ISPOR hit a clear high note at the Fifth Annual International Meeting. This year's conference drew 1000 attendees from around the world—a record for the Society. Many of this year's participants were new, both to the organization and the meeting. Throughout the 3 1/2-day event, registration lines swelled as meeting veterans checked in, and new members—attracted by our vibrant program and impressive speaker roster—registered on-site. From May 21 through May 24, ISPOR staff welcomed professionals from 29 countries and six continents, working in health care, government, industry, academic, managed care, and consulting environments.

Meeting 2000 boasted not only a record number of attendees, but also an even wider range of activities. Registrants were able to partake of morning and afternoon pre-meeting training courses, issue panel discussion sessions, podium and poster presentations, workshops, awards ceremonies, committee meetings, a medical device technology forum, a new and improved Professional Recruitment Assistance Program (PRAP), and numerous casual networking opportunities.

Pre-Meeting Activities

On Sunday morning before 7 am, meeting delegates began forming a queue at the ISPOR registration desk on the first level of the Marriott Conference Center. Delegates from Canada to New Zealand to Europe stopped by to register, pick up meeting materials, and ask questions.

By mid-morning nearly 200 attendees were engrossed in their four-hour training courses. The short courses offered registrants the opportunity to enhance or refresh their skills in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research or to use it in health care decision-making. Both beginner and advanced level classes were held to meet members' needs. The eye-opening morning lectures were Quality of Life Assessment Fundamentals, Statistical Consideration in Pharmacoeconomics Evaluations, Measuring Utilities and Willingness-To-Pay, and Decision Analysis-Introduction.

Another 200 packed the afternoon session of courses featuring Quality of Life Data Analysis, Measuring Productivity, Retrospective Database Analysis, and Decision Analysis-Advanced. Continuing Education credits for the courses were available through Butler University of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Day One

On Monday, May 22, Gerry Oster PhD, General Chair of the Fifth Annual International Meeting Program Planning Committee, officially welcomed delegates. 1999-2000 ISPOR President Bryan R. Luce PhD, MBA delivered an exhilarating Outgoing Address to the assembly, after which he presented the ISPOR Research Excellence Award for Methodology to Andrew R Willan PhD, Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, St. Joseph Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, for his paper, "Sample Size and Power Issues in Estimating Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Rations from Clinical Trials and Data," Health Economics 1999:8:203-11. Michael K. Gould MD, MSc, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, was the winner of the Application Excellence Award for his paper, "Low-Molecular Weight Heparins Compared with Unfractionated Heparin for Treatment of Acute Deep Venous Thrombosis," Annals of Internal Medicine 1999:130(10):789-99.

The FIRST PLENARY SESSION offered attendees US and European theories of the future of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research in the new millennium. John M. Eisenberg MD, MBA, Agency for Health Care Research & Quality, Department of Health & Human Services, was the first keynote speaker. He discussed "A US Perspective on the Future of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research," anticipating that new trends will emphasize public-private collaborations. Michael Drummond Mcom, Dphil, Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, UK, followed with "The Future of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research: Will the Bubble Burst? A European Perspective." His presentation contrasted the mixed opinions of European health care decision-makers as to the validity and relevance of economic studies.

After viewing more than 100 poster presentations and 40 exhibits on display, participants headed to PODIUM PRESENTATIONS on the topics of: Decision Analytic Modeling moderated by David Veenstra PharmD, PhD, University of Washington; Retrospective Database Analysis moderated by David Thompson PhD, Innovus Research; Drug Use and Health Care Policy Research moderated by Sean Sullivan PhD, MS, University of Washington; and Quality of Life Evaluations by Mike Nichol PhD, University of Southern California.

Between lunch and issue panels many attendees, both students and professionals, made their way to the second floor for ISPOR's Professional Recruitment Assistance Program (PRAP). The program was redesigned this year to provide a seamless, and confidential (if requested), two-way "mailbox" system for employers and applicants to communicate regarding current job opportunities in the field. Applicants and employers were able to review job descriptions and resumes, then hold private, on-site interviews at their convenience. At the close of the meeting, more than 28 positions had been posted and 60 applicants were registered with the program. These numbers represent nearly a three-fold increase over last year.

The ISSUE PANEL DISCUSSION SESSIONS were a new dimension added to this year's program to allow more in-depth discussion in an intimate setting on issues of particular importance to our membership. The four concurrent sessions were To P or Not to P: Significance Testing and Confidence Intervals in Outcomes Research, led by Joseph Heyes PhD, Biostatistics and Research Data Systems, Merck Research Labs, Blue Bell, PA; Incorporation of Non-Medical Costs in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: A Practical Guide, led by Bernard Bloom PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Is there Utility to Utilities? led by Bernie O'Brien PhD, McMaster University, Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Hamilton, ON, Canada; and The Role of Consumers in Medical Decision Making, led by Dee Ellison, National Health Council, Washington, DC.

As the first full day of activities drew to a close, participants broke out into two sessions of hour-long CONTRIBUTED WORKSHOPS, followed by the ISPOR BUSINESS MEETING, where ISPOR's nine committees and three special interest groups reported the status of last year's projects. Bryan Luce PhD, MBA, adjourned the business meeting following introduction of the ISPOR 2000-2001 Board of Directors. Afterward an Open House Reception was held in the exhibit hall, while invited VIPs adjourned to a Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine Panel Dinner, hosted by Bryan Luce.

Day Two

After several early morning breakfasts for the Faculty Networking Group, Institutional Council, Education Steering Committee, and the VIH Editorial group, delegates packed the ballroom for the Incoming Presidential Address delivered by Jon C. Clouse MS, Ingenix Pharmaceutical Services, Eden Prairie, MN. ISPOR Service Awards were presented to Robert S. Epstein MD, MS, Medical Affairs, Merck-Medco Managed Care; Diana I. Brixner RPh, PhD, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Peter G. Davey MD, FRCP, University of Dundee, Medicines Monitoring Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, and Gordon J. Vanscoy PharmD, MBA, Managed Health Care, Stadtlander Drug Company, Inc. These recipients were honored for serving on ISPOR's Executive Board. Gerry Oster PhD and Donna Rindress PhD, BioMedCom Consultants Inc, were recipients of ISPOR Distinguished Service Awards for serving, respectively, as Program Chair for the Fifth Annual Meeting and as Editor of ISPOR News from 1996 to 2000. Del Persinger, Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) Foundation and Jean Paul Gagnon PhD, PhRMA Foundation Pharmacoeconomics Advisory Committee Chair presented the PhRMA Foundation Faculty Development Awards to Denise Globe PhD, University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy, and David Holdford PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Pharmacy.

At the dais discussing the SECOND PLENARY SESSION topic of Health Care Delivery and Financing in the New Millennium was William L. Roper MD, MPH, Dean, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Predicting that managed care will become looser and offer more freedom of choice to patients in the future, he presented "The 21st Century: Are We Finally Ready for Health Care Quality?"

Contributed PODIUM PRESENTATIONS continued into the early afternoon covering the areas of Productivity/Indirect Costs, moderated by Brad Stolshek PharmD, Roche Laboratories, Inc., Nutley, NJ; Costs Analyses, moderated by Josephine Li-McLeod PhD, Bayer Corporation, Milford, CT; Cost-Effectiveness/Cost-Benefit Analyses, Session 1, moderated by Peter Neumann ScD, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and Drug Utilization/Compliance, moderated by Debbie Atherly MPH, RPh, Parke-Davis, Seattle, Washington.

When the final four ISSUE PANEL DISCUSSION SESSIONS were convened panelists discussed the value of observational research designs, the difference between efficacy and effectiveness, the impact of cost-effectiveness analyses in allocation and treatment decision-making, and approaches to three tier co-pays. Use and Abuse of Administrative Data: Selection Bias in Retrospective Research, was led by J. Michael Sprafka, MPH PhD, Epidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Procter & Gamble, Mason, OH. On the panel were Susan Anton MPH, DrPh, Outcomes Research, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Wallingford, CT; Peter Davey MD; and David E. Lilienfeld MD, MPH, Pharmacoepidemiology, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ. Extrapolating from Efficacy to Effectiveness: Issues and Controversies was led by Clifford Goodman PhD, Medical Technology, The Lewin Group, Falls Church, VA. Panelists were Deborah Atherly MPH, RPh, Healthcare Management, Parke-Davis, Seattle, WA, and Deborah Marshall PhD, Health Economics & Medical Research, Bayer Diagnostics, Emeryville, CA. Cost-Effectiveness vs Budgetary Impact: Breaking Down the Silos, was led by Scott Weingarten MD, MPH, Cedars Sinai Health System, Beverly Hills, CA. Panelists were Jeff Shornick MD, RWJ Health Policy Fellow, Office of Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Washington, DC; Grant Lawless MD, RPh, Corporate Accounts Pharmacoeconomics, Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA; and Hugh Levaux PhD, The Lewin Group, San Francisco, CA. Evolving Issues in Prescription Drug Coverage was led by Patricia Deverka MD, MS, Outcomes Measurement and Performance Assessment, Merck-Medco Managed Care, LLC, Franklin Lakes, NJ. Panelists were Gene Reeder, PhD, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; Paul Greenberg MD, Medical Affairs, Merck-Medco Managed Care, LLC, Franklin Lakes, NJ; Barbara Ryland Esq., Michaels & Bonner, PC, Washington, DC; and Suzanne Rivkin PharmD, Pharmacy Quality Improvement, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, Farmington Hills, MI.

Later in the day, delegates could choose to attend the Medical Device Technology Forum or the ISPOR Student Forum.

Founding Chair of the ISPOR Student Network, Mohamed A. Omar RPH, opened the STUDENT FORUM. After Kent Summers RPh, PhD, distributed student awards, individual Chapters gave their reports. Jean Paul Gagnon

PhD, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Kansas City, MO, followed with suggestions for students on how to deliver winning presentations, and Zeba Khan MS, PhD, Glaxo Wellcome Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, discussed the relevance of health outcomes research to the pharmaceutical industry.

The final event of the evening, THE TEXAS STOMP PARTY, offered attendees the opportunity to relax and meet & greet their contemporaries, while learning the Texas Line Dance, Square Dancing and The Texas Two-Step.

Closing Sessions

On the last day of the meeting, breakfasts were held for committees and special interest groups including the Newsletter Committee, Statistics, Managed Care, Retrospective Analysis, and Disease Management. Afterwards there were several contributed PODIUM PRESENTATIONS on Methodologic Issues/Advances, Burden of Illness/Trial-Based Economic Evaluation, Cost-Effectiveness/Cost-Benefit Analyses, Session 2, and a special Student Session. The moderators were David Smith PhD, University of York, York, UK; Jeffrey McCombs PhD, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; C. Daniel Mullins PhD, University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD; and Eva Lydick PhD, SmithKline Beecham, Collegeville, PA, respectively.

The FINAL PLENARY SESSION of the 5th Annual International Meeting tackled the issue of Regulation of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research in the New Millennium. Lou Garrison PhD, Health Economics & Strategic Pricing, Roche Pharmaceuticals, Palo Alto, CA, moderated and also served as the Meeting Chair for the Plenary Sessions. Rod Taylor MSc, PhD, National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), London, UK, addressed "Pharmaceutical Regulation: The Early Experience of the NHS National Institute for Clinical Excellence — Where Are We Headed?" He outlined NICE's technology appraisal program, shared early experiences and challenges, and reflected on key methods the organization anticipates employing to move its program forward. Laurie Burke RPh, MPH, Evidence Review Branch, US Food and Drug Administration, presented issues on regulation of pharmaceutical promotional claims. Finally, Paul Radensky MD, JD, Health Law Department, McDermott, Will & Emory, Miami, FL, delivered "Regulation and Promotion of Outcomes Research Now and in The Future: An Industry Perspective," presenting information from a recent ISPOR survey of the regulation of pharmacoeconomics outcomes research information.

The ISPOR Fifth Annual International Meeting officially adjourned after the 2000 Leadership Luncheon. Plans for the 6th Annual Meeting in 2001 are already under way to ensure that it is as dynamic and successful as this year's. Until then, we look forward to seeing you at our Third Annual European Conference in Antwerp, Belgium, November 5-7, 2000.