Pharmacoenomics and evaluation of health technologies

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The first part of the course focuses on the features and the rules of the pharmaceutical market in Europe and in the US. The core of the course deals with the technical aspects of the economic assessment of pharmaceuticals from basic cost-effectiveness analysis to simple decision modelling.

The aim of the course is to provide a comprehensive knowledge of the dynamics underlying the pharmaceutical market, from the perspective of three main role players: i) the public decision maker; ii) the pharmaceutical company; iii) the analyst.

COURSE PROGRAM

1. Peculiarities of the pharmaceutical markets

1.1. The market stricture

1.2. R&D

1.3. The price of drugs

1.4. Peculiarities of public health care systems

2. The regulatory process of drugs

2.1.  The European Rules

2.2. The American Rules

3. Basic Types of economic evaluations

3.1. Why is economic evaluation important?

3.2. Economic evaluation techniques

3.3. The relevant cost and outcome categories in economic evaluations

4. Critical assessment of an economic evaluation

4.1. Elements of a good economic evaluation

4.2. Focus on the generalizability of results

4.3. Lab 1: critical assessment of a published article

5. Cost analysis:

5.1. Basics

5.2. Differential timing of costs

5.3. Allocation of general costs

5.4. Allocation of productivity costs

6. Cost-effectiveness analysis

6.1. General features

6.2. Interpreting a cost-effectiveness ratio

6.3. From incremental cost effectiveness ratio to net benefit

7. Cost-utility analysis

7.1. General features

7.2. Utilities

7.3. Elicitation methods (with practical exercises)

7.4. Threshold values

8. Basics of decision modelling:

8.1. Simple decision three

8.2. Markov model

8.3. Budget impact analysis

8.4. Labs 2-4: A full assessment

8.5. Basics of uncertainty analysis in decision modelling

READING LIST

Main book: Drummond, M., Sculpher, M.J., Torrance, G.W., O’Brien, B.J., Stoddart, J.L. (2005). Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes. Oxford University Press.

Additional readings:

·   Selected Chapters of: Briggs, A., Sculpher, M., & Claxton, K. (2006). Decision modelling for health economic evaluation. Oup Oxford.

·   Selected scientific papers.

TEACHING METHOD

The course will be made up of traditional lectures and labs to be managed individually by students or in small groups.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended.

ASSESSMENT METHOD AND CRITERIA

The course will not include intermediate exams. However, the outputs of the two labs, to which students can participate on voluntary basis, will provide additional bonuses that contribute to the final mark.

The final exam is written. It includes a multiple choice test and 2 open-ended questions.

NOTES AND PREREQUISITES

None.

OFFICE HOUR FOR STUDENTS

The student reception is by appointment and is also possible online.

COURSE MATERIALS

Course Materials are provided by Moodle.