A cost-effectiveness analysis of calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate aerosol foam versus gel for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis.

<bold>Background: </bold>Calcipotriol 50 µg/g and betamethasone 0.5 mg/g dipropionate (Cal/BD) aerosol foam formulation provides greater effectiveness and improved patient preference compared with traditional Cal/BD formulations for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis.<bold>Objective: </bold>To determine the cost-effectiveness of Cal/BD foam compared with Cal/BD gel from the Australian perspective.<bold>Methods: </bold>A Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of topical Cal/BD foam and gel for the treatment of people with plaque psoriasis. Treatment effectiveness, safety, and utilities were based on a randomized control trial, resource use was informed by expert opinion, and unit costs were obtained from public sources. Outcomes were reported in terms of 1-year costs, quality-adjusted life years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. All costs were reported in 2017 Australian Dollars.<bold>Results: </bold>The model showed that patients using Cal/BD foam had more QALYs and higher costs over 1 year compared with patients using Cal/BD gel, resulting in a cost of $13,609 per QALY gained at 4-weeks. When 4 weeks of Cal/BD foam was compared with 8 weeks of Cal/BD gel treatment, Cal/BD foam was $8 less expensive and resulted in 0.006 more QALYs gained. Sensitivity analyses showed that, compared with Cal/BD ointment, Cal/BD foam was associated with an incremental cost of $15,091 per QALY gained.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Cal/BD foam is the most cost-effective Cal/BD formulation for the topical treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]