CASE STUDY

The situation: 
A large biopharmaceutical group was faced with a tremendous market access challenge around launching a novel pharmacological treatment for NSCLC. The company wanted to market the novel therapy in the US, Europe5 and Japan. Our client sought support in order to develop a rational pricing and market access strategy for their pre-launch initiative.

The Advantage Technoeconomics Solution:
Advantage Technoeconomics identified and developed a comprehensive analysis of the drivers underlying the pricing and market access strategy in NSCLC treatments. This included interdependencies consideration of market dynamics within the key territories. This enabled the development of specific economics models, cost effectiveness analysis and budget impact models, and the creation of associated reports for regulatory submission. The models were adaptable in order that the novel NSCLC therapy pricing patterns in immature markets could also be predicted with greater accuracy.

Results:
Advantage Technoeconomics enabled their client to maximise access by providing insights into the strategic considerations of health technology assessment submissions when modelling cost effectiveness and budget impact for other similarly innovative products in NSCLC therapy area. The models created enabled robust conclusions and recommendations to be made, ultimately, providing the client with confidence and the basis for successfully addressing queries from regulatory agencies.

The situation: 
The HEOR and Market Access Operations groups were tasked with developing an anti-viral treatment that improved efficacy and decreased treatment length compared to standard treatments. The company had significant technical knowledge but did not have the in-house skills to get regulatory approval and access within the UK market.

The Advantage Technoeconomics Solution:

  • The project was divided into three work streams: cost effectiveness model (for NICE), budget impact model (for NICE), and value tools (for CCGs).
  • Advantage Technoeconomics deployed the workout approach to achieve pragmatic, rapid results for all three work streams. The workout approach followed four phases to solution development:
  • Identify Issues –  Advantage Technoeconomics consultants facilitated a series of interactive feedback sessions with payers that revealed the potential access pain points for their anti-viral treatment .
  • Brainstorm Solutions –We developed materials that combined the key themes from the interactive feedback sessions with knowledge of successful HTA submission in the same therapy area. We were specifically interested in range of patients eligible for the treatment and those who are indicated for the treatment. We guided colleagues toward a consensus on a targeted set of outcomes and an exploration of possible HTA scenarios and solutions.
  • Develop Recommendations – In parallel with the brainstorming activities, our consultants worked aggressively to assimilate the client’s value communications processes.  This made it possible for us to develop a series of future state straw models that factored in operational constraints.  The project team used the straw models to recommend market access process improvements.
  • Finalize Recommendations – The Advantage Technoeconomics team ensured that the Steering Committee, composed of key senior leaders, was kept informed throughout the project.  This was critical to our success in creating and deploying the approved process improvements and successful HTA submission

Results:
The project achieved both central goals and a new commercial community was launched through a global event. A coordinated set of processes, tools, events, and training was put in place to empower commercial colleagues to reach maximum value communication potential HTA submissions.

The situation: 
Our client needed support in validating cost effectiveness models and associated report for cerebral palsy interventions in preventing reduced bone mineral density and low impact fractures. This included recommendations for a regulator’s health economics clinical guidelines report preparation for the treatment considered in cerebral palsy.

The Advantage Technoeconomics Solution:
Advantage Technoeconomics used literature reviews and a specific check list to establish good model designs. New developments in peer review reporting were used to address ambiguity and interpretation of errors to enabled good model design. Assumptions behind the model design were discussed, challenged, and amended.

Several shortcomings of the economic model and associated report were identified, including fragmented structural assumptions, data incorporation, and lack of standardization. Advantage Technoeconomics worked to identify and validate model and report improvement opportunities. Next, we conceptualized and designed improved economic model, and used the criteria of the guidelines for good practice in decision-analytic modelling in health technology assessment to design the optimal report and model structure.

Results:
The report was successfully implemented and published. This provided the clients an unprecedented view of their performance. It became a staple of regular key experts in cerebral palsy meetings and was used to review model performance, identify gaps and initiate corrective actions prior to the publication of the final clinical guidelines.