Abstract
Cladribine tablets are the first short-course oral treatment approved for high disease activity relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (HDA-RRMS) across various countries. This analysis assessed the cost-effectiveness of introducing cladribine tablets as a treatment option for patients with high disease activity compared with other HDA-RRMS therapies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
The cost-effectiveness model was adapted from the KSA payer’s perspective. Data for the model’s adaptation were retrieved from the literature and validated by key opinion leaders. The comparators considered in the model were alemtuzumab, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, interferon beta-1a (subcutaneous and intramuscular) and beta-1b, natalizumab, and teriflunomide. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to assess the robustness of the analysis.
The cost-effectiveness results showed cladribine tablets as the dominant strategy (ie, less costly and more effective) versus all the comparators. The incremental cost and quality-adjusted life-years gained were largely driven by drug acquisition cost and delayed expanded disability status scale progression, respectively. Cladribine tablets showed an 81% to 100% probability of being cost-effective at a threshold of Saudi Riyal 225 326 per quality-adjusted life-years gained against different comparators.
Cladribine tablets are a dominant treatment option for patients with HDA-RRMS from the payer perspective in the KSA.
•Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common debilitating autoimmune neurological disorders among young adults. Among MS, about 85% of patients present with relapsing-remitting MS, and among this group, patients with frequent relapses are termed as “high disease activity” patients.•Cladribine tablets, hypothesized to act as an immune reconstitution therapy, are a cost-effective treatment option for patients with high disease activity compared with other disease-modifying therapies from the payer perspective in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.