News from Monday, February 2, 2026
Articles
Value Viewpoint: January 30, 2026
(1/30, Kimberly Westrich, LinkedIn) comments “On Tuesday, the Center for Innovation & Value Research announced the appointment of Marc Boutin as President and CEO, citing his lived experience as a caregiver and patient and his two decades of patient-centered leadership across policy, research, and healthcare innovation. Marc has most recently led global patient engagement at Novartis and previously spent nearly 20 years at the National Health Council (including five as President and CEO), with earlier leadership roles at the American Cancer Society. The Board said he is well-positioned to help the Center grow its influence and align healthcare decision-making around outcomes that matter most to patients, and I wholeheartedly agree.” Full
Rituximab May Lower Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis Renal Complications
(2/2, Manasi Talwadekar, Medscape) reports “Rituximab treatment vs cyclophosphamide treatment in adult patients with immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) was associated with lower risks for renal complications, such as end-stage renal disease and dialysis dependence.” Full
Opinion: Pricing Transparency Is Coming to the Pharma Industry
(2/2, Joshua R. Mansbach, BioSpace) comments “...Market Access teams need to work with their communications colleagues to translate cost-value data into contextualized narratives...Start with one drug and explain its price determination: the endpoints that drove value assessment, how quality-adjusted life years (QALY) data compared it to the standard-of-care and how payer feedback was implemented...The value of pharma’s work is undeniable, but the industry needs to confront a hard truth: many stakeholders don’t trust it.” Full
Patient Roles and Expectations in Effective HTA Engagement
(2/2, Katie McCool, The Evidence Base) reports “...She observed that ‘regulators now globally are requiring PED,’ and that ‘HTA agencies and value assessors are looking for patient-relevant endpoints.’ However, she cautioned against equating patient centricity with effective engagement, stressing that intent must be matched by rigorous practice. In her view, meaningful engagement requires: ‘Active, meaningful, authentic and collaborative interaction between patients and researchers across all stages, where decision-making is guided by patients' contributions.’” Full
Press Releases
Real-World Head-to-Head Analysis Shows 51% Reduction in Risk of Death for Patients with Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer Treated with ERLEADA® (Apalutamide) Versus Darolutamide Without Docetaxel Through 24 Months
(2/2, Johnson & Johnson Press Release) “...‘These real-world data show the survival benefit of apalutamide versus darolutamide in patients with mCSPC without the concurrent use of docetaxel. The results are consistent with other datasets showing similar overall survival benefit versus other commonly used agents,’ said Mehmet Bilen, M.D. Director, Genitourinary Medical Oncology Program, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. ‘This real-world analysis utilized large contemporary datasets using rigorous methodology to support clinical decision-making in the absence of prospective head-to-head studies that are likely impractical to conduct.’” Full
SEQSTER Announces Expanded Partnership with Praxis Precision Medicines to Accelerate Clinical Trials in CNS Disorders
(2/2, SEQSTER Press Release) “...SEQSTER's platform provides Praxis with automated access to patient-consented electronic health records from across the U.S. healthcare system, supporting patient screening, enrollment, and ongoing data collection for its EMPOWER observational study. The ENERGY program, which includes EMPOWER and the POWER clinical studies, has attracted approximately 5,000+ patients with epilepsy. ‘Praxis represents exactly the kind of innovative sponsor we built SEQSTER to support. One that understands the value of real-world data and is willing to rethink how clinical trials are conducted,’ said Ardy Arianpour, Chief Executive Officer of SEQSTER.” Full
Journals
Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Novel Antidiabetic Agents in the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Network Meta-Analysis
Ying-Tian Yang, et al.
January 28, 2026, Respiratory Medicine
Ustekinumab and JAK Inhibitors Outperform Vedolizumab as Second-Line Therapy in Anti-TNF-Experienced Patients with Ulcerative Colitis
Giuseppe Privitera, et al.
January 28, 2026, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
How Good Is Good Enough? A Simulation Study of Adaptive HTA
Jamaica Roanne V. Briones, MSc, et al.
January 30, 2026, Value in Health
Da Vinci Platform Robotic Adrenalectomy for Adrenal Neoplasms: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Randomized Trials Comparing Perioperative, Postoperative, and Economic Outcomes with Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
Wajahat Mirza, et al.
January 31, 2026, Journal of Robotic Surgery
Comparative Effectiveness of Acupoint Stimulation Therapies for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Network Meta-Analysis
Hui-Chuan Chou, et al.
February 2026, Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
Comparative Effectiveness Trials and the Quest for Personalized Treatments: The Case of Antipsychotics
T. Scott Stroup, M.D., M.P.H.
February 1, 2026, The American Journal of Psychiatry
The American Journal of Psychiatry
Applying the Argument-Based Approach to Validation with Clinical Outcome Assessments: Strategies for Constructing a Rationale
Kevin P. Weinfurt, PhD, et al.
February 2, 2026, Value in Health