Introduction of lamivudine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B: Expected clinical and economic outcomes based on 4-year clinical trial data

Abstract

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is associated with a significant burden of illness and treatment involves substantial health-care costs. This study estimates clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of lamivudine compared with other treatment scenarios for CHB, from an Australian health-care provider perspective. Methods: A two-step modeling approach depicted clinical progression of hepatitis B in hypothetical patient cohorts using three different treatment scenarios: scenario A, lamivudine and α-interferon (IFN-α) available; scenario B, IFN-α available only; and scenario C, no treatment available. Assumptions were based on clinical trials, published studies, a hepatologist's questionn..