Abstract

Background:The irreversible ErbB family blocker afatinib and the reversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib were compared in the multicenter, international, randomized, head-to-head phase 2b LUX-Lung 7 trial (LL7) for first-line treatment of advanced EGFR mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (EGFRm+ NSCLC). We aimed to assess the cost and health outcomes of afatinib and gefitinib in this setting.

Method:A partitioned survival model was designed to assess the cost-effectiveness of afatinib versus geftinib in the French context for EGFRm+ NSCLC.Outcomes and safety are taken primarily from the head-to-head LL7 trial. Only direct medical costs were considered. Resources use and utilities were derived from the trial, expert panel and published literature. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were calculated in the common EGFR population and also, in the sub-groups with EGFR Exon 19 deletion (del 19) and EGFR Exon 21 L858R (L858R) mutation over a 10 year-time horizon. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results: For common EGFR+ NSCLC, the ICER of afatinib versus gefitinib was €45,211 per QALY (with a gain of 0.170 QALYs, and an incremental cost of €7,697). The ICERs for del 19 and L858R populations were €38,970 and €52,518 respectively. Afatinib had a probability of 100% to be cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of €70,000 for patients with common EGFR mutation, and also in the del 19 and L858R subgroups.

Conclusion: Afatinib is a cost-effective treatment compared to geftinib in patients with EGFRm+ NSCLC with an ICER varying between €38,970/QALYs and €52,518/QALYS.