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Cost Effectiveness of Oromucosal Cannabis-Based Medicine (Sativex®) for Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis

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An Erratum to this article was published on 24 April 2015

Abstract

Background

Spasticity is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is a major contributor to disability. Sativex®, an oromucosal spray containing cannabis-based medicinal products, has been found to be effective in reducing spasticity symptoms.

Objective

Our objective was to estimate the cost effectiveness of Sativex® plus oral anti-spasticity medicines compared with the current standard treatment for moderate or severe spasticity in MS in the UK.

Methods

A Markov model was used to assess the costs and benefits of Sativex® plus oral anti-spasticity medicines or current standard treatment based on their effects on the quality of life of patients. The main outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in terms of costs per additional QALY gained over 5 years of treatment. One-way, multi-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the impact of uncertainties on the findings.

Results

In the base case, Sativex® plus oral anti-spasticity medicines resulted in incremental costs of d7600 and a QALY gain of 0.15 per person over 5 years (ICER = £49 300 per QALY) [year 2009 data for costs]. Findings were sensitive to the costs of Sativex® (price and dose) and differences in utilities between responders and non-responders.

Conclusions

Using a willingness-to-pay threshold of £30 000 per QALY, Sativex® appears unlikely to be considered cost effective by UK funders of healthcare for spasticity in MS. This is unfortunate, since it appears that Sativex® use is likely to benefit some patients in the management of this common consequence of MS.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) through the Peninsula Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (PenCLAHRC), which is based at the University of Exeter.

This article presents independent research and the views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

LL designed and implemented the model with advice from KS, HP, CR, JS and IL. LL drafted the first and final versions of the manuscript and led the submission and revision process. All authors contributed to the drafting and approval of the final manuscript. KS acts as the guarantor for the overall content.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    Lanting Lu & Ken Stein

  2. Peninsula Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (PenCLAHRC), Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    Lanting Lu, Iain A. Lang & Ken Stein

  3. Public Health Directorate, NHS Devon, Exeter, UK

    Hilary Pearce, Chris Roome & Iain A. Lang

  4. Health Economics Group, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    James Shearer

  5. Peninsula Technology Assessment Group (PenTAG), University of Exeter, Veysey Building, Salmon Pool Lane, Exeter, EX2 4SG, UK

    Lanting Lu

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  1. Lanting Lu
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  2. Hilary Pearce
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  3. Chris Roome
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  4. James Shearer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lanting Lu.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40273-015-0262-2.

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Lu, L., Pearce, H., Roome, C. et al. Cost Effectiveness of Oromucosal Cannabis-Based Medicine (Sativex®) for Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis. PharmacoEconomics 30, 1157–1171 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2165/11598470-000000000-00000

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