CER Daily Newsfeed

Baloxavir Reduces Flu-Related Hospitalizations More than Oseltamivir

(12/17, Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D., News Medical) reports “...A new study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases reports that antiviral medicine baloxavir is associated with higher efficacy than oseltamivir in reducing the rates of hospitalization and emergency department visits in patients with influenza infection.” Full

Metformin vs Insulin in Pregnancy: Trials Continue

(12/16, Christine Kilgore, Medscape) reports “...[Maisa N. Feghali, MD, MS] said that, right now, there’s a role for both metformin and insulin. In a few years, she and others hope decision-making will be informed by findings from a multi-center, multi-million dollar study — coined the DECIDE trial — that is currently recruiting more than 1500 pregnant individuals with GDM in the United States. Participants will be randomized to either metformin or insulin, and mothers and children will be followed for 2 years after delivery. Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Initiative...” Full

NICE’s CEO Hunt Ends With Benger Appointment, Signaling Continuity AS NHS Reforms Loom

(12/16, Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Pink Sheet) reports “...Deputy chief Jonathan Benger moves up to become NICE’s fourth-ever CEO. While the face may be familiar, the challenges are anything but as the HTA body has launched a new joint scientific advice process with the MHRA and will implement new cost-effectiveness thresholds driven by a US trade deal.” Subscription Required

Perspectives from the Healthcare Economist: The EU Pharmaceutical Package and Most-Favored Nation Pricing – A Paradox in European Policy Design

(12/17, Jason Shafrin, Tiago Beck, The Evidence Base) comments “...Due to the increasing salience of reference pricing in US drug pricing policy, EU policymakers must recognize that pharmaceutical policy is increasingly operating in an integrated global market; yet, policy decisions continue to be made through national and regional processes. The EU's pharmaceutical package negotiators understandably focused on European regulatory and reimbursement objectives without formal coordination regarding US pricing policy. Similarly, US policymakers advancing MFN pricing likely gave limited consideration to cascading impacts on European access or the unintended consequences for innovation investment geography.” Subscription Required