Cost-effectiveness of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel in treating people with advanced Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Advanced Parkinson's disease causes further deterioration in the physical and cognitive functions of patients with existing Parkinson's disease. This commentary critically assesses an economic evaluation which compared the cost-effectiveness of levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel against standard of care in treating patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. While the economic evaluation indicated that levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel could be cost-effective within the UK parameters, the authors of this commentary highlight important limitations related to its design, modelling and analysis. Future research should consider the incorporation of a separate arm dedicated to the re-infusion of apomorphine in eligible patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, a wider set of levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel adverse events and related costs, and a sub-group analysis on different socioeconomic strata.