CER Daily Newsfeed

Upadacitinib Found to Improve Ulcerative Colitis Outcomes at 12 Months

(12/23, Elana Gotkine, Medical Xpress) reports “For patients with ulcerative colitis, upadacitinib is associated with improved disease-specific outcomes at 12 months compared with tofacitinib, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.” Full

Finally, a New Drug for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

(12/23, Patrice Wendling, Internal Medicine News) reports “A drug that combines the atypical antipsychotic brexpiprazole and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline provides significantly greater relief of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms than sertraline plus placebo, results of a phase 3 trial showed. The medication is currently under review by the [FDA] and if approved, will be the first pharmacologic option for PTSD in more than 20 years.” Full

Inside the CMS Plan to Streamline Quality Measurement

(12/23, Bridget Early, Modern Healthcare) reports “...The Universal Foundation is meant to ease the burden on providers and insurers by establishing standardized metrics while sustaining incentives that promote high-quality care, according to CMS...The Universal Foundation shows signs of success, [National Quality Forum CEO Dana Gelb Safran] said. ‘I was at a National Academy of Medicine meeting in May that was on the future of performance measurements, and that was the first time I've ever been in a room where I've heard folks say, “You're starting to feel the difference in measure alignment,”’ Safran said.” Subscription Required

Launching a Novel Drug Treatment in Japan

(12/23, Ross Maclean, Christophe Segalini, Darren Talbot, PMLiVE) comments “...Using the application of health technology assessment (HTA) in Europe as a model, Japanese authorities created a cost-effectiveness evaluation (CEE) process in 2019. Designed as a mechanism to control healthcare spending, this process reflects the methodology of HTA, which assesses the clinical benefit of a new healthcare technology and balances this against the willingness of a society to pay for the added value.” Full