Cost-Effectiveness of Cerebrolysin after Ischemic Stroke: Secondary Analysis of the CARS Study.

Strilciuc S, Radu C, Grad DA, Stan AD, Vladescu C, Buzoianu AD, Muresanu D

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)21 May 2023Cited by 2 (Europe PMC)

PMID37239783PMCIDPMC10218347DOI10.3390/healthcare11101497PepBankPUB-37239783

Summary

The cost-effectiveness of Cerebrolysin as an add-on therapy for moderate-severe acute ischemic stroke is a topic that remains understudied. This study aims to address this gap by performing a comprehensive cost-utility analysis using both deterministic and probabilistic methods from a payer perspective and within the Romanian inpatient care setting. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated using partial individual patient data from the 2016 Cerebrolysin and Recovery After Stroke (CARS) trial, utilizing three different health state valuation models. Cost data was extracted from actual acute care costs reported by Romanian public hospitals for reimbursement purposes for patients included in the CARS study. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated for each treatment arm for the duration of the clinical trial. Deterministic analysis based on sample mean values indicates Cerebrolysin would be cost-effective at a threshold between roughly 18.8 and 29.9 thousand EUR, depending on valuation techniques. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis results indicate an 80% chance probability of cost-effectiveness of Cerebrolysin as an add-on therapy for acute ischemic stroke, considering a willingness-to-pay threshold of 50,000 EUR in a 90-day timeframe after stroke. Further economic evaluations of Cerebrolysin are needed to strengthen these findings, covering a timeframe of at least 12 months after the acute incident, which would account for treatment effects spanning beyond the first 90 days after ischemic stroke. These should be conducted to determine its cost-effectiveness under various care settings and patient pathways. Most importantly, modelling techniques are needed to answer important questions such as the estimates of population gain in QALYs after acute administration of Cerebrolysin and the potential offsetting of direct medical costs as a result of administering the intervention.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, Cerebrolysin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Cerebrolysin.

01Computer modelNot a test of Cerebrolysin aloneIn silicoOther
Economic modelling of Cerebrolysin after ischemic stroke estimated cost-effectiveness thresholds of roughly 18.8 to 29.9 thousand EUR.
In plain wordsEconomic modelling estimated Cerebrolysin cost-effectiveness thresholds of roughly 18.8 to 29.9 thousand EUR after stroke.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
Not applicableDeterministic cost-effectiveness threshold
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Cost-effectiveness · Whole body
Measurements
Cost-effectiveness threshold
18.8 to 29.9 thousand EUR
depending on valuation techniques
Source sentences
Summary
Deterministic analysis based on sample mean values indicates Cerebrolysin would be cost-effective at a threshold between roughly 18.8 and 29.9 thousand EUR, depending on valuation techniques.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated using partial individual patient data from the 2016 Cerebrolysin and Recovery After Stroke (CARS) trial, utilizing three different health state valuation models.
In this study, Cerebrolysin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Cerebrolysin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3723978301
02Computer modelNot a test of Cerebrolysin aloneIn silicoOther
Economic modelling estimated an 80% probability of Cerebrolysin cost-effectiveness at a 50,000 EUR willingness-to-pay threshold after acute ischemic stroke.
In plain wordsEconomic modelling estimated an 80% probability of Cerebrolysin cost-effectiveness at a 50,000 EUR threshold after stroke.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
Not applicableProbability of cost-effectiveness
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Cost-effectiveness · Whole body
Measurements
Probability of cost-effectiveness
80%
50,000 EUR willingness-to-pay threshold; 90-day timeframe
Source sentences
Summary
Probabilistic sensitivity analysis results indicate an 80% chance probability of cost-effectiveness of Cerebrolysin as an add-on therapy for acute ischemic stroke, considering a willingness-to-pay threshold of 50,000 EUR in a 90-day timeframe after stroke.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated using partial individual patient data from the 2016 Cerebrolysin and Recovery After Stroke (CARS) trial, utilizing three different health state valuation models.
In this study, Cerebrolysin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Cerebrolysin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3723978302

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Version history

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Version 2Current
14 Oct 2026, 05:02 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
14 Oct 2026, 01:46 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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