Economic analysis of cerliponase alfa for treatment of late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2)

Cerliponase alfa is an orphan drug approved for the treatment of late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2). Our goal was to assess the cost-effectiveness of cerliponase alfa in patients with CLN2 in the socioeconomic context of the Republic of Serbia in contrast to symptomatic therapy. For this study, a forty-year horizon and the perspective of the Serbian Republic Health Insurance Fund were used. Quality-adjusted life years gained with cerliponase alfa and comparator, as well as direct treatment costs, were the study’s key outcomes. The creation and simulation of a discrete-event simulation model served as the basis for the investigation. Monte Carlo microsimulation was performed on a sample of 1000 virtual patients. When compared to symptomatic therapy, cerliponase alfa treatment was not cost-effective and was linked to negative net monetary benefit regardless of when the illness signs started. Cerliponase alfa is not more economical than symptomatic therapy for the treatment of CLN2 when using typical pharmacoeconomic analysis. Cerliponase alfa has been shown to be effective but more has to be done to make it accessible to all CLN2 patients.