Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation of Calcipotriol (Daivonex<sup>®</sup>/Dovonex<sup>®</sup>) and UVB Phototherapy in the Treatment of Psoriasis: A Markov Model for The Netherlands

Abstract

Calcipotriol treatment combined with UVB phototherapy is a cost-neutral alternative to UVB phototherapy used with an emollient. The patients achieve treatment success in the same time on both treatments but the former, with calcipotriol, requires less exposure to UVB radiation. The additional drug costs from using calcipotriol are offset by savings from the fewer UVB sessions required. Essential beneficial effects for patients are less inconvenience, less risk of developing photoaging of the skin and less exposure to potentially carcinogenic radiations.