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

Lanting Lu (), Hilary Pearce, Chris Roome, James Shearer, Iain A. Lang and Ken Stein
Additional contact information
Lanting Lu: University of Exeter
Hilary Pearce: NHS Devon
Chris Roome: NHS Devon
James Shearer: University of Exeter
Iain A. Lang: University of Exeter
Ken Stein: University of Exeter

PharmacoEconomics, 2012, vol. 30, issue 12, No 6, 1157-1171

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis; Botulinum Toxin; Baclofen; Numerical Rating Scale; Botulinum Toxin Injection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.2165/11598470-000000000-00000 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:pharme:v:30:y:2012:i:12:d:10.2165_11598470-000000000-00000

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/40273

DOI: 10.2165/11598470-000000000-00000

Access Statistics for this article

PharmacoEconomics is currently edited by Timothy Wrightson and Christopher I. Carswell

More articles in PharmacoEconomics from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().