Filgotinib for treating moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis

3.1 The patient experts explained that the experience of living with ulcerative colitis varies on an individual level, but when the disease is active it is extremely challenging. They explained that the symptoms and unpredictable nature of the disease have a profound and devastating impact on all aspects of a person's life. People have abdominal pain and fatigue, frequent diarrhoea and extra-intestinal manifestations such as joint, skin and eye problems. These can lead to an inability to sleep, work, socialise, have a relationship, or look after children. They explained that feeling out of control is an important and common issue for many people with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. The committee understood that people with the disease often have difficulty doing day-to-day tasks, have side effects from treatments, fear of having surgery, and difficulties having relationships, and that it affects their self-esteem. The committee concluded that living with moderately to severely active disease is physically and emotionally challenging, and that if medical treatment fails, surgery may be needed.

3.2 The clinical and patient experts explained that there is an unmet need for new treatments that induce and maintain remission. This is because for many people their disease does not respond well to current treatments, or they stop working. The only option for them, other than surgery, is long-term corticosteroids. This may be associated with extreme side effects including mood changes such as irritability and depression, osteoporosis, cataracts, and risk of steroid dependency and withdrawal. The patient experts explained that if multiple treatments are available early on in the treatment pathway, it allows them to identify the best option as quickly as possible. The clinical experts explained that surgery can be effective for some people, but is left until it is unavoidable. Surgery outcomes vary: there can be a psychological impact both from the surgery and having a stoma, even if it is temporary. Pelvic surgery can also significantly affect sexual and reproductive function. The clinical and patient experts agreed that, because filgotinib is an oral treatment, it may be more convenient than other treatment options. The committee concluded that people with the condition and clinicians would welcome a new treatment option for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

3.3 The clinical experts explained that most people are offered a tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‑alpha inhibitor first if conventional treatments (aminosalicylates, corticosteroids or thiopurines) cannot be tolerated, or if the disease has not responded well enough or stopped responding to treatment. This is because cheaper biosimilars are available in this class. But they said that TNF‑alpha inhibitors are not appropriate for everyone, for example, people with a high risk of heart failure or who are prone to infection. The clinical experts explained that they would usually be offered vedolizumab or ustekinumab instead. If someone has had a TNF‑alpha inhibitor and their disease does not respond well enough or stops responding, they are offered a different TNF‑alpha inhibitor, or vedolizumab, tofacitinib or ustekinumab. The clinical experts said that treatment is chosen based on factors such as what the person has already tried and the disease's response to these, the safety profile of the drug, and the person's preference. The committee concluded that the most appropriate comparators are TNF‑alpha inhibitors, tofacitinib, ustekinumab and vedolizumab, and that in practice the order in which these are given varies.

3.4 Filgotinib has a marketing authorisation for treating moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis when conventional or biological treatment cannot be tolerated, or if the disease has not responded well enough or stopped responding to treatment. The company's submission presented filgotinib at 3 positions in the treatment pathway:

3.5 The NICE scope included conventional treatment, infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, tofacitinib, ustekinumab and vedolizumab as comparators. The company explained that it considered conventional treatment as a relevant comparator in line with the NICE scope and NICE's technology appraisal guidance on tofacitinib and ustekinumab. The ERG noted that the population under consideration was: people with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis whose disease has not responded well enough, or has stopped responding to, or could not tolerate conventional or biologic treatment – that is, people who had already had conventional treatment. Therefore, the ERG did not consider conventional treatment a relevant comparator. The clinical experts agreed that filgotinib will only be used after conventional treatment. The committee concluded that conventional treatment is not an appropriate comparator for filgotinib.

3.6 SELECTION was a phase 2b/3 randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial comparing filgotinib 200 mg, filgotinib 100 mg and placebo. It included adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, defined by a Mayo clinic score of between 6 and 12, and component subscores of at least 1 for stool frequency and rectal bleeding and at least 2 for endoscopic findings and physicians' global assessment. It had an induction and a maintenance phase:

3.7 In the induction phase of the SELECTION trial, the rate of EBS remission in biologic-naive participants was statistically significantly higher in the filgotinib arm at 26.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.4% to 31.8%) than the placebo arm at 15.3% (95% CI 8.9% to 21.7%). Similarly, rates of EBS remission were also statistically significantly higher in the filgotinib arm at 11.5% (95% CI 7.4% to 15.5%) than the placebo arm at 4.2% (95% CI 0.6 to 7.9%) for the biologic-experienced subgroup in the induction phase. At week 58 of the maintenance phase, a statistically significantly higher proportion of people who had filgotinib were in EBS remission at 37.2% (95% CI 30.2% to 44.2%) than people who had placebo at 11.2% (95% CI 4.5% to 18.0%). The committee concluded that filgotinib is more effective than placebo for inducing and maintaining remission for people with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.

3.8 There was no head-to-head evidence comparing filgotinib against the comparators in the NICE scope (see section 3.5). Therefore, the company did network meta-analyses (NMAs) to allow for indirect treatment comparisons with them. It presented NMAs according to previous biologic use for induction and for maintenance treatment with filgotinib. Analyses were of clinical response, clinical remission and mucosal healing:

3.9 The company's maintenance phase NMAs estimated values to populate the longer-term effectiveness of each treatment for the cost-effectiveness model. They estimated that filgotinib is likely to be as effective as most comparators in biologic-naive and biologic-experienced subgroups. The results are academic in confidence and cannot be presented here. The ERG noted that the results of the maintenance phase NMAs were invalid because people in the maintenance phase represent the population whose disease has responded to the different induction treatments, which varied between trials. The ERG explained that the company's NMAs used placebo as a common comparator, but what constituted the 'placebo group' varied between trials. The company's NMAs included participants whose disease responded to filgotinib who were then re-randomised to placebo. Other studies included participants whose disease responded to comparator treatments who were then re-randomised to placebo, thus disconnecting the network and making the results invalid. The ERG explained that in clinical practice people entering the maintenance phase either continue the induction treatment that their disease responded to or stop it. At this point there is no option to switch to another treatment without first being inducted onto that treatment. Therefore, the ERG preferred to calculate 50‑week probabilities of no response, response without remission and remission conditional on having the response at 10 weeks at the end of induction. It used these values to replace the values from the maintenance phase NMAs in its base case. The committee noted that the re-randomisation of people in trials at the start of the maintenance phase made judging the relative effectiveness of treatments beyond the induction period difficult. It also noted that neither the company nor the ERG had explored adjusting for differences in baseline risks in the maintenance part of the NMAs. It would have preferred to see a maintenance phase NMA that included only trial participants who remained on active treatment or placebo for the duration of the trial or participants randomised to active treatment or placebo for both the induction and maintenance phase. However, the committee noted that, because of the trial's design, this would still only include people whose disease responded during the induction phase. The committee considered that both the company's and ERG's approaches were biased. However, the committee noted that using either approach had a minimal effect on the cost-effectiveness results. The committee concluded that it had concerns about the methodology of the maintenance NMAs and that the effectiveness of filgotinib in the maintenance phase was uncertain.

3.10 The company used a Markov model to estimate the cost effectiveness of filgotinib compared with adalimumab, golimumab, infliximab, tofacitinib, ustekinumab and vedolizumab. The company's model structure was similar to those used in previous ulcerative colitis technology appraisals. It included health states defined by the type of treatment (advanced treatment, conventional treatment, surgery, post-surgery), as well as degree of disease control (remission or response without remission) to replicate the relapsing and remitting nature of ulcerative colitis. The Markov model had a lifetime horizon and a cycle length of 10 weeks and included clinical response, clinical remission and serious infections. The ERG agreed that the company captured all relevant health states and that its approach was appropriate. The committee concluded that the company's model was appropriate for its decision making.

3.11 The company's model only included serious infections. It excluded all other adverse events associated with filgotinib. The ERG considered that the company's approach was appropriate and in line with NICE's technology appraisal guidance on tofacitinib and ustekinumab. However, the committee was aware of the association between the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib and incidence of cardiovascular events and malignancies shown in a safety study of people over 50 with rheumatoid arthritis and at least 1 additional cardiovascular risk factor. It was also aware of broader ongoing investigations of JAK inhibitors. The committee questioned if filgotinib would also be associated with increased cardiovascular risk in people with ulcerative colitis. The clinical experts pointed out that people with ulcerative colitis are much younger and may have a different risk profile than people with rheumatoid arthritis. The committee concluded that it was concerned that people having filgotinib were likely to have an increased risk of cardiovascular events, and that balancing the benefit and risks before starting filgotinib was essential. It also agreed that cardiovascular adverse events should have been included in the model.

3.12 Ulcerative colitis is not always active. Many people with the disease have periods of response and loss of response. In its model, the company estimated long-term loss of response from its NMAs and used the same value for the 'response without remission' and 'remission' health states. The company explained that, if the disease responded to treatment, it would not expect this response to wane over time. So, it considered that using the same loss of response for both health states was appropriate. The ERG explained that remission is harder to achieve than response without remission. But once it is achieved it is more stable. It said that the company's approach is inconsistent with this and favours filgotinib. The ERG noted that it could not adjust the model for differential loss of response. The clinical experts agreed with the ERG, saying loss of response was less likely in people whose disease is in remission than in people whose disease has only responded. The committee concluded that it would have been more appropriate to use a differential loss of response for each health state.

3.13 In its model, the company assumed a constant loss of response for the 'remission' and 'response without remission' health states. The company considered that its assumption that loss of response is constant over time was likely to be an overestimate. The company also explained that the constant loss of response rates would likely underestimate the average duration of treatment. It provided a scenario analysis assuming a 25% reduction in the loss of response rate after the first year of maintenance. The clinical experts considered this scenario to be appropriate. However, the ERG explained that a 25% reduction refers to the reduction in loss of response rate not to the loss of response rate. The committee was aware that NICE's technology appraisal guidance on ustekinumab used a 25% reduction after the first 2 years of treatment. It noted that the company's scenario had a minimal effect on cost-effectiveness results. The committee concluded that, because of the lack of long-term efficacy data, it was not clear if loss of response would be constant over time, and it considered the company's scenario in its decision making.

3.14 The company and the ERG used health state utility values based on the SELECTION trial in their base cases. The company used utility values collected at baseline for the 'active ulcerative colitis' health state and utility values collected at 10 weeks for the 'response without remission' and 'remission' health states. It applied the same values for the full duration of the model. The utility values are academic in confidence and cannot be presented here. The ERG agreed with the company's utility values, except for the 'active ulcerative colitis' health state. The ERG preferred to use the utility values collected at 10 weeks, which were specific to non-responders, and for consistency with the other health states. The ERG asked the company to provide scenarios exploring utility values specific to biologic-naive and experienced people, and specific to people in the induction and maintenance phase. The committee was disappointed that the company did not provide these scenarios. It was also aware that considerably lower utility values for active ulcerative colitis were used in NICE's technology appraisal guidance on tofacitinib and ustekinumab. In the absence of additional scenarios, the committee concluded that the ERG's approach was reasonable, but recognised that the quality of life of people with active ulcerative colitis in the analysis was uncertain.

3.15 The ERG noted that the company's model included relevant comparators and some treatment sequences used in NHS clinical practice. However, it also noted that the company could have explored additional treatment sequences. The clinical experts explained that in clinical practice if people with the disease have a loss of response and have produced antibodies on 1 TNF‑alpha inhibitor, they would often be offered another TNF‑alpha inhibitor. Therefore, a treatment sequence of infliximab followed by another TNF‑alpha inhibitor (for example, adalimumab) and other combinations of anti-TNFs should be considered. The clinical experts said that the company's modelled treatment sequences did not fully reflect clinical practice, and some were less plausible (for example, using tofacitinib after vedolizumab). The committee was aware that ulcerative colitis is a heterogeneous disease and treatment choices are influenced by many factors. It was pleased that the company attempted to model treatment sequences and recognised that, because of the large number of possible treatment sequences, it was not practical to model them all. The committee noted that the company's choice of treatment sequences had a minimal effect on cost-effectiveness results. It concluded that a range of treatment sequences for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis are plausible, and the company's modelled treatment sequences do not fully reflect clinical practice.

3.16 In its model, the company used dose escalation for some comparators but not filgotinib. It clarified that dose escalation for filgotinib is not appropriate because there are only 2 approved doses, 200 mg and 100 mg, and filgotinib 100 mg is only approved for ulcerative colitis with moderate to severe renal impairment. The company explained that the dose of comparators is commonly escalated in NHS clinical practice, if allowed by the marketing authorisation. The ERG explained that the proportion of people who have dose escalation and the time to escalation is not certain. It noted that the company's approach was inconsistent because it applied additional costs for escalated doses, but not the additional clinical benefits associated with dose escalation. This favoured filgotinib. Therefore, the ERG considered that it was not appropriate to include the cost of dose escalation in its base case. The clinical experts explained that dose escalation is common to try to achieve remission or regain partially lost response. The committee recalled that it was not appropriate to include dose escalation for filgotinib and that it was not used in clinical trials of comparator treatments. The committee considered the ERG's approach more appropriate for decision making. It considered that, if the cost of dose escalation is included, its clinical benefit should also be included.

3.17 The company estimated the rates of long-term complications after surgery from Ferrante et al. (2012), in line with the approach in NICE's technology appraisal guidance on tofacitinib. Ferrante et al. reported that 46% of people developed at least 1 episode of acute pouchitis and 19% developed chronic pouchitis. The company used the 46% figure to calculate the 10‑weekly constant probability of developing post-surgery complications for the 'post-surgery complications' health state, and assigned a lower utility score for the remainder of their lifetime in its model. The ERG explained that most people do not develop chronic pouchitis, and that acute pouchitis can be treated. Therefore, the ERG considered that 46% was not a correct estimate of the probability of developing chronic complications. Instead it used the value of 19%, which was consistent with the impact on quality of life applied in the model. The committee concluded that the ERG's approach of using the probability of chronic pouchitis was more appropriate for decision making.

3.18 Cost effectiveness was assessed by calculating net health benefit, because there were multiple comparators for each subgroup. The incremental net health benefit of filgotinib was compared with each comparator at a threshold of £20,000 and £30,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained for each subgroup. The company's and ERG's base case results included the confidential commercial discounts, which means they cannot be reported here. However, the committee recalled that there were several uncertainties in the company's approach, specifically:

3.19 The company considered filgotinib to be innovative because it is a second-generation JAK inhibitor that is a preferential and reversible inhibitor of JAK1. It explained that targeted inhibition of JAK1 could reduce inflammatory cytokine signalling in ulcerative colitis. Filgotinib is administered orally so there will be no additional costs associated with its use. The clinical experts noted that other treatments with similar class and efficacy are available. The committee acknowledged the benefits offered by filgotinib and that people value an oral treatment, but it noted that it had not been presented with evidence of any additional benefits that were not captured in the QALY measurements. The committee concluded that the benefits of filgotinib were adequately captured in the model.

3.20 The patient experts explained that for certain faith groups the impact of active disease and the effects of surgery may interfere with religious practices and cause distress. The committee did not consider this an equality issue that could be resolved by this appraisal. No other equality or social value judgement issues were identified.