ICER largely supportive of Xarelto and Vascepa as additive treatments for CD

US health technology assessor the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) yesterday released a  Final Evidence Report and  Report-at-a-Glance assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and long-term value for money of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals’ Xarelto (rivaroxaban) and Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) from Amarin Pharma (Nasdaq: AMRN) as additive treatments for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“While aspirin and statins have become cornerstone therapies for treating cardiovascular disease, treatments like rivaroxaban and icosapent ethyl appear to provide additional benefits for certain patients who have an elevated risk of major cardiovascular events,” said Dr David Rind, the ICER’s chief medical officer, adding: “Input from clinical experts confirmed that the ideal target population for treatment is very large, and therefore, despite being priced in a cost-effective manner, these additive treatments could pose a short-term budgetary challenge for the health system depending on how real-world uptake evolves. In these situations, it is critical for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that pricing and coverage arrangements don’t create barriers to these beneficial therapies, while balancing the need to deliver quality health care for all patients.”

During the meeting, a majority of CEPAC members voted that the evidence suggests that rivaroxaban plus aspirin provides a net health benefit superior to what aspirin alone provides. Likewise, a majority found that the net health benefit from icosapent ethyl added to optimal medical management (including statin therapy) is superior to that provided by optimal medical management alone.