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Study data from University of Arizona update knowledge of hepatitis
December 10th, 2007
2007 DEC 10 -- According to recent research from the United States, "As a therapeutic class, vaccines are generally considered to be the health care intervention that provides the best value. In the pharmacoeconomic study of vaccines, it is common for researchers to conduct their analyses from a societal perspective, including direct medical costs as well as indirect costs." "To discuss the data elements of pharmacoeconomic analyses of vaccines and review recently published analyses of emerging vaccines. Myriad pharmacoeconomic analyses of vaccines currently in use have been conducted with varying results. A number of products, such as the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, and varicella vaccines, have been shown to be cost-effective from a societal perspective. Yet, other products, such as the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, have demonstrated less benefit than the cost of their respective vaccination programs. In general, these analyses can be used as a starting point to frame the benefits of specific vaccines in managed care with a balanced view of the necessary societal perspectives. To date, 6 pharmacoeconomic models have evaluated vaccination against human papillomavirus, with all demonstrating some cost benefit when the vaccine was used in female patients who fell within the indicated age range. In general, as a therapeutic class, vaccines are extremely cost-effective agents. In addition, they are one of the few public health interventions that may directly lower medical costs," wrote E.P. Armstrong and colleagues, University of Arizona. The researchers concluded: "In conducting pharmacoeconomic analyses for agents in this class, researchers must consider costs incurred at both the health system and societal levels, as well as cost savings realized through the prevention of disease." Armstrong and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy (Study data from University of Arizona update knowledge of hepatitis. Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy, 2007;13(7 Suppl. B):S12-S15). For additional information, contact E.P. Armstrong, University of Arizona, College Pharmacy, Drachman Hall, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. Publisher contact information for the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy is: Acad Managed Care Pharmacy, 100 N Pitt St., 400, Alexandria, VA 22314-3134, USA. Keywords: United States, Tucson, Biotechnology, Chickenpox, Diphtheria, Gastroenterology, HBV, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatology, Immunization, Infectious Disease, Managed Care, Pharmaceuticals, Pneumococcal, Tetanus, Therapy, Treatment, Vaccines, Virology, Whooping Cough, University of Arizona. This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.
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