Capturing Value Attributes in the Economic Evaluation of Ceftazidime with Avibactam for Treating Severe Aerobic Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance remains a serious and growing threat to public health, both globally and in the UK, leading to diminishing effectiveness of antimicrobials. Despite a clear need for new antimicrobials, the clinical pipeline is insufficient, driven by high research and development costs and limited expected returns on investment. To counteract this, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and National Health Service (NHS) England have launched a reimbursement mechanism, de-linked from volume of sales, that aims to reduce economic risk by recognising the broader population-level value of antimicrobials. The objective of this study was to quantify the value of ceftazidime–avibactam for treating gram-negative infections in the UK considering some of these broader value elements unique to antimicrobials. Methods: A previously developed dynamic disease transmission and cost-effectiveness model was applied to assess the value of introducing ceftazidime-avibactam to UK treatment practice in the management of gram-negative hospital-acquired infections in line with the licenced indications for ceftazidime–avibactam. Model inputs were parameterised using sources aligned to the UK perspective. Results: The introduction of ceftazidime–avibactam into a two-line treatment sequence saved over 2300 lives, leading to a gain of 27,600 life years and 22,000 quality-adjusted life years (QALY) at an additional cost of £17 million, over a ten-year transmission period. Ceftazidime–avibactam was associated with a net monetary benefit of £642 million at willingness to pay threshold of £30,000 per QALY; even at a lower threshold of £20,000 per QALY, the net monetary benefit is £422 million. Discussion: Increasing the diversity of antimicrobial treatments through the introduction of an additional antimicrobial, in this instance ceftazidime–avibactam, was associated with substantial clinical and economic benefits, when considering broader population-level value. Despite revealing considerable benefits, the value of ceftazidime–avibactam is only partially reflected in this analysis. Further efforts are required to fully operationalise the spectrum, transmission, enablement, diversity and insurance (STEDI) value framework and accurately reflect the population-level value of antimicrobials.