Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41249248›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Cost-effectiveness of finotonlimab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer in China.

Yu Zeng, Aixin Li, Jing Zhou, Hao Wen, Keqin Zhang, Qi Wu, Su Wen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yu Zeng *Department of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Aixin Li *Department of Radiotherapy, Hengyang Medical School, The Second Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
Jing ZhouChangsha Stomatological Hospital, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410008, China.
Hao WenXiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Keqin ZhangDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Qi WuThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Su WenDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China. wensu@hnca.org.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer (R/M HNSCC) is highly prevalent in Southern China and Southeast Asia. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors such as finotonlimab combined with chemotherapy have shown promising survival benefits, their high costs pose challenges for healthcare systems in resource-constrained settings. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of finotonlimab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone as the first-line treatment for R/M HNSCC from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare payer.

methodsA 3-health-state Markov model was developed to simulate long-term clinical and economic outcomes for patients receiving either finotonlimab with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (finotonlimab + C5F) or placebo with C5F (Placebo + C5F). Survival data were reconstructed from published clinical trials and extrapolated using parametric models. Direct medical costs, health state utilities, and adverse event disutilities were sourced from the literature. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), with a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $39,835.62 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were conducted to explore uncertainty.

resultsThe finotonlimab + C5F group yielded 1.048 QALYs at a cost of $51,453.4, while the Placebo + C5F group yielded 0.788 QALYs at $22,020.2. The ICER was $113,051.4 per QALY gained, exceeding the WTP threshold. Scenario analysis revealed persistently high ICERs in finotonlimab + C5F group across different time horizons (2, 8, 10 years). One-way sensitivity analysis identified drug cost and PFS utility as the most influential parameters. Probabilistic analysis showed 0% probability of cost-effectiveness at the WTP threshold.

conclusionAlthough finotonlimab combined with chemotherapy provides clinical benefits for patients with R/M HNSCC, it is not cost-effective at current pricing in China. Substantial price reductions, biomarker-guided patient selection, and inclusion in national reimbursement programs may improve its economic viability.

Indexed as

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsHead and Neck NeoplasmsNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalChinaCisplatinCost-Benefit AnalysisFemaleFluorouracilHumansMaleMarkov ChainsNeoplasm MetastasisQuality-Adjusted Life YearsAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedCisplatinFluorouracil

Identifiers

PMID41249248
PMCPMC12624020

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.