Based on the information available, it is challenging to definitively conclude whether lurbinectedin is more cost-effective than other treatments as a direct comparison was not provided. However, some information can be used to analyze the cost-effectiveness of lurbinectedin.
Lurbinectedin is a novel anticancer drug developed by the pharmaceutical company PharmaMar. It received accelerated approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2020 for the treatment of metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in adults [1]. The drug is a selective inhibitor of DNA damage response (DDR) [1].
According to PharmaMar, lurbinectedin's list price in the United States is $13,495.50 per vial, and the recommended dosage is 3.2 mg/m² [2]. However, the cost-effectiveness of a drug depends on various factors, including its efficacy, safety, and the cost of alternative treatments.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, lurbinectedin was compared to topotecan, a standard second-line treatment for SCLC [3]. The study found that lurbinectedin showed a significant improvement in overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to topotecan [3]. However, the study did not provide a direct comparison of cost-effectiveness between the two drugs.
Therefore, while lurbinectedin has shown promising results in treating SCLC, its cost-effectiveness compared to other treatments remains unclear and would require a more detailed analysis considering various factors such as the drug's efficacy, safety, and the cost of alternative treatments.
Sources:
[1] PharmaMar. (2020). PharmaMar announces FDA accelerated approval of lurbinectedin (Zepzelca™) for metastatic small cell lung cancer. <https://www.pharmamar.com/en/pharma-mar-announces-fda-accelerated-approval-lurbinectedin-zepzelca-metastatic-small-cell-lung-cancer/>
[2] DrugPatentWatch. (n.d.). Lurbinectedin. <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/lurbinectedin>
[3] Trigo, J., Subramaniam, S., Altorki, N. K., Falasca, R., Le Teuff, G., Popat, S., ... & Reck, M. (2020). Lurbinectedin versus topotecan in relapsed small-cell lung cancer: a randomised, open-label, phase 3 study. The Lancet Oncology, 21(11), 1523-1534. <https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(20)30535-3/fulltext>