Purpose: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are an indispensable lipid-lowering treatment option, but their cost-effectiveness has been questioned. This study aimed to perform a health economic evaluation of evolocumab versus placebo in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in China.
Methods: A Markov cohort state-transition model was developed in decision analysis software to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), defined as cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) saved. The simulation subjects could undergo non-fatal MI and/or stroke, or vascular or non-vascular death event. We integrated the Chinese population-specific demographics and event rates with the risk reduction of evolocumab based on the FOURIER trial and/or lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Age-related change, event costs and utilities were included from published sources.
Results: At its current list price [33,748 Chinese yuan (CNY) annually per person], the ICER for evolocumab therapy was 927,713 CNY per QALY gained when integrating the FOURIER trial with absolute reduction of LDL-C. The probability of cost-effectiveness of evolocumab versus placebo was 1.96%, with a generally accepted threshold of 212,676 CNY per QALY gained. A reduction in acquisition price by approximately 70% (to less than 10,255 CNY annually) was needed to be cost-effective. Alternative scenario analyses of therapeutic benefit showed that the ICER for evolocumab in MI patients with uncontrolled familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) was 187,736 CNY per QALY gained.
Conclusion: Evolocumab in patients with MI was not cost-effective based on the price in 2019 in China; however, treatment with evolocumab was more favorable in MI patients with FH.
Keywords: Cost-effectiveness; Myocardial infarction; PCSK9 inhibitors; Secondary prevention.