Cost–utility of nelarabine for the first-line treatment of newly diagnosed pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Canada

Abstract

Background

The Children's Oncology Group (COG)-AALL0434 trial investigated the addition of nelarabine to the augmented Berlin–Frankfurt–Münster (aBFM) protocol in patients (1.0–30.99 years) with newly diagnosed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Despite demonstrating superior outcomes, nelarabine is not currently funded by many health systems, in part due to a lack of cost-effectiveness data. We estimated the cost–utility of nelarabine for this indication from a Canadian public healthcare payer perspective.

Methods

We developed a microsimulation model that followed hypothetical patients with newly diagnosed T-ALL from post-induction therapy to death. Three health states were modeled: relapse-free, post-relapse, and death. Efficacy was estimated using AALL0434 and retrospective data from Ontario, Canada. Costs were obtained from Canadian sources. Utility estimates and long-term mortality risks were sourced from literature. Total healthcare costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were reported. Probabilistic and scenario analyses were conducted.

Results

Incorporating nelarabine in the aBFM protocol increased costs by $51,670 Canadian dollars per patient, but resulted in 1.97 more QALYs and an ICER of $26,184/QALY. Most of the identified cost and benefit were accrued within the AALL0434 trial period (first 11 years post diagnosis) and while patients were in the relapse-free health state. Across multiple scenarios, the ICER was stable under an assumed $50,000/QALY threshold.

Conclusion

Incorporating nelarabine into aBFM was cost-effective across different scenarios and assumptions. These results support its funding by public and private payers.