24 Mar, 2026.
Members of the IN-ARMOR consortium have published a new scientific article in the prestigious Journal of Medical Economics.
The study, entitled «Cost-effectiveness of treatment and care of patients with gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases: a systematic review», represents a significant step forward in the project’s health technology assessment (HTA) activities.
Key findings for public health
The research consisted of a systematic review of studies published between 2013 and 2024, analysing the cost-effectiveness of biologic therapies compared to conventional treatments in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The main results highlight that:
- Biological therapies are generally associated with superior health outcomes (measured in quality-adjusted life years or QALYs) compared to conventional treatments.
- Despite having higher initial costs, these advanced therapies are considered cost-effective due to the significant health benefits that offset the investment.
Impact on IN-ARMOR’s objectives
By establishing a clear baseline regarding the economics of current treatments for inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the consortium is better placed to demonstrate the socio-economic impact of the new class of immune system inducers that IN-ARMOR is developing. The aim is to reduce the economic burden of antimicrobial resistance on European healthcare systems, estimated at billions of euros annually.
The article is Open Access, in line with the open science policies of the European Union and the IN-ARMOR project, allowing the scientific community and healthcare policymakers to freely access this crucial data.
You can access the full paper here.
