Talks on new payment system in the age of high-cost drugs

'IPOR Asia Pacific 2020' to talk about ICER threshold for innovative pharmaceuticals

Biopharmaceutical-focused pipelines need practical solutions

Pharmaceutical experts are initiating talks on setting adequate Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) threshold to design a new payment model fitting the age of high-cost drug.

 

The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Asia Pacific 2020, convened online from Sept.

 

14 through 16, would be hosting a session titled ‘ICER Threshold for Innovative Medicines – Harmonization with Novel Payment Model (NPM)’ on Wednesday.

 

Most of health authorities in countries currently using Health Technology Assessment (HTA) provide refund to pharmaceuticals that have proved clinical benefit and cost-effectiveness during an assessment process.

 

However, the pharmaceutical industry has been insisting that a practical solution is needed for the latest biopharmaceutical-focused pipelines relatively more expensive than the conventional chemical drugs.

 

At the session facilitated by Professor Suh Dong-churl of Chung-ang University College of Pharmacy, Dr.

 

Kevin Haninger of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) would explain about the concept of NPM and introduce various cases in HTA countries including Canada, Australia and the U.K in terms of harmonizing ICER threshold with other indicators used to decide healthcare reimbursement.

 

After the presentation, a panel discussion would be held with representatives from the industry, government and academia.

 

As a panelist for the pharmaceutical industry, Senior Director Kim Eunsuk of MSD Korea would point out the limitation of the current HTA system in South Korea and address the rationale of flexible ICER threshold.

 

Director So Soomi of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) as a government panelist would share the prospective approach the agency is planning to take for the payment system as well as the NPM implementation plan.

 

Initially organized to be hosted in Seoul, the ISPOR Asia Pacific 2020 was inevitably held online due to COVID-19.