The price tag of a potential cure for chronic hepatitis B infection: A cost threshold analysis for USA, China and Australia

• DOI: 10.1111/liv.15027
• Publication Date: 2021-07-30T14:34:27Z
• Authors: Mehlika Toy; David Hutton; Karen McCulloch; Nicole Romero; Peter A. Revill; M‐Capucine Penicaud; Samuel So; Benjamin C. Cowie
• Keywords: Pill; Hepatitis B; Cure rate

We aim to capture the economic impact of a potential cure for chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) in three countries (USA, China and Australia) with different health systems epidemics estimate threshold drug prices below which CHB would be cost-saving and/or highly cost-effective.We simulated patients' progression, under scenarios: current long-term suppressive antiviral therapy, functional defined as sustained undetectable HBsAg HBV DNA, partial DNA only after finite, 48-week treatment.Compared 30% effective among patients without cirrhosis USA, Australia yield 17.50, 17.32 20.42 QALYs per patient, 20.61, 20.62 patient respectively. In financial terms, cirrhosis, this at one-time treatment cost US$11 944 US$6694, respectively, US$1744 US$1001 China, US$12 063 US$10 983 Australia.We show that purely will cost-effective even if treated patients. The price is largely determined by costs, since it replace daily pill inexpensive effective, although not curative. likely need combination therapies achieve also present challenges. While cost-effectiveness important, cannot consideration, provide many benefits addition reduced liver disease HCC, including eliminating reducing stigma often associated viral infection.