Relationship between the cost of treatment and GDP per capita. Credit: The Lancet Oncology Commission
A recent analysis, published in The Lancet Oncologycalculates that increasing access to (¹⁷⁷Lu)PSMA therapy for eligible patients could generate $725 million in economic potential. This impact is projected in nine selected countries between 2023 and 2029.
(¹⁷⁷Lu)PSMA is a theranostic treatment that combines both therapeutics and diagnostics to target prostate-specific membrane antigens (PSMA) present in cancer cells. Compared to standard treatments, patients receiving (¹⁷⁷Lu)PSMA therapy experience fewer side effects and have a greater chance of recovery.
These improved health outcomes translate into substantial economic benefits. By reducing time lost due to illness, individuals can return to work, participate in society and maintain productivity for longer periods of time. This sustained workforce activity drives both economic performance and societal well-being, transforming health improvements into tangible gains for individuals and society. Beyond these direct effects, increasing productivity creates two types of ripple effects:
- Indirect effects: Companies with healthier employees are able to increase their spending on goods and services, thereby improving business-to-business activities.
- Induced effects: Higher employee spending supports other sectors, thereby boosting overall economic growth.
Additionally, the study considered the value of unpaid work, such as caregiving and volunteering, that healthier individuals can contribute to society. These efforts, often overlooked in national accounting systems, further highlight the broader social impact of improving health outcomes.
“Our analysis shows the economic potential of using advanced cancer treatments like (¹⁷⁷Lu)PSMA to their fullest extent,” says Dr. Malina Müller, Head of Health Economics at the WifOR Institute. “Access to advanced cancer treatments not only generates individual and public health outcomes, but also measurable economic benefits and societal well-being.”
Analysis is part of The Lancet Oncology Report of the commission “Radiotherapy and theranostics: a Lancet oncology commission”.
The Social Impact approach
The Social Impact approach measures the societal benefits of new medical treatments. The first step compares health improvements resulting from a new therapy to the current standard treatment, measured in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).
These health benefits are then converted into economic terms by calculating the value of increased productivity for both paid and unpaid work. The final step monetizes these benefits to show the overall economic impact of the therapy.
Method
The WifOR Institute compared full treatment for all eligible patients with the current rate in nine countries representative of high-, upper-middle-, and lower-middle-income economies: Australia, Germany, India, Jordan, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and South Africa. South. , Thailand and the United States.
To determine eligibility for (¹⁷⁷Lu)PSMA treatment, WifOR analyzed prostate cancer incidence using data from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database, focusing on advanced-stage cases where treatment is the most applicable. Approximately 90% of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer are considered suitable for this treatment based on the VISION trial criteria.
More information:
May Abdel-Wahab et al, Radiotherapy and theranostics: a Lancet oncology commission, The Lancet Oncology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00407-8
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