Vaborem may be cost effective for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections in the UK

Abstract

A study published in the European Journal of Health Economics found that vaborem appears to be a cost-effective option for treating adults with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (CREKPC) infections from the UK National Health Service (NHS) and Personal Social Services (PSS) perspective*. The researchers constructed a decision-tree model to compare vaborem with best-available treatment (BAT) in adults with CRE-KPC over a 5 year time horizon. Model inputs were taken from the TANGO II trial and other published literature. Costs (2020 values)**, resource use and utilities were estimated from the British National Formulary, NHS reference costs and published sources. An annual discount rate of 3.5% was applied to future costs and benefits. Vaborem resulted in incremental costs of £5165 and increased quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) by 0.366, yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £14 113 per QALY. The probability of discharge to long-term care (LTC), annual costs of LTC, and the utility of discharge to home had the greatest effects on the results. At willingness-topay thresholds of £20 000 and £30 000 per QALY, the probability of vaborem being cost effective versus BAT was 79.85% and 94.93%, respectively.