Economic evaluation of a recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (follitropin beta, Puregon (R)) in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilisation in Greece

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the cost effectivene ss of follitropin beta (Puregon(R); NV Organon) and urofollitropin (Metrodi n HP(R); Ares-Serono) in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (INF) trea tment in Greece. Design: A Markov model was designed using clinical data from a large metaan alysis of IVF treatment and expert opinion on IVF patterns in Greece. The m odel was based on women going through the process for a maximum of three st imulation cycles. The study was conducted from a societal perspective and r esource utilisation [direct medical costs in 1999 Greek Drachmae (Dr), $US1 = Dr310] was quantified retrospectively using information gained from the clinical trials and expert opinion. The overall treatment costs, cost effec tiveness and incremental cost effectiveness of the two treatments were dete rmined. Sensitivity analysis was performed on critical variables. Results: Total direct costs per woman undergoing IVF treatment were higher for follitropin beta than urofollitropin [Dr2 070 359 vs Dr1 711 410 ($US66 79 vs $US5734)], reflecting the higher acquisition cost of the former. Howe ver, the cost per ongoing pregnancy for follitropin beta was lower than tha t for urofollitropin [Dr3 373 536 vs Dr3 585 812 ($US10 882 vs $US11 567)]. The additional cost for one extra ongoing pregnancy with follitropin beta in comparison with urofollitropin was Dr2 630 948 ($US8487). Sensitivity an alysis showed that these results were robust to variations in critical para meters. Conclusions: In women undergoing IVF treatment, follitropin beta is more co st effective than urofollitropin in the Greek healthcare setting.