New ICER report finds multiple myeloma in USA too costly

The USA’s Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has released a new Evidence Report titled Treatment Options for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Effectiveness, Value, and Value-Based Price Benchmarks.

The report from the ICER, an independent non-profit organization that evaluates the effectiveness of medicines, which incorporates revisions based on feedback from stakeholders received during a formal public comment period, provides analyses of the clinical effectiveness, long-term cost-effectiveness, and potential budget impact of treatments for multiple myeloma. In addition, the results of these analyses are used to calculate value-based price benchmarks for the drugs. These price benchmarks reflect the drugs’ long-term cost-effectiveness for patients while also noting the price at which their potential short-term budget impact raises serious concerns for affordability across the entire health care system.

ICER’s report focuses on adults with multiple myeloma whose disease has not responded to at least one previous line of treatment (ie, refractory) or has relapsed following such treatment, are not currently on maintenance treatment, and are not being considered for stem cell transplant. The report will be the subject of the May 26, 2016 inaugural meeting of the Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council.