Squaring up the health economics of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’
Seminal data from population genetics have presaged the development of several novel lipid-regulating drugs and the prospect of more effectively addressing high residual risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients receiving secondary prevention therapies [1]. The most impressive development is...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
2018
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68873 |
| _version_ | 1848761911146971136 |
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| author | Watts, G. Norman, Richard |
| author_facet | Watts, G. Norman, Richard |
| author_sort | Watts, G. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Seminal data from population genetics have presaged the development of several novel lipid-regulating drugs and the prospect of more effectively addressing high residual risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients receiving secondary prevention therapies [1]. The most impressive development is the identification of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a regulator of the intracellular cycling of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, as a target for lowering LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) [2]. This journey most recently entered the phase of large scale CV outcome trials [2]. The most widely tested method for inhibiting PCSK9 entails the use of humanized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) [2]. However, their high acquisition costs and budgeting impact on healthcare are concerning [3].
In this issue, Kumar et al. report an economic evaluation of PCSK9 inhibitors in Australia [4]. The secondary prevention population relates to the FOURIER trial [5]. Relative to placebo, they estimated an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), reporting the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) being higher than $300,000 [4]. The authors concluded that a significant reduction in cost is required to reach the point at which PCSK9 inhibitors can be recommended as cost-effective, an appropriate conclusion. There are a number of considerations, both clinical and economic, pointing to future research for demonstrating cost-effectiveness in specific populations. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:39:11Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-68873 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:39:11Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Elsevier Ireland Ltd. |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-688732021-01-05T08:07:07Z Squaring up the health economics of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’ Watts, G. Norman, Richard Seminal data from population genetics have presaged the development of several novel lipid-regulating drugs and the prospect of more effectively addressing high residual risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients receiving secondary prevention therapies [1]. The most impressive development is the identification of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a regulator of the intracellular cycling of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, as a target for lowering LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) [2]. This journey most recently entered the phase of large scale CV outcome trials [2]. The most widely tested method for inhibiting PCSK9 entails the use of humanized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) [2]. However, their high acquisition costs and budgeting impact on healthcare are concerning [3]. In this issue, Kumar et al. report an economic evaluation of PCSK9 inhibitors in Australia [4]. The secondary prevention population relates to the FOURIER trial [5]. Relative to placebo, they estimated an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), reporting the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) being higher than $300,000 [4]. The authors concluded that a significant reduction in cost is required to reach the point at which PCSK9 inhibitors can be recommended as cost-effective, an appropriate conclusion. There are a number of considerations, both clinical and economic, pointing to future research for demonstrating cost-effectiveness in specific populations. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68873 10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.06.003 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Elsevier Ireland Ltd. fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Watts, G. Norman, Richard Squaring up the health economics of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’ |
| title | Squaring up the health economics of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’ |
| title_full | Squaring up the health economics of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’ |
| title_fullStr | Squaring up the health economics of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’ |
| title_full_unstemmed | Squaring up the health economics of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’ |
| title_short | Squaring up the health economics of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’ |
| title_sort | squaring up the health economics of pcsk9 monoclonal antibodies ‘down under’ |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/68873 |