Cost-effectiveness of once-daily treatment with calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate followed by calcipotriol alone compared with tacalcitol in the treatment of Psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND Daivobet is a once-daily treatment of psoriasis vulgaris containing betamethasone dipropionate and calcipotriol in a new ointment vehicle. OBJECTIVE To assess the cost-effectiveness of once-daily treatment with Daivobet (4 weeks) followed by calcipotriol (4 weeks) compared to tacalcitol (8 weeks). METHODS Resource utilization was assessed within a double-blind 8-week clinical trial (all treatments for psoriasis, adverse events and concomitant dermatological medication), estimated from the French societal perspective. RESULTS Total direct medical costs for psoriasis were comparable (Daivobet: EUR 107.53 and tacalcitol EUR 113.50) despite a higher acquisition cost for Daivobet. The probability of > or =75% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (effectiveness criterion) was 46.6% with Daivobet and 13.9% with tacalcitol at 4 weeks, and 44.6 and 23.8%, respectively, at 8 weeks (both: p < 0.001). Over 8 weeks, Daivobet was almost twice as cost-effective as tacalcitol (EUR 241.22 per successful treatment vs. EUR 476.70); this result was robust to sensitivity assumptions. CONCLUSION Daivobet is more effective and less costly than tacalcitol for treating psoriasis.