OBJECTIVES: The early benefit rating in Germany assesses the additional clinical benefit using the same clinical data used in submissions evaluated by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE). As such, we investigate the association between the additional benefit rating in Germany and Rapid Review (RR) outcomes in Ireland.

METHODS: A dataset was created which included data on the outcomes of all RRs conducted by the NCPE from 2015 to 2020. The outcome from the RR was recorded i.e., Health Technology Assessment (HTA) required or HTA not required. This dataset also included data on ICD-10, first-in-class, orphan status and Germany’s additional benefit. Germany’s additional benefit rating was recorded as Lesser Benefit, No Benefit, Not Quantifiable, Minor, Considerable and Major.

RESULTS: There were 217 matched pairs of RR and Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) outcome, 81% of which required a HTA (n=176). Of those that required a HTA, 49%, 64% and 24% were oncology, first-in-class and orphan drugs respectively. Corresponding figures for drugs that did not require a HTA (n=41) were 27%, 51% and 10% respectively. Drugs that did not require a HTA were more likely to receive a no Benefit rating compared to drugs that required a HTA (78% vs 52%). Finally, the RR outcome and additional benefit ratings were correlated (p<0.05, chi-square test, Cramer’s V = 0.241) translating to a statistically significant dependent relationship.

CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight that there is a correlation between the RR outcomes in Ireland with that of the additional benefit rating in Germany, however the effect size represents a small effect between the two variables.