Pharmacoeconomic analysis as a tool for more objective insight into the idea of introducing new radiopharmaceuticals

Kolevska, Katerina and Atanasova, Marija and Cocevska, Maja and Velickovska, Maja and Jolevski, Filip and Janevik-Ivanovska, Emilija and Petrova, Guenka and Ugrinska, Ana and Angelovska, Bistra (2024) Pharmacoeconomic analysis as a tool for more objective insight into the idea of introducing new radiopharmaceuticals. In: 21st European Symposium on Radiopharmacy & Radiopharmaceuticals, 18-21 Apr 2024, Coimbra, Portugal. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Background

As part of the feasibility study for establishing the production of radioisotope zirconium-89 and 89Zr-radiopharmaceuticals, an economic analysis was performed. (1) The economic feasibility assessment included financial and pharmacoeconomic analysis. The financial analysis aimed to estimate the costs of in-house production of zirconium-89 radioisotope and 89Zr-radiopharmaceuticals at the University Institute for Positron Emission Tomography (UI PET), and compare the costs of radioisotope production with the costs of purchasing a readymade product. The pharmacoeconomic analysis aimed to assess the cost-benefit ratio of testing patients with breast cancer with 89Zr-trastuzumab PET/CT instead of biopsy.

Materials and methods

First, the production process was simulated based on literature data. A cost analysis was performed to calculate the cost of in-house production of zirconium-89 radioisotope and 89Zr-trastuzumab radiopharmaceutical. A cost-benefit analysis was applied to assess the cost-benefit ratio of either testing patients with 89Zr-trastuzumab PET/CT or biopsy as the comparison alternatives. Sources of the unit costs were obtained during an intentional marketing analysis, institute data review and analysis of the National Health Insurance Fund tariff costs.

Results

The cost analysis has demonstrated that the cost of an in-house prepared radioisotope is lower compared to the cost of a purchased radioisotope, thus the in-house production of zirconium-89 radioisotope is more profitable than its purchase. In terms of 89Zr-trastuzumab, the cost analysis estimated approximately the cost of producing this radiopharmaceutical in three cases: production for 4, 7 and 10 patients. Net benefits by using the 89Zr-trastuzumab are higher than using biopsy. The cost-benefit ratio assessed by cost-benefit analysis differs in the three analysed cases, and it is 3.8, 2.4 and 1.84 for radiopharmaceutical production for 4, 7 and 10 patients respectively.

Conclusions

Pharmacoeconomic analysis results, as part of a feasibility study for establishing radioisotope production, are not single determinants for the overall feasibility estimation, but also the results of other analyses should be considered. Aspects that should be taken into account when establishing the production of new radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals are the production technology that will be used, the unique characteristics of a given radioisotope, as well as the number of planned patients per production, which would optimize the use of production capacities.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)
Subjects:	Medical and Health Sciences > Other medical sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Medical Science
Depositing User:	Maja Cocevska
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2024 09:07
Last Modified:	28 Jun 2024 09:07
URI:	https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/34358

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