Cost-effectiveness of Biologic Response Modifiers Compared to Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs for Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations

Biologic response modifiers (biologics) have a greater potential to slow the course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but cost more than disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). We systematically reviewed the literature to determine the cost-effectiveness of biologics compared to DMARDs for RA in adults.

The cost-effectiveness of biologics for the treatment of RA has not been widely demonstrated at the commonly cited CAD 50,000/QALY threshold; but there is evidence for cost-effectiveness at the CAD 100,000/QALY threshold. Economic evaluations of biologics are limited by lack of long-term response data in patients taking biologics and other important gaps in the literature.