Pharmacoeconomic model to evaluate new influenza treatments

Zanamivir acid oseltamivir are two agents of a new class of drugs-neuramini dase inhibitors-to receive FDA approval for the treatment of influenza. Bec ause the two agents are more expensive yet have a more favorable side effec t profile than the older treatments amantadine and rimantidine, coverage de cisions can be difficult to make. This month's column presents a decision-a nalytic model of influenza treatments, using zanamivir as the main example. This approach is helpful for health care systems that wish to assess clini cal and economic outcomes to make informed decisions between competing prod ucts.