Is it a chimera? A systematic review of the economic evaluations of CAR-T cell therapy - an update.

INTRODUCTION

The new class of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell has emboldened health-care professionals and patients for a more effective treatment of hematological malignancies, indicatively lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myeloma. Nevertheless, their burgeoning procurement costs comprise a litmus stress for health systems across the globe. In this context, this systematic review aims to update the current body of evidence assessing CAR-T economic evaluations and elucidate their financial efficiency.

AREAS COVERED

A systematic review of the economic evaluations of tisagenlecleucel, axicabtagene ciloleucel, idecabtagene vicleucel, lisocabtagene maraleucel, ciltacabtagene autoleucel and brexucabtagene autoleucel was performed.

EXPERT OPINION

The updated results corroborated the previously reported favorable cost-effectiveness ratio of CAR-T. They also pointed out differences among CAR-T agents. However, their budget impact emerges as a significant barrier in the reimbursement process. Any proposed Managed Entry Agreement must integrate the ingrained uncertainty of long-term efficacy and precede reimbursement decisions.