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DSU report

Belimumab (Benlysta) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Eliciting estimates of long-term treatment discontinuation rates (PDF, 757KB) (June 2013)

NICE appraisal

Background to the appraisal

This report was commissioned by NICE to contribute to a technology appraisal on belimumab for the treatment of active autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The manufacturer’s economic model within this appraisal was sensitive to the rate of annual discontinuation assumed, whereby higher rates of annual discontinuation lead to more favourable estimates of cost-effectiveness for belimumab.

The DSU was asked by NICE to explore the range of possible rates of annual discontinuation, taking into consideration those that have been used in the analyses submitted for the appraisal. They were also asked to explore whether there are alternative evidence sources available that could inform the value(s) used in the economic model.

This report presents the methods and findings of additional work undertaken by the DSU to elicit estimates of natural discontinuation rates for SLE patients treated with belimumab, with the intention of reducing, or better expressing, the uncertainty surrounding this quantity.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (autoantibody-positive) – belimumab [ID416]