[Pharmacoeconomic evaluation for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To conduct pharmacoeconomic evaluations for the two therapies of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: An expert survey was conducted on the cost and effectiveness of two RA therapies of methotrexate (MTX) alone and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II:IgG Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR:Fc) plus MTX, followed by simulation estimates, and cost-effectiveness analysis on the basis of pharmacoeconomic Markov model.

Results: MTX alone and rhTNFR:Fc plus MTX cost RMB 1422 Yuan and RMB13 000 Yuan respectively per treatment cycle (3 months). Five-year Markov model showed that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of rhTNFR:Fc plus MTX was RMB 99 662 Yuan per QALY when compared with MTX alone. And it was lower than the threshold of willingness to pay.

Conclusion: The patients with RA on the combined treatment of rhTNFR:Fc and MTX may have potential long-run economic advantage over those on the treatment of MTX alone.