HEOR News
GLP-1 Competition in UK Intensifies as Regulators Approve Second Oral Therapy (Yahoo Finance)
The United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved Eli Lilly’s oral weight loss therapy, Foundayo (orforglipron), 2 months after approving its rival in the weight-loss space, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide). Foundayo is also approved for type 2 diabetes. Read more.
US Restores Frozen Funding for Gavi, Provided Agency Works to Phase Out Thimerosal (Health Policy Watch)
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, welcomed the US government’s decision to release $600 million in frozen funding for the organization. However, the US money comes with a strict caveat, demanding Gavi work toward transitioning away from vaccines that use thimerosal as a preservative. Read more.
Ireland Is First to Conduct National Health Technology Assessment Based on JCA Data (BlueTeq)
Ireland’s National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) conducted the first national health technology assessment for a drug undergoing a European Union Joint Clinical Assessment. Following a rapid review, the NCPE recommended a spinal muscular atrophy drug not be reimbursed at the submitted price. Read more.
Surge in China-Originated Out-Licensing Deals Has Implications for HEOR in United States (Curta on Call)
China-originated out-licensing deals surged from roughly $13.9 billion in 2021 to a reported $136–138 billion in 2025, representing nearly one-third of global biopharma licensing value. This growth creates both an obligation and an opportunity for the health economics and outcomes research community. Read more.
Efficiency Frontier Analysis Ranks Biologic Therapies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa (JAMA Dermatology)
Researchers from Australia used efficiency frontier analysis to rank 3 monoclonal antibody therapies for hidradenitis suppurativa (adalimumab, secukinumab, and bimekizumab), based on 2 levels of clinical response and pricing data from Australia, the United States, Canada, France, and Germany. Read more.
Senate Passes Stopgap Bill Blocking Controversial Research Grantmaking Rule (AIP)
The US Senate passed a short-term spending bill that includes a provision to temporarily block the Office of Management and Budget from implementing its controversial proposed rule on federal grantmaking for research. The House of Representatives will vote on the bill after its August recess. Read more.
Low-Cost Biomarker Predicts Short-Term Function After Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage (Cureus)
C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio could be a simple, low-cost adjunct biomarker for early risk stratification of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in resource-limited settings, according to research from Bangladesh indicating the ratio was associated with short-term functional outcomes. Read more.
Drug Spending Data Suggest US Market Has Rewarded Innovation in Last Decade (USC)
New research from the University of Southern California suggests drug spending in the last decade has become increasingly focused on highly novel drugs. This shift appears to be driven by increased prescribing of more innovative medicines rather than high prices for a small number of drugs. Read more.
FDA Finalizes 3 Guidance Documents to Broaden Cancer Clinical Trial Eligibility (RAPS)
The US Food and Drug Administration Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) has finalized 3 guidance documents to improve participation and diversity in oncology clinical trials. Fewer than 5% of cancer patients currently in treatment are enrolled in clinical trials, despite more than 70% being willing, according to OCE. Read more.
World Health Organization Issues First Interim List of Regulatory Authorities for Medical Devices (WHO)
The World Health Organization has published its first interim list of regulatory authorities for medical devices, enabling regulators with limited resources to make use of evaluations and related work already done by others, while remaining responsible for their own decisions. Read more.
Real-World Prostate Cancer Outcomes Support PSA Test Threshold Used in Trials (Cancer)
An analysis of real-world data from the Veterans Health Administration supports clinical trial findings that a prostate-specific antigen nadir of <0.2 ng/ml within 9 months of initiating androgen deprivation therapy is associated with improved overall survival in men with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Read more.
Survey Projects US Health Plan Costs Will Approach Highest Levels in 15 Years (Segal)
The 2027 survey report from Segal, a benefits and human resources consulting firm, suggests health plan cost trends for employer-sponsored benefits in the United States are approaching their highest levels in 15 years, with the median trend for medical plans expected to reach 9.9%. Read more.
