USE OF PHARMACOECONOMIC MESSAGES IN ONCOLOGY PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

Author(s)

Edward Kalpas, MD, MPH, Senior Analyst, Tarun Subrahmanian, MD, Senior Analyst, Lee Stern, MS, Director Analytica International, New York, NY, USA

Objective: To evaluate the presence of pharmacoeconomic messages in the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK for ten representative oncology products (Alimta, Avastin, Gemzar, Herceptin, Neulasta, Novantrone, Sutent, Tarceva, Taxotere, and Velcade). Methods: This qualitative assessment covered the following data sources: 1) Government websites (Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Institut für Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Gesundheitswesen, La Haute Autorité de santé, and Cochrane Reviews); 2) company sponsored product websites; 3) FDA and EMEA products labels; and 4) promotional materials (detail aid brochures, direct mail, and professional journal/newsletter ads). These data sources were searched for relevant pharmacoeconomic messaging including statements regarding cost, QoL, utility, patient preference, etc. Results: While health technology assessments have a clear impact on market access, specific examples of pharmacoeconomic data in promotional messaging was limited. Pharmacoeconomic messages, with particular focus on QoL, were more prominent in promotional materials of oncology products in Europe as compared to the US. Conclusion: While European regulatory bodies have long-embraced QoL/PROs (along with efficacy and safety) as key endpoints for approval, the FDA is starting to acknowledge pharmacoeconomics in their evaluations. Further research is warranted to determine if there is a correlation between pharmacoeconomic messaging and product uptake, with prescription or unit sales analysis combined with large scale physician surveys on influences of prescribing patterns.

Conference/Value in Health Info

2008-05, ISPOR 2008, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Value in Health, Vol. 11, No. 3 (May/June 2008)

Code

PCN87

Topic

Health Service Delivery & Process of Care

Topic Subcategory

Prescribing Behavior

Disease

Oncology

Explore Related HEOR by Topic


Your browser is out-of-date

ISPOR recommends that you update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on ispor.org. Update my browser now

×