Le conseguenze sulla spesa farmaceutica pubblica di un nuovo inibitore di pompa protonica: esomeprazolo

Abstract

Aim of the present study is to check the economic advantage of esomeprazole, a new proton pump inhibitor that suppresses gastric acid secretion. The efficacy and tolerability of esomeprazole have been already demonstrated, now the pharmacoeconomic studies must investigate the possible savings for the SSN in case of esomeprazole immission on the Italian market. In this paper the authors present two pharmacoeconomic evaluations, the first based on cost/efficacy analysis, the second based on cost minimization analysis. For both analyses, the term of comparison is omeprazole, “gold standard” in the treatment of acid reflux-related pathologies. The effect in terms of volumes (DDD) and costs of the introduction of esomeprazole in the italian market has also been simulated.