Cost-effectiveness analysis of penpulimab combined with paclitaxel and carboplatin as first-line treatment for advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer

Penpulimab, in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin, demonstrates a cost-effectiveness advantage over placebo as a first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic squamous NSCLC in China, provided that long-term survival benefits align with extrapolations from the base case model. These findings support its prioritization in clinical practice within the current WTP thresholds. However, the economic conclusions remain contingent on resolving the uncertainties associated with immature OS data and validating extrapolation assumptions through extended follow-up studies.