LivaNova PLC, a medical technology company, said a new cost analysis found that the company’s Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy (VNS Therapy) System results in lower resource utilization and lower cost for drug-resistant epilepsy patients when compared to continued treatment with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). The analysis, published in Advances in Therapy and supported by LivaNova, showed initial costs for the VNS Therapy device, including placement and programming, were estimated to be offset 1.7 years post-implant and equated to an estimated net cost savings of $77,480 per patient over five years. The net cost savings are due primarily to a reduction in seizure-related hospitalizations, resulting in a 21.5 percent decrease in costs compared to treatment with AEDs alone.
“Not only did the analysis demonstrate a significant cost savings associated with VNS Therapy treatment in comparison to AED treatment alone, but this savings is based on a very important health outcome— the reduction of seizure frequency,” said Bryan Olin, LivaNova senior vice president for Clinical, Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs. “By reducing seizure frequency with VNS Therapy, we may also see a positive impact on patients’ quality of life.”