May 2008 The ISPOR eBULLETIN provides updates of recent ISPOR activities and events. For detailed information on ISPOR activities, members are encouraged to go to: www.ispor.org. Please share these new ISPOR activities with your colleagues. MEETINGS ISPOR 13th Annual International Meeting, Toronto, Canada- OVER 1,100 ABSTRACTS SUBMITTED! (60% INCREASE) The 13th Annual International Meeting, "Vive la Différence - Enhancing/Expanding Outcomes Research One Country at a Time," will be held May 3-7, 2008, at the Sheraton Centre Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. For more information see: ISPOR 13th International Meeting >> ISPOR 3rd Asia-Pacific Conference, Seoul, South Korea ~300 ABSTRACTS SUBMITTED (28% INCREASE) The 3rd Asia-Pacific Conference "Evidence-based Health Care Decision Making in Asia Pacific: The Application of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research" will be held 7-9 September 2008. Abstract submission ends on 17 March 2008. Exhibit, symposium and sponsorship opportunities are now available. For more information see: ISPOR 3rd Asia-Pacific Conference >> ISPOR 11^th Annual European Congress, Athens, Greece The 11th Annual European Congress, "Moving and Improving Concepts & Evidence for Health Care Decisions" will be held 8-11 November 2008. Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities are now available. For more information see: 11th Annual European Congress >> ISPOR CONSORTIUM NEWS NEW! ISPOR Latin America Consortium New Chairs ISPOR is pleased to announce the 2008-2010 Chair & Chair-elect for the ISPOR Latin America Consortium, Federico Augustovski, MD, MSc, Director, Health Economic Evaluation and Technology Assessment, IEC, Argentina, & Guillermo Melendez, MD, MSc, Consultant, Mexican Health Foundation. ISPOR Latin America Consortium >> ISPOR LOCAL CHAPTER NEWS NEW! ISPOR Brazil Local Chapter 2nd Annual Congress ISPOR Brazil Local Chapter 2^nd Annual Congress was a great success, with 270 participants, 5 short courses, 6 plenary sessions and an HTA symposium sponsored by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. ISPOR Brazil Local Chapter >> NEW! ISPOR Venezuela Local Chapter 1st Meeting ISPOR Venezuela Local Chapter 1st Meeting was held in the city of Caracas on April 4, 2008.  It gathered many local professionals interested in the study of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. ISPOR Venezuela Local Chapter >> PUBLICATION DISCOUNTS New Publication Discount Available for ISPOR Members One new book is now available for ISPOR members at a special discounted price: Health Economics for Non-Economists. An Introduction to the Principles, Methods and Pitfalls of Health Economic Evaluations by Lieven Annemans. ISPOR Publication Discounts >> VALUE IN HEALTH NEW! Value in Health Supplement: Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research in Asia The Value in Health Supplement, "Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research in Asia," is now on-line. Emerging Health Economics and Outcomes Research in the Asia-Pacific Region Validity, Feasibility and Acceptability of Time Trade-Off and Standard Gamble Assessments in Health Valuation Studies: A Study in a Multiethnic Asian Population in Singapore Economic Implications of Entecavir Treatment in Suppressing Viral Replication in Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) Patients in China from a Perspective of the Chinese Social Security Program Cost-Utility Analysis of Intensive Blood Glucose Control with Metformin versus Usual Care in Overweight Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Beijing, P.R. China Cost-Effectiveness Study Comparing Cefoperazone-Sulbactam to a Three-Drug Combination for Treating Intraabdominal Infections in an Indian Health-Care Setting Comparison of the Initial Hospitalization Costs between the Patients Treated with Dobutamine and the Patients Treated with Amrinone for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in a Japanese Institute Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Thiazolidinediones in Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetic Patients Receiving Sulfonylureas and Metformin in Thailand A Difficult Balancing Act: Policy Actors' Perspectives on Using Economic Evaluation to Inform Health-Care Coverage Decisions under the Universal Health Insurance Coverage Scheme in Thailand Applying the Expectancy-Value Model to Understand Health Values Factors Affecting Health-Care Costs and Hospitalizations among Diabetic Patients in Thai Public Hospitals A Cost Function Analysis of Shigellosis in Thailand A Study on Indirect and Intangible Costs for Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis in Singapore Cholesterol Goal Attainment in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease and Elevated Coronary Risk: Results of the Hong Kong Hospital Audit Study The Reliability and Validity of a Korean Translation of the BASDAI in Korean Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis The Association of Body Mass Index with Health-Related Quality of Life: An Exploratory Study in a Multiethnic Asian Population System Dynamic Modeling: An Alternative Method for Budgeting Issues in Drug Pricing, Reimbursement, and Access in China with References to Other Asia-Pacific Region Drug Safety Surveillance in China and Other Countries: A Review and Comparison Health-Care Systems and Pharmacoeconomic Research in Asia-Pacific Region Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research in Asia Program Briefing: China, Pakistan, Malaysia, And South Korea Value in Health >> ISPOR CONNECTIONS NEW! ISPOR CONNECTIONS Volume 14, Issue 2 Now On-Line ISPOR CONNECTIONS Volume 14, Issue 2 is now available on-line. Featured articles include: Propensity Score Matching With Multi-Level Categories: An Application The Use of Conceptual Models, Conceptual Frameworks and Endpoint Models to Support Label Claims of Treatment Benefit Using Patient Reported Outcomes Can We Afford The Value Of Innovation? A New Special Interest Group for ISPOR? To view this issue, go to: ISPOR CONNECTIONS >> SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS/TASK FORCES The following are ISPOR Special Interest Groups (SIG) and Task Force forums held at the ISPOR 13th Annual International Meeting May 2-7, 2008, in Toronto, ON, Canada. Monday, May 5, 2008-7:30-8:30AM ISPOR Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) Task Force Forum: Multinational Trials - What Translations Are Required, What Methodology Should Be Used And What Methodology Supports Pooling The Data? Changing Culture or Language of an Instrument ISPOR Patient Registry SIG  Forum: Registry Design, Operations, Data & Taxonomy ISPOR Retrospective Databases SIG Forum: ISPOR Digest of International Databases For descriptions and speakers for Monday ISPOR Forums, go to: Monday ISPOR Forums >> Tuesday, May 6, 2008 ISPOR Health Technology Assessment SIG Forum: Navigating The Health Technology Assessment Process Around The World ISPOR Fellowship Standards Task Force Forum: Pharmacoeconomic and Outcomes Research Fellowship Standards ISPOR Medication Compliance & Persistence SIG Forum: Assessment Determinants and Economics of Medication Compliance and Persistence ISPOR Good Research Practices for ISPOR Retrospective Database Analysis Task Force  Forum: Design and Analysis of Non-Randomized Studies of Treatment Effects using Secondary Databases ISPOR Good Research Practices On Economic Data Transferability Task Force Forum: Good Research Practices On Economic Data Transferability ISPOR Quality Improvement in Cost-Effectiveness Research (QICER) Task Force Forum: Quality Improvement in Cost-Effectiveness Research ISPOR Student Network Forum: Overview of Decision Analysis and its Application For descriptions and speakers for Tuesday ISPOR Forums, go to: Tuesday ISPOR Forums >> NEW! ISPOR Code of Ethics The ISPOR Board of Directors approved the revised ISPOR Code of Ethics. ISPOR members are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards. To see the updated ISPOR Code of Ethics, go to: ISPOR Code of Ethics >> ISPOR AWARDS ISPOR Scientific Achievements Awards The ISPOR Awards Program is designed to foster and recognize excellence and outstanding technical achievements in pharmacoeconomics and out comes research. The 13th Annual International Meeting will recognize the following awardees at the ISPOR Awards Ceremony immediately following the 2nd Plenary Session on Tuesday, May 6, 2008: 2008 ISPOR Avedis Donabedian Outcomes Research Lifetime Achievement Awardee Bryan R. Luce PhD, MBA 2008 ISPOR Research Excellence for Methodology Awardee Andrea Manca PhD, MSc, for the paper, "Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Using Data from Multinational Trials: The Use of Bivariate Hierarchical Modeling," Medical Decision Making 2007;27:471-90. 2008 ISPOR Research Excellence for Practical Application Awardee Gregory S. Zaric PhD, for the paper, "A Little Planning Goes a Long Way: Multilevel Allocation of HIV Prevention Resources," Medical Decision Making 2007;27:71-81 2008 ISPOR Bernie O’Brien New Investigator Awardee Patrick W. Sullivan PhD 2008 International Fellowship Awardees Federico Augustovski MD, MSc Mohammed Fouad Jabr, RPh, PharmD, MBA, MSc, BSc Yot Teerawattananon MD, PhD ISPOR Scientific Achievement Awards >> TIP OF THE MONTH-EDUCATOR’S TOOL KIT The ISPOR Educator's Tool Kit catalogues useful teaching resources for the International Pharmacoeconomics Educator. To access the ISPOR Educator's Tool Kit, click the Education tab on the purple toolbar and select Educator's Tool Kit. << **************Advertisements************** >> August 18-20, 2008 Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA Improve your analytical and quantitative skills to enhance health outcomes research Perfect for administrators and clinicians new to the field! This program is geared to introductory-intermediate learning levels to help participants design, implement, and analyze outcomes studies, and critically review and use outcomes data for clinical decision making, health care planning, and technology development. The course provides participants with an overview of several topics in the exciting new field of health outcomes, equipping new comers with knowledge of the language and concepts. Who Should Attend - Health care providers, administrators, and researchers utilizing outcomes data for clinical decision-making Professionals involved in health care planning, disease management programs, and drug or device development Clinicians, nurses, and allied health professionals involved in outcomes research Administrators from third party payers, benefit plan sponsors, managed care, and insurance companies Pharmaceutical, health care technology and biotechnology scientists, managers, and executives CME and CEU Credits Available. For a detailed agenda or to register, visit:  Harvard School of Public Health, Center for Continuing Professional Education or call (617) 384-8692.  Please be sure to mention your Reference Code:  MDA08-IP3 in all correspondence. << **************Advertisements************** >> This newsletter is provided as a benefit of membership in ISPOR. If you received this from a colleague and are not a current ISPOR member, please consider becoming an individual member or organizational affiliate.  Contact membership services for more information and its use in health care decisions. The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research is an international organization promoting the science of pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes research. 3100 Princeton Pike, Suite 3E, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648 USA Tel: 609-219-0773 Toll Free: 1-800-992-0643 Fax: 609-219-0774

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER 3-7 May 2008 ISPOR 13th Annual International Meeting More >> 12-13 May 2008 ISPOR Thailand Chapter Annual Conference More >> 23 June 2008 Abstract submission Deadline ISPOR 11th Annual European Congress More >> QUICK LINKS 13th Annual International Meeting 3^rd Asia-Pacific Conference 11th Annual European Congress Value in Health ISPOR CONNECTIONS ISPOR Book of Terms Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Student Network ISPOR Speakers' Bureau Local Chapters ISPOR Latin America Consortium ISPOR Asia Consortium ISPOR Asia-Pacific Medial Device & Diagnostics Council Membership Employment