Xin W, Ding H, Fang Q, et al. - Researchers created a Markov model to determine the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab vs standard-of-care (SOC) treatment in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (r/mHNSCC) in China. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), which were estimated as the cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), were the primary outcome. The total mean cost of pembrolizumab was estimated to be US$45 861 and of SOC was US$41 950. As for effectiveness, pembrolizumab afforded 0.31 QALYs vs 0.25 QALYs for SOC therapy. For pembrolizumab vs SOC, the estimated ICER was US$65 186/QALY, which was higher compared with the willingness-to-pay threshold of US$28 130/QALY in China. Overall, findings did not suggest pembrolizumab to be a cost-effective treatment choice vs SOC therapy in patients with platinum-resistant r/mHNSCC in China.