( utility andcost-effectiveness. The mod...)First Pharmacoeconomic Analysis with Long-Term Data Showed Copaxone,Was More Cost-Effective Than Interferon Beta Therapies for,Treatment of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS),Health

The analysis found that the total cost per patient over the time horizon of a patient's lifetime for COPAXONE(R) was estimated to be 34.7 percent, 16.8 percent and 14.5 percent less than Rebif(R), Betaseron(R) and Avonex(R), respectively. Sensitivity analyses showed the results to be sensitive to changes in health state utilities, the percentage reduction in disease progression rates as measured by EDSS in the first two years of therapy used to estimate immunomodulatory therapy treatment effects, model time horizon and immunomodulatory therapy acquisition costs.

The authors of this study note that limitations included reliance on clinical trial data, no inclusion of cost and utilities associated with adverse events, assumptions surrounding the discontinuation and switching of therapies and estimation of clinical outcomes, lack of sufficient head-to-head clinical trials and clinical trial relapse rate criteria associated with this analysis.

About MS

MS is a chronic neurodegenerative inflammatory disease of the central nervous system with an overall prevalence rate of approximately 400,000 people. The annual cost of MS (in 1994 $US) is estimated to be between $6.8 and $13.6 billion, composed largely of indirect costs for formal/informal care and lost earnings. Previous research finds that costs associated with MS rise at an exponential rate with increasing MS disability levels.

About COPAXONE(R)

Current data suggest COPAXONE(R) is a selective MHC class II modulator. COPAXONE(R) is indicated for the reduction of the frequency of relapses in RRMS. The most common side effects of COPAXONE(R) are redness, pain, swelling, itching, a lump or an indentation at the site of injection, weakness, infection, pain, nausea, joint pain, anxiety,
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