Narrative Review of Total Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) Gains From Oncology Medicines Reimbursed From 2020 To 2025 in Ireland
Author(s)
Caolan Halpin, MSc, Sophie Blaney, MSc, Ian Thompson, MSc.
Pfizer, Dublin, Ireland.
Pfizer, Dublin, Ireland.
OBJECTIVES: Pharmacoeconomic assessments extrapolate QALYs over a lifetime horizon, incorporating both length of life and quality of life. Previous research has not quantified the cumulative incremental QALYs of reimbursed oncology medicines in Ireland. The aim of this study is to estimate the total QALY gains attributable to reimbursed oncology medicines by combining incremental QALY and number of patients treated from HTA reports.
METHODS: A review was conducted of the HSE’s oncology drug management system to identify reimbursed indications from 2020-2025. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) database was searched to determine whether a HTA was required for reimbursement. Only reimbursed indications requiring a HTA were in scope. We extracted incremental QALYs compared to standard of care. The total QALY gain was estimated by multiplying the per-patient QALY gain as per NCPE adjusted base case, by the estimated number of patients treated 5-years post reimbursement, using estimates provided in the NCPE HTA report. Analyses were stratified by cancer type. Descriptive statistics on the incremental QALY and number of patients treated were reported.
RESULTS: 65 indications (36 oncology medicines) required a full HTA and were subsequently reimbursed in years 2020 - 2025, with the largest contributions from treatments for haematological malignancies, breast cancer and lung cancer. The median [Interquartile Range] incremental QALY from included reports was 0.95[0.58 - 1.42]. Within 5 years of reimbursement, it’s estimated 22,762 Irish patients would benefit from newly reimbursed oncology indications. The total estimated incremental QALYs gained for patients was 21,107.
CONCLUSIONS: This analysis outlines the potential number of patients to be treated and benefit from new cancer medicines reimbursed between 2020-2025. The median incremental QALY from the HTA’s was approximately 1 year. This study provides a different perspective to patient and overall population value of new oncology medicines compared to standard methods such as overall survival.
METHODS: A review was conducted of the HSE’s oncology drug management system to identify reimbursed indications from 2020-2025. The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) database was searched to determine whether a HTA was required for reimbursement. Only reimbursed indications requiring a HTA were in scope. We extracted incremental QALYs compared to standard of care. The total QALY gain was estimated by multiplying the per-patient QALY gain as per NCPE adjusted base case, by the estimated number of patients treated 5-years post reimbursement, using estimates provided in the NCPE HTA report. Analyses were stratified by cancer type. Descriptive statistics on the incremental QALY and number of patients treated were reported.
RESULTS: 65 indications (36 oncology medicines) required a full HTA and were subsequently reimbursed in years 2020 - 2025, with the largest contributions from treatments for haematological malignancies, breast cancer and lung cancer. The median [Interquartile Range] incremental QALY from included reports was 0.95[0.58 - 1.42]. Within 5 years of reimbursement, it’s estimated 22,762 Irish patients would benefit from newly reimbursed oncology indications. The total estimated incremental QALYs gained for patients was 21,107.
CONCLUSIONS: This analysis outlines the potential number of patients to be treated and benefit from new cancer medicines reimbursed between 2020-2025. The median incremental QALY from the HTA’s was approximately 1 year. This study provides a different perspective to patient and overall population value of new oncology medicines compared to standard methods such as overall survival.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
HPR144
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Reimbursement & Access Policy
Disease
Oncology