IQWiG assessment suggests Nulojix (belatacept) offers considerable added benefit after kidney transplant-BMS

After a first early benefit assessment in April 2012 assessing Nulojix (belatacept), from BMS, for adults after a kidney transplant, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has reexamined whether the drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy. The first dossier showed an indication of minor added benefit only in a certain type of donor. However an indication of considerable added benefit in comparison with ciclosporin A can be derived from the second dossier.

Long-term data showed no relevant differences between the treatment groups regarding mortality. Belatacept had an advantage in renal insufficiency, however: this occurred less frequently in transplanted patients with advanced-stage chronic kidney disease (stage 4/5). IQWiG assessed this as an indication of considerable added benefit. Data also showed an advantage of belatacept in the composite outcome “death or graft loss”, which IQWiG assessed as a hint of an added benefit. Overall, IQWiG therefore sees an indication of considerable added benefit of belatacept in comparison with ciclosporin A.