Comparison between Product Characteristics and Decision Analysis Supporting Decision-Makers in Public Health-Related Choices: A Study Model Applied to Anti-HPV Vaccines

Abstract:     
Vaccines for the prevention of pathologies caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are undoubtedly considered among the most advanced forms of biotechnological innovation. At present, two different vaccines are available: the bivalent vaccine, targeting the HPV-16 and 18 strains, and the quadrivalent vaccine, which targets the HPV-6, 11, 16 and 18 strains.

Observing the impact projections analysis, obtainable on the basis of data published in various studies, it is clear that a reduction of 10.0 euros, resulting from the ex-factory price differential of the two vaccines (in favour of the bivalent) hardly compensate for the considerable increase of the expenditure related to the failure to prevent HPV-induced outcomes, such as abnormal Pap-tests, colposcopies, low and high-grade precancerous lesions, in situ carcinomas, cervical carcinomas, vulvar dysplastic lesions, vaginal dysplastic lesions and genital warts.

A mere difference in ex-factory price should not be the only determinant of the vaccine's choice, in the light of the incremental prevention against cervical carcinoma caused by HPV-18 and vulvar carcinoma, and the avoidable risk of onset of genital warts.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 9

Keywords: spc, decision,analysis,HPV,vaccines,cost

JEL Classification: I11,I18

working papers series