NPC at ISPOR 2025

Tuesday, May 13

Student Reception | 7:00 – 8:30 PM

NPC will host a Student Networking Reception to offer students an opportunity to network with established HEOR experts who will share advice, career opportunities, and life experiences.

Wednesday, May 14th

Poster Session | 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM 

• Evaluating Therapeutic Alternative Selection in Medicare’s Initial Drug Price Negotiation Explanations

  Presenting Author: Tyler D. Wagner, PharmD, PhD, National Pharmaceutical Council

  Co-Authors: Jacquelyn McRae, MS, PharmD, Jon D. Campbell, PhD, Julie A. Patterson, PharmD, PhD of the National Pharmaceutical Council

  Poster

   

• Are Commercial Insurance Premiums Associated With the 340B Drug Pricing Program?

  Presenting Author: James D. Motyka, PharmD, National Pharmaceutical Council

  Co-Authors: Neal Masia, PhD, of Health Capital Group; Kimberly Westrich, MA, and Jon D. Campbell, PhD, of the National Pharmaceutical Council

  Poster

   

• Are Existing Descriptions of Unmet Medical Need Fit for Purpose in the CMS Drug Negotiation Program Context?

  Presenting Author: Michael DiStefano, PhD, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

  Authors: Antal T. Zemplenyi, MSc, PhD, and Harry Gyamfi, Masters of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; David Ameyaw, MSc, of Syreon; Hanke Zheng, MS, PhD and Jon Campbell, PhD of the National Pharmaceutical Council; Omar A. Escontrias, MPH, DrPH and Silke Schoch, BA, MA, of the National Health Council; Robert B. McQueen, BA, MA, PhD of the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science

  Poster

   

Educational Symposium | 3:15 – 4:15 PM

Navigating the Evolving Landscape of US Healthcare Policy Reforms: Implications for Drug Pricing, Access, and Health Equity 

Moderator: Elisabeth A Fenwick, PhD, OPEN Health HEOR & Market Access

Speakers:

• Anton Avanceña, The University of Texas at Austin
• C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
• Grace E Fox, OPEN Health HEOR & Market Access
• Julie Patterson, PharmD, PhD, National Pharmaceutical Council

This educational symposium will explore drug pricing and access under the new US administration, alongside broader implications for health equity. Experts will explore both the short- and long-term effects of these healthcare policy shifts and consider their impact on global markets. The session will offer critical insights into the challenges and opportunities arising from these healthcare policy changes, as well as provide practical guidance on navigating this new era.

Session Information

Bringing Us Together or Pushing Us Apart: Will JCA, HEMA, and Other Cross-Border Collaboration Initiatives Improve Patient Access?

Moderator: Erika Wissinger, PhD, Cencora

Speakers:

• Michael Drummond, MCom, DPhil, University of York
• Eldon Spackman, PhD, O'Brien Institute for Public Health
• Jon Campbell, PhD, National Pharmaceutical Council

Following the implementation in January 2025 of the EU Regulation on health technology assessment (HTAR), this panel will explore the question of whether global HTA collaboration is an achievable goal. After briefly reviewing the remit of these, and other, cross-border initiatives, the panel will discuss how these collaborative efforts aim to accommodate the various needs, priorities, and circumstances of participating countries; and what the potential impact might be to health technology developers (HTDs). The panel will also offer insights into how HTDs might address the challenges they face and optimize the opportunities these cross-border collaborative initiatives might offer.

Session Information

Poster Session | 4:00  – 7:00 PM 

• What Proportion of the Total Value Generated by New Drugs Accrues to Manufacturers? A Review of Empirical Estimates of Producer Surplus.

  Presenting Author: Robert Nordyke, BS, MS, PhD, Petauri 

  Co-Authors: Sree Mangala Chava, MSc, and Nicole Lodowski, BS, MPH, of Petauri; Jon Campbell, PhD, and Tyler D. Wagner, PharmD, PhD of the National Pharmaceutical Council; Anirban Basu, PhD, of Salutis Consulting LLC

  Poster

   

• The Cost of 340B to States.

  Presenting Author: James D. Motyka, PharmD, National Pharmaceutical Council

  Co-Authors: Chuan Sun, MS, MA, Shanyue Zeng, MA, and Rory Martin, PhD, of IQVIA and Jon D. Campbell, PhD, James D. Motyka, PharmD, and Kimberly Westrich, MA, of the National Pharmaceutical Council

  Poster

   

• Impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act on 2025 Formulary Coverage in Medicare Part D Plans

  Presenting Author: Julie A. Patterson, PharmD, PhD, National Pharmaceutical Council

  Co-Authors: Hanke Zheng, MS, PhD, and Jon D. Campbell, PhD of the National Pharmaceutical Council

  Poster

   

• Early Signals of Inflation Reduction Act Impact on Pharmaceutical Investment and Prioritization Decisions

  Presenting Author: William J. Canestaro, PhD, MSc of the University of Washington School of Pharmacy

  Co-Authors: Jon D. Campbell, PhD, and Julie A. Patterson, PharmD, PhD of the National Pharmaceutical Council

  Poster

Workshop | 5:00 – 6:00 PM

Advancing Inclusive Healthcare Benefit Design: Engaging Employees Through Participatory Decision-Making

Moderator: Kimberly Westrich, MA, Chief Strategy Officer, NPC

Speakers: 

• Janet G. McNichol, Inside Workplace Wellness
• Joe Vandigo, Applied Patient Experience

Employers are a primary purchaser of healthcare in the US, responsible for making complex, value-laden coverage decisions that shape healthcare access, costs, and coverage options for millions of employees. These decisions require tradeoffs and may not reflect the diverse needs and preferences of the workforce. This workshop will explore methods to meaningfully engage employees directly in the decision-making process, promoting shared responsibility. Participants will learn how an employer successfully used a participatory decision-making process to co-create a benefit reflecting collective needs and employee preferences. 

Workshop Information

Thursday, May 15

Issue Panel | 1:45 – 2:45 PM

To What Extent Will the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Impact Innovation and Access to Rare Disease Treatments—Did the IRA Temporarily Spook Industry or Will It Have a Permanent Influence?

Moderator: Kate Hanman, MSc, Costello Medical

Speakers:

• Richard Xie, PhD, RA Capital Management
• Sara Hovland, MBA, MS, PharmD, Chiesi
• John O'Brien, MPH, PharmD, National Pharmaceutical Council

The introduction of the IRA concerns rare disease stakeholders as the only exemption from Medicare negotiations applies to orphan drugs with a single approved indication. Many medicines launched in rare conditions are eventually approved in multiple indications, ultimately allowing for a greater financial return on investment. Following the IRA’s 2022 rollout, there was a knee-jerk reaction by rare disease stakeholders, including Eli Lilly and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals which suspended clinical programs in rare diseases. The National Organization for Rare Disorders subsequently declared in an open 2023 letter to the CMS that the IRA could inadvertently reduce investment, and subsequently access, to rare disease therapies. Three years after the IRA’s introduction, this issue panel will address to what extent these concerns will impact investment, access, and pricing in rare diseases. Has the rare diseases community seen further signs of reduced investment that will result in access to fewer therapies? Or where these concerns an ‘overreaction’ with the IRA now expected to have a smaller impact on innovation and access than what was initially anticipated? 

Panel Information
 

Issue Panel | 5:00 – 6:00 PM

Pharmaceutical Policy Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act: Beyond Drug Negotiation

The Inflation Reduction Act introduced important reforms to the Medicare Part D benefit beyond the well-known negotiation of drug prices. These include 1) the redesign of the Part D benefit, including a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap; 2) the ability to “smooth out” beneficiary payments throughout the calendar year; 3) the introduction of a $35 copayment cap for insulin products. While these reforms were well-intended to improve drug access, some may have unintended consequences or face implementation challenges. For instance, Part D redesign may result in the replacement of fixed copayments with co-insurance (%) for branded drugs. Medicare Part D beneficiaries may not be aware of the ability to smooth out-of-pocket payments during the year, which will preclude their enrollment. Finally, copayment caps may not make a difference for the large share of beneficiaries already paying amounts below the proposed caps. The panelists will present timely data on the impact of these provisions, supporting a balanced debate of the limitations and benefits of these reforms.

Moderator: Inma Hernandez, PhD, University of California, San Diego

Speakers:

• Kelly Anderson, MPP, PhD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
• Aryana Sepassi, PharmD, University of California, Irvine, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Julie Patterson, PharmD, PhD, National Pharmaceutical Council

Panel Information

Less Is More? Understanding and Rewarding the Full Value of Long-Acting Therapies

Long-acting (LA) therapies have the potential to transform treatment paradigms for various chronic conditions. However, current health technology assessment (HTA) frameworks struggle to fully capture their broader impacts, such as benefits to healthcare capacity, productivity, impact on carers, supply chain stability, and environmental sustainability. These limitations may affect patient access, product uptake, health system sustainability, and pharmaceutical innovation. This Issue Panel will explore the methodological, evidentiary, pricing and reimbursement challenges of LA therapies affecting current HTA and payer decisions, as well as the implications for patients, healthcare systems, and society. The debate aims to identify practical strategies to better align HTA and reimbursement frameworks with the transformative potential of LA therapies, fostering more comprehensive, sustainable and equitable decision-making.

Moderator: Lotte Steuten, MSc, PhD, Office of Health Economics, United Kingdom

Speakers:

• Jody Jollimore, MSc, CATIE, Canada
• John O'Brien, MPH, PharmD, National Pharmaceutical Council
• Sean D Sullivan, PhD, University of Washington

Panel Information

Friday, May 16

Poster Session | 9:00 – 11:30 AM

• Ongoing Accelerated Approval Trends and What It Means for Patients (Top 5% Finalist)

  Presenting Author: James D. Motyka, PharmD, NPC

  Co-Authors: Rayan K. Salih, PharmD, and Jon D. Campbell, PhD, of the National Pharmaceutical Council 

  Poster