Cost-Effectiveness Study Supports Use of EUFLEXXA(TM) by Rheumatologists for Pain Relief in Patients with Knee Oste...( Ferring Pharmaceuticals Presents Stu...),Health

Ferring Pharmaceuticals Presents Study at the Annual Scientific Meeting of

the American College of Rheumatology

BOSTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Ferring Pharmaceuticals presented the results of a cost-utility study supporting the adoption of EUFLEXXA(TM) (1% sodium hyaluronate) intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) for the relief of pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee at the American College of Rheumatology's Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, MA, November 6-11.

Using data from a larger trial, the study demonstrated that an intra- articular treatment course of HA (EUFLEXXA(TM)) for knee OA, as compared with non-HA therapy, provides a cost-utility benefit that supports adopting this technology. The data also show that wider adoption of this technology would result in greater financial savings to the health care system. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common diseases seen in the rheumatologist's office, costing the health care system nearly $100 billion per year. (1)

"While the use of intra-articular HA is increasing, little has been published about its cost-effectiveness," said Erol Onel, MD, Director of Medical Affairs at Ferring. "This study is important because it not only presents rheumatologists with significant analysis regarding the cost-benefit of using this treatment, but it also demonstrates a potentially significant savings to our overall health care system." More information regarding the cost-effectiveness of various OA treatment therapies is available in the Ferring-sponsored OA Trends in Managed Care Report.

About the Study

The study of 160 patients with knee OA compared costs and the extension of quality-adjusted life years (QALY) in patients using hyaluronic acid (HA) with those using a non-HA treatment for this condition. Patients were randomized either to receive three 2 ml injections of EUFLEXXA(TM) or to be in a control group maintained on their prior non-HA therapy. Pati
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