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Cost-effectiveness analysis of gene-based therapies for patients with spinal muscular atrophy type I in Australia. J Neurol 2022; 269:6544-6554. [PMID: 35980467 PMCID: PMC9618547 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-11319-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder and regarded as one of the most frequent genetic causes of infant mortality. The aim of this study is to develop a cost-effectiveness analysis of AVXS-101 (Onasemnogene Abeparvovec/Zolgensma®) and nusinersen (Spinraza®) for SMA to inform decision-making on reimbursement policies in Australia. Methods A Markov model was developed with five health states to evaluate the costs and effects for patients with SMA Type I from a healthcare system perspective over a time-horizon of 100 years. The model parameters were based on clinical trials, parametric distributions, published literature, and Australian registries. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to appraise the uncertainties of the parameters in the model. A threshold analysis was conducted to estimate the cost of AVXS-101 of being cost-effective. Results The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of AVXS-101 was $1,808,471 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and that of nusinersen was $2,772,798 per QALY, compared to standard of care, respectively. The ICER of AVXS-101 was $1,238,288 per QALY compared to nusinersen. The key drivers influencing on ICERs were costs of using treatments and utility values of sitting and walking independently. Conclusion Both nusinersen and AVXS-101 resulted in health benefits, but they were not cost-effective with a commonly used willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50,000 per QALY. Developing high-quality clinical data and exploring appropriate WTP thresholds are critical for decision-making on reimbursement policies in the treatment of rare diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00415-022-11319-0.
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Meiser B, Woodward P, Gleeson M, Kentwell M, Fan HM, Antill Y, Butow PN, Boyle F, Best M, Taylor N, Bell K, Tucker K. Pilot study of an online training program to increase genetic literacy and communication skills in oncology healthcare professionals discussing BRCA1/2 genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients. Fam Cancer 2021; 21:157-166. [PMID: 33970363 PMCID: PMC8107020 DOI: 10.1007/s10689-021-00261-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The increasing use of genetic testing for BRCA1/2 and other pathogenic variants in the management of women with breast and ovarian cancer necessitates increased genetic literacy in oncology healthcare professionals. This pilot study aimed to evaluate an online training program to increase
genetic literacy and communication skills in Australian oncology healthcare professionals tasked with discussing and coordinating mainstream genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients. A training website with embedded videos was developed. This study assesses the website’s acceptability and user-friendliness; suggestions for improvement were also elicited. Oncology healthcare professionals were recruited through relevant professional organisations, invited to the study by email, asked to work through the website and then complete an online questionnaire. Thirty-two oncology healthcare professionals completed the questionnaire after viewing the website. Nearly all participants were satisfied with the information contained in the program (very satisfied: n = 14/32, 44%, satisfied: n = 17/32, 53%, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied: n = 1/32, 3%) and reported that they had gained new skills (n = 29/32, 91%) and had increased confidence (n = 29/31, 94%) in communicating with breast and ovarian cancer patients about genetic testing. More than 93% (28/30) of participants endorsed the online program as clearly presented, informative, relevant and useful. This pilot study demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability of the training program to increase genetic literacy and communication skills in oncology healthcare professionals discussing genetic testing with breast and ovarian cancer patients. Further evidence from a randomised trial is needed to evaluate effects on changing clinical practice, improving patient outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Meiser
- Psychosocial Research Group, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Level 4, C25 Lowy Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | | | | | - Maira Kentwell
- Parkville Familial Cancer Clinic, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Helen Mar Fan
- Genetic Health Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Yoland Antill
- Parkville Familial Cancer Clinic, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Family Cancer Clinic, Monash Health, Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Phyllis N Butow
- Psycho-Oncology Co-Operative Research Group, Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Frances Boyle
- School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Pam McLean Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Megan Best
- Institute for Ethics and Society, University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Australia
| | - Natalie Taylor
- Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Katy Bell
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kathy Tucker
- Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital and Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Sharpe SR, Morrow JL, Brettell LE, Shearman DC, Gilchrist S, Cook JM, Riegler M. Tephritid fruit flies have a large diversity of co-occurring RNA viruses. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 186:107569. [PMID: 33727045 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Tephritid fruit flies are amongst the most devastating pests of horticulture, and Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programs have been developed for their control. Their interactions with viruses are still mostly unexplored, yet, viruses may negatively affect tephritid health and performance in SIT programs, and, conversely, constitute potential biological control agents. Here we analysed ten transcriptome libraries obtained from laboratory populations of nine tephritid species from Australia (six species of Bactrocera, and Zeugodacus cucumis), Asia (Bactrocera dorsalis) and Europe (Ceratitis capitata). We detected new viral diversity, including near-complete (>99%) and partially complete (>80%) genomes of 34 putative viruses belonging to eight RNA virus families. On average, transcriptome libraries included 3.7 viruses, ranging from 0 (Z. cucumis) to 9 (B. dorsalis). Most viruses belonged to the Picornavirales, represented by fourteen Dicistroviridae (DV), nine Iflaviridae (IV) and two picorna-like viruses. Others were a virus from Rhabdoviridae (RV), one from Xinmoviridae (both Mononegavirales), several unclassified Negev- and toti-like viruses, and one from Metaviridae (Ortervirales). Using diagnostic PCR primers for four viruses found in the transcriptome of the Bactrocera tryoni strain bent wings (BtDV1, BtDV2, BtIV1, and BtRV1), we tested nine Australian laboratory populations of five species (B. tryoni, Bactrocera neohumeralis, Bactrocera jarvisi, Bactrocera cacuminata, C. capitata), and one field population each of B. tryoni, B. cacuminata and Dirioxa pornia. Viruses were present in most laboratory and field populations yet their incidence differed for each virus. Prevalence and co-occurrence of viruses in B. tryoni and B. cacuminata were higher in laboratory than field populations. This raises concerns about the potential accumulation of viruses and their potential health effects in laboratory and mass-rearing environments which might affect flies used in research and control programs such as SIT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Sharpe
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
| | - Jennifer L Morrow
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
| | - Laura E Brettell
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
| | - Deborah C Shearman
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Stuart Gilchrist
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - James M Cook
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
| | - Markus Riegler
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
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Sultana S, Baumgartner JB, Dominiak BC, Royer JE, Beaumont LJ. Impacts of climate change on high priority fruit fly species in Australia. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0213820. [PMID: 32053591 PMCID: PMC7018044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tephritid fruit flies are among the most destructive horticultural pests posing risks to Australia’s multi-billion-dollar horticulture industry. Currently, there are 11 pest fruit fly species of economic concern in Australia. Of these, nine are native to this continent (Bactrocera aquilonis, B. bryoniae, B. halfordiae, B. jarvisi, B. kraussi, B. musae, B. neohumeralis, B. tryoni and Zeugodacus cucumis), while B. frauenfeldi and Ceratitis capitata are introduced. To varying degrees these species are costly to Australia’s horticulture through in-farm management, monitoring to demonstrate pest freedom, quarantine and trade restrictions, and crop losses. Here, we used a common species distribution model, Maxent, to assess climate suitability for these 11 species under baseline (1960–1990) and future climate scenarios for Australia. Projections indicate that the Wet Tropics is likely to be vulnerable to all 11 species until at least 2070, with the east coast of Australia also likely to remain vulnerable to multiple species. While the Cape York Peninsula and Northern Territory are projected to have suitable climate for numerous species, extrapolation to novel climates in these areas decreases confidence in model projections. The climate suitability of major horticulture areas currently in eastern Queensland, southern-central New South Wales and southern Victoria to these pests may increase as climate changes. By highlighting areas at risk of pest range expansion in the future our study may guide Australia’s horticulture industry in developing effective monitoring and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabira Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - John B Baumgartner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.,Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis (CEBRA), School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Bernard C Dominiak
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jane E Royer
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Linda J Beaumont
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
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Tuffaha HW, Mitchell A, Ward RL, Connelly L, Butler JRG, Norris S, Scuffham PA. Cost-effectiveness analysis of germ-line BRCA testing in women with breast cancer and cascade testing in family members of mutation carriers. Genet Med 2018; 20:985-994. [DOI: 10.1038/gim.2017.231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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