Insights from Life Sciences: What’s new in life sciences: Winter 2011
Notable research
Researchers, including Kin Wei (Arnold) Chan of OptumInsight’s epidemiology group, found that children who take medicines for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not at a higher risk for serious cardiovascular events. The findings, which were published on The New England Journal of Medicine’s website on November 1, 2011, suggest that the warnings currently found on ADHD drugs are unnecessary. The researchers examined medical records for 1.2 million children and young adults covered by four U.S. health plans. Read more about the study in this Bloomberg News article.
In the media
“Patient communities will provide the data to prove better health outcomes,” says William Crown, group president, HEOR and late phase research, OptumInsight in the November/December 2011 “Year in Preview” issue of PharmaVOICE. The issue features additional comments from Crown as well as from OptumInsight’s Lee Valenta and William Jacobson on topics that include what the life sciences industry can expect in 2012, trends impacting the global arena, value-based pricing, and the role of patient communities. Read the digital edition of the magazine now.
Business news
By acquiring assets from MTE GlobalTox, OptumInsight is expanding its strategic environmental regulatory services for pharmaceutical and other manufacturers. The services help clients monitor and mitigate the environmental impact of manufacturing pharmaceuticals, as well as help ensure that clients can comply with global regulatory requirements. More information can be found in the news release.
Jakob B. Bjorner, MD, PhD has joined OptumInsight’s patient insights group as chief science officer. He brings more than 20 years of experience in health outcomes-related research and consulting. Dr. Bjorner is driving the further development of OptumInsight’s patented DYNHA® computer-adaptive system for health assessments, as well as focusing on the development of new product offerings for life sciences businesses. More information can be found in the media alert.
Event news
More than 400 global thought leaders and researchers gathered at OptumInsight’s symposium, “Valuing innovation: Should innovation be considered in pricing and reimbursement of health care technologies?” at the ISPOR 14th Annual European Congress on November 5, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. The educational symposium offered real-world examples and ideas about defining and measuring innovation, and how it might impact reimbursement decisions and market access.
Peter Lindgren, PhD, vice president and senior fellow, OptumInsight, presented the case of simvastatin—the first of the statins to reach the market—to illustrate the value of the innovation and to show how the value was distributed. Fernando Antoñanzas-Villar, PhD, Professor of Health Economics, University of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain, provided examples of current practices among health authorities in Spain regarding the consideration given to innovation in reimbursement decisions. The symposium was moderated by Linus Jönsson, MD, PhD, OptumInsight and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Attendees walked away with new ideas and evidence suggesting that pricing and reimbursement is a powerful tool to incentivize the industry to innovate.
Follow us
OptumInsight’s life sciences group is now on Twitter—follow us @OptumInsight_LS for the latest life sciences news and insights.
INSIGHTS looking forward
Mark your calendar for the DIA EuroMeeting
Plan now to join us at the Drug Information Association (DIA) 24th Annual EuroMeeting being held March 26-28, 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark. OptumInsight’s life sciences group will be in attendance, along with more than 3,000 professionals from the biopharmaceutical industry, including contract service organizations, clinical researchers, regulatory agencies, health ministries, patient organizations, and universities representing more than 50 countries. We hope to see you there!