OBJECTIVES: Mucormycosis is a rare invasive fungal infection with high lethality, affecting mainly patients with hematological neoplasia, decompensated diabetes, and covid-19 infection. The aim was to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of liposomal Amphotericin B (standard treatment) versus isavuconazole for treating mucormycosis in the consolidation phase from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Health System.

METHODS: A decision tree model was built. The analysis considered the costs of the treatment over a six-month time horizon. This included hospitalization during the entire course of treatment and the expenditures related to dialysis, complication occurring in 5% (3%–6%) of cases treated with the Amphotericin B. Appointments with specialists were included in the isavuconazole arm, and amphotericin B was used if the patient failed to respond to isavuconazole. The utility of the patient with mucormycosis, cured and with renal failure was estimated. Uncertainties were assessed through probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS: The average cost of amphotericin B and isavuconazole arm was R$1.054.874,39 and R$522.344,05, respectively. The utility was 0.479 with amphotericin B and 0.480 with isavuconazole. The ICER was R$ -684,494,237 (dominant). In deterministic sensitivity analysis, the probability of dialysis was the variable with the greatest impact. In probabilistic analysis, the ICER is distributed in the right and left lower quadrant, the acceptability curve for all the scenarios analyzed is favorable for isavuconazole. The budget impact suggests a potential savings of between R$ 350 million and R$ 415 million over five years.

CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of mucormycosis during the consolidation phase with isavuconazole represents a lower cost, besides the convenience of oral treatment and reduced incidence of severe adverse events, with mortality similar to the Amphotericin B arm. In Brazil, the formulation of posaconazole approved is inadequate for treating mucormycosis during the consolidation phase, therefore isavuconazole is the single oral drug available.