The Price of Remission: Modeling the Total Financial Burden, Quality-of-Life Impairment, and Healthcare Dependence in Lupus Compared With Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease leading to chronic patient impairment, healthcare dependency, side effects from immunosuppressive drugs, and accumulation of medical costs. A single infusion of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy (CTCT) is currently expensive, approaching USD 500,000, but the lifetime costs of SLE, including medications, hospitalizations, travel, mental health effects, and lost income, may surpass this figure within years to over a decade, depending on disease severity. This study compares the medical, lifestyle, and quality-of-life financial burdens of SLE against a single CTCT infusion at a reference price of USD 500,000, suggesting that even at current prices, CTCT may be cost-effective for patients living with high to very severe disease activity. Beyond more quantifiable factors, the chance for complete remission and independence from the healthcare system could represent a major improvement in patient quality of life.