CER Daily Newsfeed

Reflecting on 2025, Looking to 2026: Experts Outline What to Expect for Drug Pricing and Market Access

(1/22, Joanne Walker, The Evidence Base) reports “...Related research from the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) suggests the IRA is already associated with a decline in industry-funded post-approval clinical trials, particularly for small-molecule drugs, raising concerns about longer-term innovation. As NPC author Jon D Campbell put it: ‘The evidence tells us that manufacturers are likely already adjusting their investment strategies in response to the reduced incentives for post-approval research and development.’ He added that continued evaluation of the IRA’s long-term effects will be important, especially for drug subgroups that may be disproportionately affected.” Full

RWD Is Transforming Mental Health, Neurology Managed Care: Mitzi Wasik, PharmD

(1/22, Rose McNulty, The American Journal of Managed Care) reports “...[Mitzi Wasik, PharmD:] Real-world data (RWD) are increasingly critical for both providers and payers to assess the true impact of therapies outside of clinical trials. RWD informs formulary decisions, value-based contracting, and policy development. Clinical trial data have long been recognized as a limitation following the launch of a drug. As we learn how to integrate real-world data in a meaningful way, a better understanding of how drugs work in the real-world population will continue to evolve.” Full

Immunotherapy Cost-Effectiveness Varies by Cancer Type

(1/23, Katie Lennon, Medscape) reports “...A systematic review of 69 economic evaluations revealed that adjuvant immunotherapy was cost-effective in 58% of studies, with higher Quality-Adjusted Life-Year gains reported in 91% of cases. Cost-effectiveness varied significantly by cancer type, treatment strategy, and healthcare system context, with industry-funded studies more likely to report favorable outcomes.” Full

Value-Based Payment And Managed Care Will Not Solve The Affordability Crisis

(1/23, Andrew M. Ryan, Hayden Rooke-Ley, Robert A. Berenson, Health Affairs Forefront) comments “...[W]e explain why new evaluations and speculative spillover theories do not withstand methodological scrutiny. We also argue that VBP and its sister program, MA, will not solve the US health care’s cost crisis. By outsourcing the cost containment function, VBP programs fail to confront the core drivers of spending: high prices, technology diffusion, and administrative costs.” Full