Pharmacoeconomics of factor dosing in the haemophilia population

Abstract

Treatment of haemophilia is extremely costly due to the short biological half-life of infused factor and pricing issues. This paper examines the impact of different dosing schedules on factor consumption, via a review of literature on dosing regimens used for prophylaxis with a focus on pharmacokinetics (PK). Pharmacokinetics were found to have an importantrole for pharmacoeconomics in factor dosing both for assessment of the treatment and for developing new treatment protocols but the clinical response to treatment must always guide the dosing schedule. In order to better understand pharmacoeconomics during prophylaxis, controlled prospective studies are needed but much can also be learned from studies of existing cohorts that have been treated for decades. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.