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Investigators at University of Liverpool publish new data on HIV/AIDS
November 26th, 2007
2007 NOV 26 -- In this recently published study, investigators in Liverpool, the United Kingdom conducted a study "To predict the effects of a new anti-retroviral agent on the costs of care in a US HIV care setting Recent data on costs of patient care by CD4 count from 2 US cohorts (the HIV Research Network cohort and patients receiving primary care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham HIV clinic) were combined with CD4 count data from the POWER trials of the protease inhibitor darunavir. Patients in the POWER trials received either darunavir plus low-dose ritonavir (darunavir/r) or selected control protease inhibitors." "The effects of rising, CD4 counts with darunavir/r 600/100 mg twice daily on healthcare costs were predicted by using the US cohort data and published US antiretroviral drug prices In the POWER trials, the overall cost of antiretroviral treatment including darunavir/r on was $427 (1.4%) higher than that of combination, treatment including control protease inhibitors. However, this increase may be offset by lower predicted costs of HIV care, leading to predicted net savings in overall costs of HIV treatment and care of $3613 per person-year based on data from the HIV Research Network cohort and $2836 per person-year based on data from the University of Alabama cohort. The prediction of cost savings is limited to the 12-month duration of the trial By raising the CD4 count, new anti-retrovirals could lower healthcare costs for HIV-infected people," wrote A. Hill and colleagues, University of Liverpool. The researchers concluded: "This type of analysis could be used for other antiretrovirals, for a short-term assessment of overall budget impact." Hill and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Managed Care (Predicting HIV care costs using CD4 counts from clinical trials. American Journal of Managed Care, 2007;13(9):524-528). For additional information, contact A. Hill, University of Liverpool, Pharmacology Research Laboratories, Dept. of Pharmacology, 70 Pembroke Pl, Liverpool L69 3GF, Merseyside, UK. The publisher of the American Journal of Managed Care can be contacted at: American Med Publishing, M W C Company, 241 Forsgate Dr., Ste. 102, Jamesburg, NJ 08831, USA. Keywords: United Kingdom, Liverpool, HIV/AIDS, AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Protease Inhibitor, Virology, University of Liverpool. This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, AIDS Weekly via NewsRx.com.
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