PHAR’s Michael S. Broder, MD, MSHS, Sarah N. Gibbs, MPH, and Irina Yermilov, MD, MPH published an article describing how they adapted the RAND/UCLA modified Delphi panel method, which typically relies on an in-person meeting, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This virtual method can be a cost-effective and efficient alternative for researchers and clinicians. Their work was previously presented as a poster at ISPOR’s annual meeting in May 2022, which can be viewed here. The article can be read on the PHAR publications page and in the Journal of Healthcare Leadership.
Presentations & Events
PHAR Leads Discussion on Algorithm Validation in Secondary Data Analysis
PHAR’s President, Michael S. Broder, MD, MSHS, mediated a webinar discussion today with panelists Eric Benchimol, MD, The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Karina Raimundo, MS, HEOR Director at Genentech, and Anil Vachani, MD, MS, of Penn Medicine on best practices surrounding ICD code validation in secondary data research using Medicare or commercial claims. Recently, Dr. Broder wrote on the importance of algorithm validation in claims analyses, which was published on HealthEconomics.com. The webinar attracted more than 80 professionals and academics in pharmacy, medical statistics, healthcare, and health economics insights. The recording of the webinar is available on-demand on InsideScientific.com, and the Q&A report available for download here.
PHAR Presents Neurology Research at AMCP 2022
Two studies conducted by PHAR were presented as posters at AMCP 2022. The first study, in partnership with Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, developed clinical consensus on the use of on-demand treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD) by convening experts to participate in a RAND/UCLA modified Delphi panel. In most evaluated scenarios, panelists agreed on-demand treatment is appropriate for PD patients with OFF episodes, especially for patients experiencing a significant functional impact. The second study, in collaboration with Genentech, presented the interim results of their claims-based algorithm used to identify patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The algorithm helps distinguish patients with NMOSD from patients with multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system inflammatory disorders, allowing researchers and clinicians to better estimate NMOSD burden. The posters can be viewed on the PHAR publications page and abstracts printed in the March supplement issue of the Journal of Managed Care + Specialty Pharmacy.
PHAR Tests a Claims-Based Algorithm to Identify Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
PHAR, in collaboration with Genentech, presented the interim results of their claims-based algorithm used to identify patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) at ACTRIMS 2022. The algorithm helps distinguish patients with NMOSD from patients with multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system inflammatory disorders, allowing researchers and clinicians to better estimate NMOSD burden. The poster can be viewed on the PHAR publications page and the abstract published in the May 2022 supplement of Multiple Sclerosis Journal Online.
PHAR Presents Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Research at ASH 2021
PHAR’s Sheila Reiss Reddy, PhD, RPh, Eunice Chang, PhD, and Marian Tarbox, MPP worked with collaborators at Bristol Myers Squibb to conduct an administrative claims study examining treatment patterns, including duration of dasatinib use after pleural effusion, and healthcare resource utilization and costs among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with dasatinib who experienced a subsequent pleural effusion. The poster was presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting and Exposition of the American Society of Hematology and can be viewed on the PHAR Publications page, and the accompanying abstract published in the November supplement issue of Blood.
Delphi Panel Conducted by PHAR Develops PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum Guidelines and Describes Clinical Management
PHAR’s Sarah Gibbs and Michael Broder, in collaboration with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, organized an expert panel to develop guidelines for PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) severity classification, testing, and medical management. Results were presented at the CLOVES Syndrome Community International Scientific Meeting for PIK3CA Related Conditions and can be read here.
PHAR and Takeda Run Simulation Model to Project Costs of UC Treatment
PHAR, with support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, produced a Monte Carlo simulation model of projected mean costs for treating patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis with either vedolizumab or adalimumab. The investigation found that mean estimated total costs per patient treated with either therapy over 1 year were $14,322 lower for vedolizumab than for adalimumab, which may help to inform formulary decision-making. Jesse Ortendahl, Director of Health Economics at PHAR, presented the findings at the American College of Gastroenterology’s Annual Scientific Meeting & Postgraduate Course. See the poster here, and the abstract published in the October supplement issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
PHAR Gives HEOR Best Practices Talk at Evidence Matters ’21
Michael Broder, MD, MSHS, President of PHAR, along with Jesse Ortendahl, Director of Health Economics at PHAR, recently spoke at Evidence Matters ’21, a virtual summit for the literature review community. At the meeting, they joined Dr. Patti Peeples of HealthEconomics.com in a session titled “Applying Systematic Reviews to Real-World Evidence Study Design.” The session highlighted how the increase in publications using real-world data impacts systematic literature reviews, along with the use of real-world evidence in other areas such as economic modeling.
PHAR’s Psoriatic Arthritis Research Presented at AMCP Nexus
Research conducted by PHAR and supported by Amgen was presented in the poster sessions at AMCP Nexus in Denver, CO. PHAR’s claims analysis on psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients compared biologic initiation risk in systematic-naïve PsA adult patients using apremilast versus methotrexate, building on research previously presented at AMCP 2021 and AAD VMX. The investigators’ findings suggest that patients who initiate apremilast are more adherent and have a lower likelihood of biologic initiation when compared with patients initiating methotrexate. In patients who do need biologics, time to biologic initiation is longer in apremilast users than in methotrexate users. The poster can be viewed on PHAR’s publications page and the abstract was published in the October supplement issue of AMCP’s Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy (JMCP).
PHAR Presents Research at ECTRIMS 2021
Two studies conducted by PHAR were presented at the 37th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). The first study, done in partnership with Sanofi US, examined the effectiveness of teriflunomide in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) who switched from other DMTs following disease progression. The authors of this retrospective chart review study observed that RMS patients who switched to teriflunomide after progression may have experienced reductions in EDSS scores and stable or reduced relapse rates. In the second study, PHAR collaborated with Genentech to develop a claims-based algorithm to identify patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and distinguish them from patients with multiple sclerosis and other central nervous system inflammatory disorders, allowing researchers and clinicians to better estimate NMOSD burden. The posters can be viewed on the PHAR website publications page and the abstracts were published in the October supplement issue of Multiple Sclerosis Journal.