The EPA conference in Amsterdam was a vibrant gathering of inspiring individuals. In addition to attending the conference, I attended various talks which addressed pressing issues in the pharmaceutical industry. Key takeaway themes included the challenge of climate change, the need for sustainable healthcare systems, and the upcoming Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA), which emphasised the importance of new strategies in HTA. The conference underscored the significance of collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem and the need for HTA bodies to adapt to the evolving landscape. By exploring these themes, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of new thinking in HTA which can help drive better health outcomes and value for patients and healthcare systems.
The first factor to be explored is the impact of climate change, which significantly contributes to the disease burden and underscores the need for comprehensive healthcare solutions. Decisions made at the product level can sometimes lead to worse patient outcomes and negative environmental impacts, as evidenced by the increasing carbon footprint associated with higher hospital visit rates and increased treatment intensity. Both of these issues can be mitigated by fostering a healthier population. This highlights the need for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare systems to understand the interdependence between patient and planet health, the necessity for collaboration across healthcare systems, and the importance of prioritising both health and environmental outcomes. The upcoming JCA process will further emphasise this by ensuring that evaluations of medical technologies provide value not only in terms of patient health outcomes but also environmental outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial for manufacturers to consider the environmental value of their product in their messaging.
The importance of innovative approaches such as Managed Entry Agreements (MEAs) and Outcome-Based Solutions (OBAs) for early market access were largely discussed throughout the entirety of EPA, especially due to the imminence of the JCA. Integrating OBAs in Clinical Evaluation Models (CEM) allows for instalment payments, easier data collection, and clawback mechanisms for treatment failures, which provides a more flexible and outcome-focused approach. These strategies are particularly crucial for Advanced Therapy Medical Products (ATMPs), which are currently under assessment by JCA, and often face high upfront costs and uncertain long-term benefits due to short clinical trial periods. MEAs and OBAs help manage these uncertainties, ensuring sustainable access to transformative treatments. Furthermore, the success of these approaches relies heavily on collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem. Engaging with Patient Advocacy Groups (PAGs), HTA bodies, and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) is essential for aligning on value elements and ensuring effective stakeholder involvement that can help create smoother processes down the line. By adopting these advanced methodologies, HTA can drive improved health outcomes and create a more sustainable and effective healthcare system, ultimately providing greater value for patients and healthcare systems.
The insights from the recent EPA conference in Amsterdam underscore the need for innovative approaches in HTA to address evolving healthcare challenges. The impact of disease burden on climate change is a developing theme to come out of EPA, emphasising the importance of linking patient and environmental health outcomes, urging pharmaceutical companies and healthcare systems to collaborate and focus on sustainable solutions. Discussions on MEAs and OBAs underscore the necessity for flexible, outcome-focused approaches in HTA, ensuring sustainable access to transformative treatments and fostering collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem. By embracing these advanced methodologies, we can drive better health outcomes and create a more sustainable and effective healthcare system for all.
