HEOR News

Shaping the Future of Global Health Technology Assessment (NICE)

The new Health Economics Methods Advisory has published its first draft report for public comment. The report examines whether factors other than health benefits and costs to the system should be considered when deciding if treatments should be recommended. The final report is due January 2026.
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Institute for Clinical and Economic Review Publishes Evidence Report on Treatments for Obesity (ICER)

ICER has published its revised Evidence Report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of semaglutide (injectable Wegovy, and a yet to be approved oral formulation) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) for the treatment of obesity and additional obesity-related outcomes such as cardiovascular-related risk. The organization has calculated a health benefit price benchmark to be between $9100 and $12,500 for injectable semaglutide, $8300 and $11,400 for oral semaglutide, and $11,500 and $15,800 for tirzepatide.
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NICE’s Backing of the Prostate Cancer Drug Abiraterone Could Help Thousands and Save the NHS Millions (NICE)

The final draft guidance for the drug marks a significant shift from the 2021 guidance, which at the time could not recommend abiraterone because it did not represent significant value for money to the National Health Service. Pushing the change in view is the availability of lower-cost generic versions of the drug.
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European Projects Insight Report (HIMSS)

The report captures the strategic direction, systemic challenges, and transformative potential of 12 European Union-funded digital health initiatives: CYLCOMED, EDiHTA, ENTRUST, FLUTE, Gravitate-Health, IDERHA, MedSecurance, NEMECYS, ONCOVALUE, SHAIPED, TRUMPET, and XiA. The goal of these projects is to develop solutions that improve interoperability, strengthen cybersecurity, embed ethical artificial intelligence, advance health technology assessment, support value-based care, and promote patient empowerment.
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Advancing AI in Bowel Cancer Screening (CORDIS)

In an effort to enhance the early detection of bowel cancer, Ireland’s BowelScreen program is taking part in the European Union-funded Microb-AI-ome project that investigates how the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analysis of gut microbiome data could improve future colorectal cancer screening. Patients at 3 research hospitals will be providing stool samples for microbiome analysis.
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Cost-Effectiveness of Linkage Case Management for Hospitalized People With HIV (JAMA Network Open)

While Daraja, a linkage case management intervention to improve HIV care engagement, was found to cost more than enhanced standard care, researchers found it was associated with improvements in disability-adjusted life-years. They concluded that the social worker-administered solution had a high probability of being regarded as cost-effective according to various cost-effectiveness threshold estimates.
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WHO Calls for a New Era of Strategic Urban Health Action With Global Guide to Unlock Healthy, Prosperous, and Resilient Societies (WHO)

A new guide for decision makers, “Taking a strategic approach to urban health,” responds to the growing demand for integrated solutions that address health challenges and promote health more broadly in urban settings. It is the first comprehensive framework of its kind to help governments plan urban health strategically, integrating evidence into policy and practice.
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RWE Is Growing Up, And Here’s Why That Matters (Clinical Leader)

An interview with ISPOR’s Chief Science Officer, Laura Pizzi, MPH, PharmD, offers a pragmatic, global-minded view of real-world evidence—one that’s both hopeful and candid about where the field of health economics and outcomes research still needs work.
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Epidemiological Characteristics of Heatstroke in China, 2010–2023: A Longitudinal Study Based on a National Heatstroke Surveillance System (The Lancet Regional Health Western Pacific)

With epidemiological studies of heatstroke limited in number and scope, researchers conducted an observational study of reported cases in China to better understand the epidemiological characteristics of heatstroke and advance evidence-based prevention and control strategies. The results, which highlight differences by population, region, and time of year, should inform formulation of evidence-based strategies for enhanced heatstroke preparedness and response.
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EMA Confirms Suspension of Sickle Cell Disease Medicine Oxbryta (EMA)

Officials say the marketing authorization of the drug remains suspended after European Medicines Agency human medicines committee reviewed emerging safety data and found the benefits of Oxbryta (voxelotor) no longer outweigh its risks.
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