Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41919071›Full record

ReviewTherapeutic advances in neurological disorders2026

Economic value of anti-CD20 therapies in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of cost-effectiveness studies.

Johannes Heinemann, Marco Zirkel, Oliver Schoeffski, Rick Dersch, Heinz Wiendl

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Johannes HeinemannMedical Center, Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, Freiburg 79106, Germany Johannes.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5476-9987
Marco ZirkelDepartment of Health Care Management, Law and Economics Faculty of the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany.
Oliver SchoeffskiDepartment of Health Care Management, Law and Economics Faculty of the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nuremberg, Germany.
Rick DerschMedical Center, Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Heinz WiendlMedical Center, Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have transformed multiple sclerosis (MS) care but are associated with substantial costs. Among high-efficacy DMTs, anti-CD20 antibodies are widely used, yet their economic value, particularly compared with different classes of DMTs, has not been comprehensively synthesized. Objective: To systematically review evidence on the cost-effectiveness of anti-CD20 antibodies compared with other DMTs or best supportive care (BSC) in MS. Data sources and methods: We searched Results: Of 92 records screened, 20 studies met inclusion criteria. Analyses were conducted in diverse but mostly high-income regions, most commonly using Markov models with long time horizons. Anti-CD20 antibodies were dominant (more effective, less costly) or cost-effective in the majority of studies, particularly when compared with platform therapies. In contrast, comparisons with other high-efficacy DMTs yielded more heterogeneous results, with immune reconstitution therapies more cost-effective in several studies. Reporting quality was generally high, although patient involvement, assessment of heterogeneity, and a health economic analysis plan were rarely addressed. Conclusion: These findings support the use of anti-CD20 antibodies as an economically reasonable option in many healthcare settings, particularly when compared with platform therapies, while underscoring that cost-effectiveness relative to other high-efficacy treatments is context-dependent. The lack of data from low- and middle-income countries and limited transparency in Health Technology Assessment reports represent major limitations. Future research should prioritize context-specific evaluations and promote full disclosure of economic data to strengthen the evidence base for clinically and economically informed reimbursement decisions in MS. Trial registration: The study was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD420251109958).

Indexed as

anti-CD20 antibodiescost-effectivenesshealth technology assessmentmultiple sclerosisocrelizumabofatumumabrituximab

Identifiers

PMID41919071
PMCPMC13033870

What OpenQuestion holds

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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 OpenQuestion graph.