To the Editor—In their recent article, Hall et al [1] report on their study of the cost-effectiveness of universal adult immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) with either a 2-dose or 3-dose vaccine. While we commend the authors for drawing attention to this important issue, we have some concerns about their analysis. Link to PubMed
Mendes D, Averin A, Atwood M, Sato R, Vyse A, Campling J, Weycker D, Slack M, Ellsbury G, Mugwagwa T. Cost-effectiveness of using a 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to directly protect adults in England at elevated risk of pneumococcal disease. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2022 Dec;22(8):1285-1295.
Objectives Despite the current pneumococcal vaccination program in England for older adults and adults with underlying conditions, disease burden remains high. We evaluated cost-effectiveness of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) compared to current pneumococcal recommendations for adults in England. Methods Lifetime outcomes/costs of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among adults aged 65–99 years
Mugwagwa T, Averin A, Atwood M, Sato R, Vyse A, Campling J, Weycker D, Slack M, Ellsbury G, Mendes D. Public health and budgetary impact of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for adults in England. Expert Rev Vaccines. 21(9):1331-1341.
Background Despite use of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) in England, disease burden among at-risk adults remains high. We evaluated the public health and budgetary impact of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) compared to the current adult pneumococcal vaccination program. Methods Five-year outcomes and costs of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among
Oster G, Bornheimer R, Ottino K, Stevenson C, Lewin C, Janssen R. Adult immunization against Hepatitis B: Does the number of jabs matter? Vaccine 2022;40(26):3597-604.
Background: At least one-half of adults beginning an immunization series with a three-dose hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine (ENGERIX-B, RECOMBIVAX-B) have been reported not to receive the third dose. Use of a two-dose vaccine may improve adherence and lead to greater overall levels of seroprotection. Objective: To examine expected levels of adherence and overall seroprotection at one
Shah N, Lipato T, Alvarez O, Delea TE, Lonshteyn A, Weycker D, Nguyen A, Beaubrun A, Agodoa Il Real-world effectiveness of voxelotor for treating sickle cell disease in the US: a large claims data analysis. Expert Rev Hematol 2022;15(2):167-73.
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disease that impacts patients’ quality of life, healthcare costs, and life expectancy. Elevated sickle hemoglobin (HbS), which readily polymerizes, causes red blood cell sickling, leading to chronic hemolytic anemia and complications often requiring hospitalization and transfusions. In 2019, voxelotor, which inhibits HbS polymerization, was approved for SCD treatment.
Jerusalem G, Delea TE, Martin M, et al. Quality-adjusted survival with Ribociclib plus Fulvestrant versus placebo plus Fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with HR±HER2- advanced breast cancer in the MONALEESA-3 trial. Clin Breast Cancer. 2022;22(4):326-35.
Background MONALEESA-3 demonstrated an overall survival (OS) benefit for ribociclib plus fulvestrant (R+F) in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2 negative advanced breast cancer (ABC). This study estimated quality-adjusted (QA) survival outcomes for patients receiving R+F vs. placebo (P)+F in MONALEESA-3. Methods Kaplan-Meier OS was partitioned into health states: (1) toxicity (TOX)=time spent with grade 3 –4 adverse events before progression
Lapidot R, Vietri J, Shaff M, Averin A, Lonshteyn A, Weycker D, Wasserman M, Farkouh R, Pelton S. Community-acquired pneumonia in infants: Not simply an acute event with complete recovery. Respir Med 2022;191:106671.
Background: Pneumonia in infancy has been linked to long-term consequences for the rapidly developing lung. We examined the impact of hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) on subsequent respiratory health. Methods: We conducted a retrospective matched-cohort study using the Optum® de-identified Electronic Health Record Dataset (2009-2018). Study population comprised healthy infants hospitalized for CAP (“CAP patients”), and matched comparators
Fasching P, Delea TE, Lu Y, De Boer R, Hurvitz S, Moynahan A, Chandiwana D, Lanoue B, Hu H, Thuerigen A, O’Shaughnessy J. Matching-adjusted indirect comparison of Ribociclib plus Fulvestrant versus Palbociclib plus Letrozole as first-line treatment of HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. Cancer Manag Res 2021;13:8179-89.
Purpose: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) plus endocrine therapy are recommended for first-line treatment of hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC). However, not all CDK4/6i trials have reported significant overall survival (OS) benefit, and there have been no head-to-head trials. Two trials have reported OS outcomes in first-line patients: MONALEESA-3
Eichten C, Ma Q, Delea TE, Hagiwara M, Ramos R, Iorga S, Zhang J, Maziarz R. Lifetime costs for treated follicular lymphoma patients in the US. Pharmacoeconomics 2021;39(10):1163-83.
Background and Objective The objective of this study was to estimate the lifetime costs of patients receiving treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL) in the United States. Methods A Markov model was programmed in hēRo3 with a 6-month cycle length, 35-year time horizon (lifetime projection), and health states for line of treatment, response, receipt of maintenance
Stellato D, Thabane M, Park J, Chandiwana D, Delea TE. Cost effectiveness of ribociclib in combination with fulvestrant for the treatment of postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer who have received no or only one prior line of endocrine therapy: A Canadian healthcare perspective. Pharmacoeconomics 2021 Sep;39(9):1045-58
Background: The MONALEESA-3 trial demonstrated the efficacy and safety of ribociclib plus fulvestrant versus placebo plus fulvestrant for patients with hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC). This analysis evaluated the cost effectiveness of ribociclib plus fulvestrant versus fulvestrant in patients with HR+/HER2- ABC from a Canadian healthcare payer
Royston M, Kielhorn A, Weycker D, Shaff M, Houde L, Tanvir I, Bhattacharyya S, Levy M. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: clinical burden and cost of relapses and disease-related care in US clinical practice. Neurol Ther 2021 ;10(2):767-83.
Introduction: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare autoimmune condition characterized by unpredictable relapses that affect the optic nerves and spinal cord, which can lead to blindness, paralysis, and increased mortality rates. Evidence on the clinical and economic burden of NMOSD in the USA is currently lacking. Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study was conducted using