OBJECTIVES: Payers in France and Germany utilize an added benefit system to determine recommendations of new medicines. This study aims to analyze the latest trends in health technology assessment (HTA) outcomes published by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA; Germany) and the National Authority for Health (HAS; France) for oncology treatments.

METHODS: An in-house Oncology HTA database containing over 1,200 HTA decisions for oncology treatments approved by the European Medicines Agency was used. A retrospective analysis of assessments from the G-BA and HAS in 2020 was conducted and compared to HTA outcomes in 2018 and 2019.

RESULTS: The G-BA published guidance on 43 oncology treatments in 2020, where 25.6% were considered to provide no added benefit; a marked decrease from 50.0% in 2019. In the remaining submissions, 18.6% had non-quantifiable added benefit, 37.2% minor added benefit (a notable increase from previous years), and 18.6% considerable added benefit. No oncology treatments demonstrated major added benefit.

HAS published guidance on 32 oncology treatments in 2020, where 18.8% of treatments were determined to have insufficient medical benefit (SMR). No clinical improvement (ASMR V) was reported in 46.9% of HTAs, an overall increasing trend since 2018. Minor improvement (ASMR IV) was reported in 18.8%, showing a gradual decrease from 32.3% in 2018 and 26.3% in 2019. Moderate improvement (ASMR III) was reported for 12.5% of treatments, lower than previous years. No treatments received an ASMR score of II or I (important or major).

In 2020, 24 oncology treatments were assessed by both HAS and G-BA. There was general agreement in the HTA decisions from both agencies.

CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a trend of fewer treatments receiving the lowest benefit ratings from the G-BA, but not from HAS. Among the oncology treatments assessed by both agencies in 2020, general agreement on added value was observed.