The treatment of advanced breast cancer represents a substantial economic burden to healthcare systems. The need to justify spending in this area is clear, but the process is hampered by the limited number of measurable benefits in terms of traditional clinical endpoints, such as survival. Now, a new decision-analytic, computer-based model has been designed to evaluate the cost utility of the taxoids docetaxel and paclitaxel vs standard second-line therapy in women with recurrent metastatic breast cancer. The model, which views the data from a healthcare perspective, was presented at HealthEcon'96 [Health Economics & Outcomes Research in the Pharmaceutical Industry;London, UK; January 1996]. The conference was organised by IBC UK and Adis International.