Study shows Pradaxa cost-effective vs. warfarin, aspirin

Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Ingelheim, Germany) said a Canadian cost-effectiveness analysis of the Phase III RE-LY trial showed that Pradaxa dabigatran is cost-effective for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in Canadian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) when compared to warfarin, aspirin or no treatment. Specifically, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for Pradaxa was C$10,440 ($10,641) per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained vs. warfarin administered under trial conditions. Furthermore, the ICER for Pradaxa was C$3,962 ($4,038) per QALY gained when compared to a "real-world" prescribing scenario consisting of warfarin, aspirin or no treatment. It is well accepted that the ICER of a therapy must remain below a threshold of C$30,000 per QALY gained to be considered acceptable in Canada. Pradaxa is a direct oral thrombin inhibitor. Data were published in Thrombosis and Haemostasis. ...