Cost-Effectiveness of Nintedanib Versus Pirfenidone in the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Systematic Review Publisher Pubmed



Rezapour A¹ ; Veysisheikhrobat M² ; Souresrafil A³ ; Moeini S² ; Roghani T⁴ ; Sayyad A¹ ; Tahmasebighorrabi A²
Source: Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Published:2025

Abstract

Introduction: Objective: To systematically review studies on the cost-effectiveness of pirfenidone compared to nintedanib in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods: Data sources: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria: Full economic evaluations comparing pirfenidone versus nintedanib inIPF patients. Assessment: Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) tool forstudy quality. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria with QHES scores of 0.91 or higher. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) ranged from $66,434 to $1,668,321 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in the United States. Nintedanib was found to be cost-effective in five studies. Conclusions: Nintedanib appears to be a more cost-effective treatment for IPF compared to pirfenidone. Further research is needed, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, considering healthcare system perspectives and varied willingness-to-pay thresholds. Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42024543954). © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.