• Who we are
    • About us
    • Our values
    • Environmental, social & governance
    • Therapeutic areas
  • What we do
    • Consulting (Acsel Health)
    • HEOR & market access
    • Scientific communications
    • Patient engagement
  • Insights
  • News & Events
  • Join us
    • Careers
    • Reasons to join
  • Contact us
  • Menu Menu

Publication Library / Publications

Cost effectiveness of fesoterodine and tolterodine for the treatment of overactive bladder with urge urinary incontinence in Spain and Finland

Background

Overactive bladder is a prevalent condition worldwide that is associated with a considerable burden, both on the patient and on society.

Objective

Our objective was to assess the economic value of fesoterodine compared with tolterodine extended release (ER) for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) with urge urinary incontinence (UUI) in Spain and Finland.

Methods

A decision-tree economic model estimated the 52-week costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) of OAB/UUI patients initiating treatment with fesoterodine 4 mg/day or tolterodine ER. Individuals were evaluated for treatment response (UUI fewer than one episode/day) and persistence at weeks 4, 12, and 24. Titration from fesoterodine 4 mg/day to 8 mg/day was permitted at week 4. At week 12, non-responders discontinued treatment permanently. Efficacy, discontinuation, and utility data were derived from four clinical trials of fesoterodine. OAB-related costs, including physician visits, laboratory tests, incontinence pads, and comorbidities (fracture, skin infection, urinary tract infections, depression, and nursing home) were also included.

Results

A total of 19.5 % and 18.0 % of fesoterodine and tolterodine ER patients remained on treatment until week 52, respectively. QALYs were higher with fesoterodine than tolterodine ER (0.762 vs. 0.760). In Spain, fesoterodine treatment had higher total costs than (generic) tolterodine ER (€6,697 vs. 6,597), resulting in a cost of €15,633/QALY gained. In Finland, fesoterodine was cost saving relative to (non-generic) tolterodine ER (€7,885 vs. 8,024). Sensitivity analysis confirmed that these findings were robust to the expected price decrease for generic tolterodine ER in Finland.

Conclusion

Fesoterodine is cost effective or cost saving relative to tolterodine ER for the treatment of OAB with UUI in two European countries. Payers and prescribers should consider a broad scope of costs to make informed cost-conscious choices of antimuscarinic treatment.

Authors J C Angulo, A Valpas, J Rejas, K Linden, M Kvasz, S J Snedecor
Journal Clinical Drug Investigation
Therapeutic Area Urology
Center of Excellence Health Economic Modeling & Meta-analysis
Year 2014
Read full article

Services

  • Consulting
  • HEOR & market access
  • Scientific communications
  • Creative communications
  • Patient engagement

Company

  • About Us
  • Our values
  • Environmental, social & governance
  • Our commitment to rare disease
  • Careers
  • Reasons to join
  • News & insights
  • Events
  • Locations & contact

Legal and Governance

  • Terms of use
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookie policy
  • IT security measures
  • Modern slavery statement
  • Disclosure UK – ABPI
  • Looking for OpenHealth Company?
  • Legal statements & documents
  • Global ethical business conduct code
  • Suppliers
footer-logo-mark
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© Copyright OPEN Health 2025. All rights reserved. OPEN Health is a registered trademark.

backtotop-arrow
Scroll to top