Cost-effectiveness analysis of TNF-a blockers for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis in the perspective of the Italian health-care system Simona de Portu*, Micol Del Giglio†, Gianfranco Altomare‡, Fabio Arcangeli§, Enzo Berardesca¶, Piergiacomo Calzavara Pinton**, Torello Lotti††, Patrizia Martini‡‡, Andrea Peserico§§, Marco Simonacci¶¶, Gino A. Vena*** & Giampiero Girolomoni† *CIRFF, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Naples, Federico II, †Department of Dermatology, University of Verona, ‡Department of Dermatology, University of Milan, §Division of Dermatology, Cesena Hospital, ¶Istituto Dermatologico S. Maria e S. Gallicano, Rome, **Department of Dermatology, University of Brescia, ††Department of Dermatology, University of Florence, ‡‡Division of Dermatology, Lucca Hospital, §§Department of Dermatology, University of Padua, ¶¶Division of Dermatology, Macerata Hospital, and ***Department of Dermatology, University of Bari, Italy ABSTRACT: The cost-effectiveness of biological treatments for psoriasis is not well determined and may vary from country to country. The objectives of this study was to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of infliximab compared with other anti-tumor necrosis factor-a agents for the treatment of psoriasis in Italy. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per patients achieving at least 75% improve- ment in the psoriasis area and severity index assessed over 24- and 48–50-week periods was calculated. Efficacy data were drawn from randomized controlled trials when available or from open label studies. Considering patients achieving psoriasis area and severity index at week 24 and 48–50, infliximab was dominant (more effective and less costly) over etanercept given at 50mg twice weekly. In contrast, infliximab was not dominant over etanercept at other dosages or over adalimumab. When considering the impact of therapy on quality of life at Week 12 using the Dermatology Life Quality Index equal to zero, infliximab resulted more effective and less costly than etanercept.Therefore, infliximab seems to be cost-effective in the therapy of psoriasis. Further cost-efficacy evaluations based on head-to-head trials are necessary to address health economic considerations. KEYWORDS: adalimumab, biologics, cost, cost-effectiveness, etanercept, infliximab, psoriasis Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Giampiero Girolomoni, Professor, Division of Dermatology andVenereology, Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, University ofVerona. Piazzale A. Stefani 1, 37126Verona, Italy, or email: giampiero.girolomoni@univr.it. S7 Dermatologic Therapy, Vol. 23, 2010, S7–S13 Printed in the United States · All rights reserved © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY ISSN 1396-0296