MILAN (ITALPRESS) – How much is the savings for the NHS due to the compassionate use of drugs? Until now there was no answer to this question, but a study by Cergas SDA Bocconi, in collaboration with Roche Italia, has provided a documented analysis for the first time. The study quantified the net economic effect for the National Health Service of compassionate drug use programs (CUP), directly funded by the pharmaceutical industry, used on patients with serious illnesses who are not eligible to enter the experimental phase. These programs represent an important opportunity for patients, clinicians and the entire system, as they allow early access to new treatment options. In particular, the CUP programs can be applied for the treatment of patients suffering from serious diseases, rare diseases, rare cancers or in conditions of life-threatening disease and in the absence of valid therapeutic alternatives available. The study was conducted on 12 CUPs activated by Roche from 2016 to date, of which 9 referred to oncological pathologies, in which 2,713 patients were treated. The net economic effect was estimated as the difference between the costs that the NHS would have incurred for any alternative therapy against him and the costs he incurred for the CUP, represented by the costs of the drugs in combination with those provided in CUP. , from diagnostic procedures not covered by the CUP sponsoring company and from the management of the side effects of these drugs. The authors of the study, Claudio Jommi and Marianna Cavazza, during a streaming meeting indicated in detail the results that emerged: “The average annual cost avoided thanks to the non-use of alternative therapies is between 11,400 and 20,300 euros, depending on the alternative therapies used, and the incremental one generated by the CUP programs is 1,600 euros per patient, with a consequent net saving effect of between 9,800 euros and 18,700 euros “. According to the authors, therefore, “the overall annual savings are included, depending on the drugs potentially used in clinical practice, from 26.5 million to 50.6 million euros, a saving that could be underestimated since – they explain – not the costs of side effects associated with the use of alternative drugs to those used in CUP were included “. “This first evidence – concluded Jommi and Cavazza – provides an objective picture of the economic effects for the NHS. The estimate of the economic impact could be integrated by the effects on costs generated by the different efficacy between drug in CUP and any therapeutic alternative, possible by enriching the data collected through CUPs and applying perspective simulation models “. “As a company that makes research its imperative, ranking first in the pharmaceutical sector, and among the top 10 in the world, Roche firmly believes in its value not only scientific, but also ethical, economic and social – comments Anna Maria Porrini, Medical Affairs & Clinical Operations Director Roche Italy. Our mission is to promote progress in medicine, bringing drugs to areas with unmet therapeutic needs as quickly as possible “. “Therefore, being able to allow thousands of patients to access the most innovative and cutting-edge treatments in advance, represents an opportunity of extreme value for patients, for clinicians and for the whole system, favoring an early access to new valid options. – he adds -. The collaboration with Cergas SDA Bocconi is the beginning of a path on which to continue to work, so that the opportunities for collecting data from these programs are also improved, with the commitment of all the actors involved. “. (ITALPRESS). sat / com 27-May-21 15:46
COPYRIGHT today © breaking latest news