HEOR Analytics

Choosing Between Food and Medicine

The COVID-19 induced recession has taken another ominous turn as the Census Bureau recently reported that almost 30 million Americans responded in a survey that they did not have enough food to eat at some point during the week before July 21 [1]. A record number of people are also going to food banks [1]. The reason for this situation is the combination of COVID-19 mandated shutdowns with their resulting effects and the economic consequences from high unemployment generated from these business closures. This turn of events is not surprising as similar effects were seen during the Great Recession of 2007-2009. The economic fallout from the COVID-19 induced recession is much more severe, with the unemployment rate still above 10% (the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 10.2% rate for July 2020) [2]. This means people are increasingly having to make tough choices about where to spend scarce dollars for necessity items like food, medicine, rent/mortgage, or essential utility bills.

In patients with high cardiovascular risk, statins are the first-line of therapy. Statins, such as Crestor® and Lipitor®, are economical and effective. However, for those patients who do not have a good response to statins, or those patients with genetic disorders that require aggressive cholesterol lowering, treatment with PCSK9is is an option.

Some of the most rewarding work we are involved in at Axtria right now is in the Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) space, where we are partnering with our clients to help demonstrate the value of their medications and get them to the patients who need them. Challenges in the healthcare space—including rising costs, an aging population, advanced technology, and increased patient awareness of medical options—have resulted in an increase in evaluating medications from an HEOR perspective. Through our modelling and analytical work, we work with clients and key opinion leaders (KOLs) to identify which patients would benefit from various treatment options and the impact those treatments could have on patient health.

As the industry shifts from volume to value based models, it is becoming necessary for Pharmaceutical companies to demonstrate the value their brands deliver through outcomes and evidence based studies. One example of such study is economic burden of inadequate symptom control.

The following blog is an expanded summary of proposed research accepted for delivery at the upcoming 22^nd ISPOR Annual International Meeting, Research Poster Presentations - Session I, entitled “Health Care Use & Policy Studies”, to be held in the John B. Hynes Convention Center (Level 2) in Boston on Monday May 22, 2017 from 8:30am-2:30pm. The poster author discussion hour will be from 1:00-2:00pm. 

As the industry shifts from volume to value based models, it is becoming necessary for Pharmaceutical companies to demonstrate the value their brands deliver through outcomes and evidence based studies. One example of such study is the economic burden of disease.

There are numerous drugs on the market to lower cholesterol and ultimately reduce cardiovascular risk. Drugs in the statin class, like Lipitor® and Zocor®, are generally effective and economical since many of them are generic. While statins help many patients reduce their cholesterol, there are individuals who experience side effects that prevent them from taking statins altogether or at a high-enough dose¹.