OBJECTIVES: The National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) assesses all new drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency. Based on these assessments to the NCPE we investigated the characteristics of all oncology drugs since 2009 with a focus on precision oncology drugs, which benefit a subset of patients whose cancer displays specific molecular signatures.

METHODS: We developed a database derived from all pharmacoeconomic evaluations conducted by the NCPE from 2009 until May 2022. A subset of all biologic and small molecule oncology drugs was extracted, and additional information was added on whether the oncology drug was precision, first-in-class, or had orphan status. The descriptive statistics from this database were then compared for precision and non-precision oncology drugs.

RESULTS: Since 2009 there were 113 submissions for precision oncology drugs and 79 submissions for non-precision oncology drugs to the NCPE. Precision oncology drugs represented one third of all oncology submissions in 2010 which increased to two-thirds in 2021. 82% and 12% of all precision oncology drugs were first in class and orphan drugs respectively. Corresponding figures for non-precision oncology drugs were 53% and 38% respectively. Following a Rapid Review, a HTA was slightly less likely to be recommended for precision than non-precision oncology drugs (82% vs 89%). Finally, a positive reimbursement recommendation following a HTA was more likely for precision vs non-precision oncology drugs (12% vs 5%).

CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increase in precision oncology drugs evaluated by the NCPE. Precision and non-precision oncology drugs were equally as likely to attract a HTA despite differences in first in class and orphan status. Precision oncology drugs had more favourable reimbursement outcomes following a HTA compared to non-precision oncology drugs.