OBJECTIVES: To identify and categorize how often and what kind of RWE is being communicated proactively on brand websites for the top 20 CMS spending medicines.

METHODS: The top 20 CMS spending medicines were identified using CMS.gov. The corresponding medicines’ patient and healthcare professional (HCP) brand websites were identified. Within these websites, keyword searches were conducted to identify whether RWE was communicated on the brand websites. The number of brand websites presenting RWE was quantified and the information was characterized.

RESULTS: A total of 5 of the top 20 CMS spending medicines used RWE on their brand websites all of which were exclusively on HCP websites. Cardiovascular, respiratory, gastroenterology, and oncology therapeutic areas were represented. To generate the RWE (6 in total, 2 for the same product), a variety of databases and methodologies were used: claims analysis (n=3), registries (n=2), and non-interventional open label study (n=1). On the brand websites, 5/6 (83%) RWE endpoints aligned with endpoints found in the approved label. One RWE study had a quality-of-life endpoint that was not in the label, while 1 study examined a subgroup absent from the pivotal clinical trial.

CONCLUSIONS: RWE is being utilized by manufacturers to highlight product information beyond clinical trial data. However, RWE is underutilized for the top CMS spending medicines, presenting an opportunity for manufacturers to highlight and leverage RWE on brand websites.