Background Patent expiries on leading biologics are creating new momentum in the market for biosimilars (copies of off-patent biologics), paving the way for their development. However, little is known about the factors influencing the competition between biosimilars and their reference products...

Objective: The objective of the study was to compute a cost-effectiveness ratio relating the economic cost of trandolapril to the number of effectiveness units (i.e. life-years) gained. Design and Setting: The trandolapril cardiac evaluation (TRACE) study was a prospective placebo-controlled...

The availability of the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) system for determining hospital costs in some European countries has encouraged its use in pharmacoeconomic evaluations. The DRG system was developed in the US to provide data for prospective payments for hospitals. However, the financing of...

Objective: To assess the relationship between severity and progression of illness in Parkinson's disease and the use of healthcare resources. Design and setting: This was a prospective cost-of-illness study conducted in France based on clinical observation over a 6-month period of patients with...

In cost-utility analysis results are often processed in terms of QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Year). The duration of a given health state is weighted with a coefficient calculated based on its associated quality of life. Using such an indicator assumes two things: knowing the health state of the...

BACKGROUND: In 2005, the French Government implemented a new way of financing high-cost drugs for hospitals in order to promote innovation. Such drugs are gathered on a positive list, established by the Ministry of Health, with a reimbursement price cap. Hospitals still negotiate with...