OBJECTIVES : Payers are continually assessing innovative new oncology treatments to determine those which demonstrate added benefit to patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on health technology assessments (HTA) done by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA; Germany) and the National Authority for Health (HAS; France), countries which use an added benefit system for decision-making.

METHODS : Analyses were carried out on oncology treatments approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The assessment of these therapies by G-BA and HAS between 2017 and 2019 were reviewed. An Oncology HTA database containing clinical and economic data from over 1200 HTA decisions was used.

RESULTS : The G-BA published guidance from 42 oncology treatments in 2019, where 50% were considered to provide no added benefit; a marked increase from 26% in 2018 and 41% in 2017. In the submissions where added benefit was reported; 23.8% were non-quantifiable, 9.5% minor, and 16.7% showed considerable added benefit.

HAS published guidance from 37 oncology treatments in 2019, where 16% of treatments were determined to have insufficient medical benefit (SMR) and were not reimbursed. No clinical improvement was conferred in 30% of HTAs, represented by improvement in medical benefit (ASMR) scores of V. Minor improvement (ASMR IV) was reported in 27%, and moderate improvement (ASMR III) was reported for 24% of treatments. No treatments showed an important or major improvement (scores of I or II). An ASMR score of IV or III was reported in 51% of HTAs in 2019, compared to 33% in 2018, and 41% in 2017.

CONCLUSIONS : Similar proportions of HTAs conducted by France and Germany reported added benefit in 2019. Identifying key drivers behind these HTA decisions may help to understand country differences in decision-making, and variations over time.