Aim
The cost–effectiveness of treatment sequences in BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma.
Materials & methods
A discrete event simulation model was developed to estimate total costs and health outcomes over a patient’s lifetime (30 years). Efficacy was based on the CheckMate 067/069 trials and a matching-adjusted-indirect comparison between immuno-oncology and targeted therapies. Safety, cost (in US dollars; US third-party payer perspective) and health-related quality-of-life inputs were based on published literature.
Results
Estimated survival gain was higher for sequences initiating with anti-PD-1+ anti-CTLA-4 than for anti-PD-1 monotherapy or BRAF+ MEK inhibitors. The incremental cost–effectiveness ratio per QALY gained for first-line anti-PD-1+ anti-CTLA-4 was US 54,273versusfirst-lineanti-PD-1and 79,124 versus first-line BRAF+ MEK inhibitors.
Conclusion
Initiating treatment with anti-PD-1+ anti-CTLA-4 was more cost–effective than initiation with anti-PD-1 monotherapy or BRAF+ MEK inhibitors.