WP 20. Economic evaluation of treatment

This area of work will be lead by Partner 1 (KI) with input from Partner 3 (Berlin), Partner 10 (Zurich), and Partner 14 (Manchester)

The work will focus on two types of activities during the first 18 months: First, models for estimation of cost-effectiveness of therapies against RA will be further developed and validated in well defined clinical materials, where comprehensive data on direct and indirect costs as well as costs for treatment are available together with extensive clinical data. Using these data sources, the systems for modelling long term cost-effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in RA will be refined.

Second these models will be applied to several of the long-term data-bases of longitudinally followed patients that are available within the consortium. These longitudinally followed patients will include patients treated with currently available biologics (mainly TNF-blocking agents) as well as patients treated with conventional DMARD:s. Within the first 18 months, we should have access to data from existing data-bases using the new modelling systems.

For the remaining time of the 5 years of project time, we plan to establish longitudinal data-bases for all new therapies (combinations of existing therapies as well as novel therapies). The cost-effectiveness of these therapies will be continuously evaluated with the help of the methodologies described herein.