função do neurônio motor. Ou seja, melhores respostas ocorreram em crianças mais novas. No entanto, não há cura completa da doença, apenas melhora da sintomatologia5. Em abril de 2019, o Ministério da Saúde incorporou o medicamento Nusinersena para portadores de AME tipo I, ficando em aberto a cobertura dos tipos II,III e IV. O perfil de segurança e tolerabilidade do Nusinersena são aceitáveis, mas há escassez de dados sobre sua eficácia e desdobramentos a longo prazo. Devido aos custos extremamente elevados deste medicamento (análise baseada em preços oficiais) ele se tornou não custo-efetivo. Em agosto de 2018, a CONITEC recomendou a não incorporação do medicamento ao SUS, porém a Advocacia Geral da União recomendou uma nova submissão, feita pela empresa produtora onde foi aprovada em março de 2019 (para portadores de AME tipo I). Não houve acréscimo de novas evidências ou redução de preço que justificassem a mudança de decisão.

Assessment of respiratory muscles and motor function in children with SMA treated by nusinersen.

INTRODUCTION: Nusinersen is associated with an improvement in motor function in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) but data on respiratory muscles strength are scarce. Respiratory muscles performance and lung function were evaluated in children with SMA 1c and 2 after six injections of nusinersen (M14). Results from patients with SMA2 were compared with data of age-matched historical controls. Motor function tests (MFM and HINE-2) were assessed at baseline and M14 in the treated patients. RESULTS: Sixteen children (2 SMA Type 1c and 14 SMA Type 2), mean age 9.4 ± 2.3 years, were included. The data of 14 historical SMA 2 controls (mean age 9.3 ± 1.9 years) were gathered. The strength of the global inspiratory muscles of SMA 2 treated with nusinersen, assessed on maximal static inspiratory pressure, forced vital capacity, and esophageal pressure during a maximal sniff was significantly better compared with historical controls (p < .05). A significant improvement in MFM and HINE-2 was observed in the patients with 16 SMA treated with nusinersen after 14 months as compared with baseline. CONCLUSION: In children with SMA Type 2, respiratory muscle performance was significantly better after six injections of nusinersen as compared with age-matched SMA Type 2 historical controls.

Assessment of the validity and reliability of the 32-item Motor Function Measure in individuals with Type 2 or non-ambulant Type 3 spinal muscular atrophy.

The 32-item Motor Function Measure (MFM32) is an assessment of motor function, and its measurement properties were established in a broad neuromuscular disease population. This study sought to investigate the reliability, validity, and ability to detect change of MFM32 in individuals with Type 2 and non-ambulant Type 3 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Data were used from the Phase 2 study assessing the efficacy and safety of olesoxime. A total of 110 individuals with Type 2 or 3 SMA were included in the analyses. Test-retest reliability (intraclass-correlation coefficient in global impression-defined stable individuals), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), convergent validity (Spearman rank order correlations with other measures), known-groups validity (analysis of covariance comparing Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale -defined groups), and ability to detect change (analysis of covariance comparing global impression-defined groups) were calculated. Strong evidence of test-retest reliability (intraclass-correlation coefficient = 0.93-0.95), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89), convergent validity (Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale: rho = 0.87; forced vital capacity: rho = 0.61), known-groups validity (all p<0.0001), and ability to detect change (all p<0.001) were demonstrated. These results provide evidence of the MFM32's measurement properties, supporting its use in longitudinal research in individuals with Type 2 and non-ambulant Type 3 SMA.

Economic burden of spinal muscular atrophy in the United States: a contemporary assessment.

Aims: To estimate healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs among patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 (SMA1) in real-world practice, overall and among patients treated with nusinersen. As a secondary objective, HRU and costs were estimated among patients with other SMA types (i.e. 2, 3, or 4 combined), overall and among patients treated with nusinersen.Materials and methods: Patients with SMA were identified from the Symphony Health's Integrated Dataverse (IDV) open claims database (September 1, 2016-August 31, 2018) and were classified into four cohorts based on SMA type and nusinersen treatment (i.e. SMA1, SMA1 nusinersen, other SMA, and other SMA nusinersen cohorts). The index date was the date of the first SMA diagnosis after December 23, 2016 or, for nusinersen cohorts, the date of nusinersen initiation. The study period spanned from the index date to the earlier among the end of clinical activity or data availability.Results: Patients in the SMA1 (n = 349) and SMA1 nusinersen (n = 45) cohorts experienced an average of 59.4 and 56.6 days with medical visits per-patient-per-year (PPPY), respectively, including 14.1 and 4.6 inpatient days. Excluding nusinersen-related costs, total mean healthcare costs were $137,627 and $92,618 PPPY in the SMA1 and SMA1 nusinersen cohorts, respectively. Mean nusinersen-related costs were $191,909 per-patient-per-month (PPPM) for the first 3 months post-initiation (i.e. loading phase) and $36,882 PPPM thereafter (i.e. maintenance phase). HRU and costs were also substantial among patients in the other SMA (n = 5,728) and other SMA nusinersen (n = 404) cohorts, with an average of 44.5 and 63.7 days with medical visits PPPY and total mean healthcare costs (excluding nusinersen-related costs) of $49,175 and $76,371 PPPY, respectively.Limitations: The database may contain inaccuracies or omissions in diagnoses, procedures, or costs, and does not capture medical services outside of the IDV network.Conclusions: HRU and healthcare costs were substantial in patients with SMA, including in nusinersen-treated patients.

Relocation of study participants for rare and ultra-rare disease trials: Ethics and operations.

Clinical trials for investigational new products to treat rare and ultra-rare diseases typically involve a limited number of research sites recruiting from a small pool of patients dispersed over a large geographical area. When remote access is not possible and participants must be present at a trial site, participation in research may require individuals and their families/caregivers to travel great distances, often at significant cost personally and financially and, frequently, for the duration of the trial. This article addresses the ethical and practical issues associated with the practice of sponsors offering financial and other assistance for relocation to trial sites from significant geographical distances, providing both foundational analysis of the ethical issues as well as actionable policy-level guidance on how to best approach these situations.

Cost Effectiveness of Nusinersen in the Treatment of Patients with Infantile-Onset and Later-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare neuromuscular disorder with a spectrum of severity related to age at onset and the number of SMN2 gene copies. Infantile-onset (≤ 6 months of age) is the most severe spinal muscular atrophy and is the leading monogenetic cause of infant mortality; patients with later-onset (> 6 months of age) spinal muscular atrophy can survive into adulthood. Nusinersen is a new treatment for spinal muscular atrophy. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of nusinersen for the treatment of patients with infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy and later-onset spinal muscular atrophy in Sweden. METHODS: One Markov cohort health-state transition model was developed for each population. The infantile-onset and later-onset models were based on the efficacy results from the ENDEAR phase III trial and the CHERISH phase III trial, respectively. The cost effectiveness of nusinersen in both models was compared with standard of care in Sweden. RESULTS: For a time horizon of 40 years in the infantile-onset model and 80 years in the later-onset model, treatment with nusinersen resulted in 3.86 and 9.54 patient incremental quality-adjusted life-years and 0.02 and 2.39 caregiver incremental quality-adjusted life-years and an incremental cost of 21.9 and 38.0 million SEK (Swedish krona), respectively. These results translated into incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (including caregiver quality-adjusted life-years) of 5.64 million SEK (€551,300) and 3.19 million SEK (€311,800) per quality-adjusted life-year gained in the infantile-onset model and later-onset model, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with nusinersen resulted in overall survival and quality-adjusted life-year benefits but with incremental costs above 21 million SEK (€2 million) [mainly associated with maintenance treatment with nusinersen over a patient's lifespan]. Nusinersen was not cost effective when using a willingness-to-pay threshold of 2 million SEK (€195,600), which has been considered in a recent discussion by the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency as a reasonable threshold for rare disease. Nonetheless, nusinersen gained reimbursement in Sweden in 2017 for paediatric patients (below 18 years old) with spinal muscular atrophy type I-IIIa.

Putting our best foot forward: Clinical, treatment-based and ethical considerations of nusinersen therapy in Canada for spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA is a spectral disorder and is categorised based on symptom onset and severity. The median life expectancy for infants with SMA presenting before 6 months of age is less than 2 years without respiratory support. To date, there is no cure for SMA. In June 2017, nusinersen was approved in Canada as the first disease-modifying drug for SMA because of its demonstrated benefits on motor function and survival in clinical trials. However, with a price tag of almost 1 million dollars for the first year of therapy, careful clinical, treatment-based and ethical consideration of the principles of (i) best interests; (ii) universality; (iii) portability; (iv) public administration; (v) accessibility; and (vi) comprehensiveness are important guideposts to ensure transparent and equitable allocation of health-care resources for nusinersen and all other future orphan drugs.

Motor milestone assessment of infants with spinal muscular atrophy using the hammersmith infant neurological Exam-Part 2: Experience from a nusinersen clinical study.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we examined the feasibility of assessing motor milestone performance of infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) using the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Exam-Part 2 (HINE-2) in a phase 2 study of nusinersen. METHODS: Nineteen SMA infants were assessed using the HINE-2 at baseline (≤7 months of age), and periodically up to 39 months of age. We evaluated whether the HINE-2 was feasible, reliable, and sensitive to change. RESULTS: Motor milestone assessments in SMA infants were feasible using the HINE-2. Baseline test-retest reliability was excellent (R = 0.987; P < 0.0001). SMA infants were extremely low functioning at baseline and the HINE-2 was able to detect changes over time in 16 of 19 infants within all 8 domains. HINE-2 improvements were correlated with changes in other neuromuscular outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Results support the use of the HINE-2 motor milestone assessment in clinical trials of SMA infants. Muscle Nerve 57: 143-146, 2017.

Nusinersen / Nusinersen

INTRODUCCIÓN: La atrofia muscular espinal es una enfermedad neuromuscular hereditaria caracterizada por la afectación de las células del asta anterior de la médula espinal (neuronas motoras), que cursa con debilidad proximal simétrica y atrofia progresiva de los grupos musculares. Presenta una incidencia mundial descrita entre 1/6.000 y 1/10.000 nacimientos y una tasa de portadores entre 1/35 y 1/50. Es un trastorno autosómico recesivo causado por la alteración (ausencia o mutación) en el gen Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1), localizado en la región cromosómica 5q13. El locus AME está duplicado y en la parte más centromérica de este locus existe un gen homólogo conocido como Survival Motor Neuron 2 (SMN2). Mientras el gen SMN1 está siempre alterado en los pacientes y es considerado el determinante de la enfermedad, el gen SMN2 está siempre presente en número de 1 a 5 copias en los afectados. Cuantas más copias de SMN2 haya, en general será más benigno el fenotipo, por lo que se considera al gen SMN2 como un modificador fenotípico. El gen SMN1 produce aproximadamente el 100% de un transcripto y consecuentemente su proteína, que son completos y funcionantes. Mientras que el gen SMN2 genera un 50% de transcriptos que son completos y funcionantes, mientras el 50% restante no lo son. Esta disminución de la cantidad de proteína SMN en las neuronas motoras las hace más sensibles y proclives a su degeneración y muerte. La AME se clasifica en cuatro grupos sobre la base de la gravedad de los síntomas, la edad de aparición y la evolución. TECNOLOGÍA: Nusinersen (ISIS-SMNRx o ISIS 396443) es un oligonucleótido antisentido actualmente en etapa de investigación clínica para la AME. Es un probable agente modificador de la enfermedad que está diseñado para alterar el empalme de ARN mensajero del gen SMN2 y aumentar la cantidad de proteína SMN funcional producida, compensando así el defecto genético en el gen SMN1, la ausencia de proteína SMN protectora y la consecuente atrofia muscular. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la eficacia y seguridad de Nusinersen en AME tipo 1. COMENTARIOS FINALES: Nusinersen constituye una tecnología sanitaria emergente y experimental para el tratamiento de la AME. La evidencia científica disponible informa eficacia para el tratamiento medido según la escala de HFMSE. El estudio fase 1 publicado incluyó pacientes con AME tipo 2 y 3 pero no tipo 1. Los investigadores consideran que el aumento de 3 a 7 puntos en la escala en el 70% de los pacientes, es clínicamente relevante. El estudio NURTURE obtuvo resultados satisfactorios en pacientes AME tipo 1 en un análisis de datos intermedio, donde demostró un desarrollo motor más compatible con un niño sano. La dosis efectiva de tratamiento hasta ahora es de 9mg intratecal y con un efecto clínico y presencia en el LCR hasta 9 a 14 meses, post aplicación. No se describen eventos adversos de importancia. La información disponible proviene del laboratorio elaborador BIOGEN y IONIS. RECOMENDACIONES: El Nusinersen (SPINRAZANR) constituye un tratamiento experimental, destinado al uso compasivo, exclusivamente a los pocos pacientes con AME tipo 1, 2 ó 3. Debe controlarse su efectividad durante el tratamiento y la aparición de efectos adversos inmediatos y de largo plazo, antes de decidir una nueva aplicación. No se encontró ningún agente terapéutico aprobado en las agencias más importantes, para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad.(AU)