Cost-utility analysis of using nimotuzumab in end-stage cancerous patient: Is it too expensive?

Sir,

The use of new alternative cancer therapy for end-stage cancerous patient is interesting. Of several new agents, nimotuzumab is an immunological-based cancer therapeutic agent. Nimotuzumab is widely mentioned for its usefulness in management of end-stage cancerous patient.[12] The prolongation of life expectation is mentioned as a usefulness of nimotuzumab administration.[3] However, the main concern is its high cost. Whether it is cost effectiveness is interesting. Here, the authors present the experience in using nimotuzumab in end-stage cancerous patients (about five cases). Based on our setting, the average cost for nimotuzumab management of the cancerous patient for a 3-month period is about 450,000 baht (about 15,000 USD) and the average extended life span is only about 1.5 months. It can be seen that the cost utility is about 10,000 USD/1 month life span extension. Of interest, the cost per utility is very expensive and this might not be better than no nimotuzumab in term of life expectation expansion (since the cases might have this prolonged life span without use of any drug). Although the new drug is effective but the great concern is on its high cost. The use of this drug has to be carefully considered on this fact.