Towse and Drummond take a critical look at deficiencies in policy and suggest revisions. An editorial just published by OHE’s Adrian Towse and Michael Drummond of the University of York argues that current orphan drug policies are ‘not fit for…
Towse and Drummond take a critical look at deficiencies in policy and suggest revisions.
An editorial just published by OHE’s Adrian Towse and Michael Drummond of the University of York argues that current orphan drug policies are ‘not fit for purpose’ and discusses the issues that need to be clarified as the basis for policy revisions.
An editorial just published by OHE’s Adrian Towse and Michael Drummond of the University of York argues that current orphan drug policies are ‘not fit for purpose’ and discusses the issues that need to be clarified as the basis for policy revisions. The editorial is intended ‘not to provide complete solutions to all the policy problems, but rather to set out a roadmap whereby they can be resolved’. Four groups of issues are identified.
If it is known in advance that most of these drugs will not be cost-effective based on standard criteria, why undertake the assessments in the first place, unless there is the possibility that better value for money could be obtained if the drugs were better targeted? It might be better to acknowledge at the outset that high-priced orphan drugs will not be reimbursed, thereby avoiding wasting resources on their assessment.
Towse and Drummond conclude that: ‘Without changes in the current policies, pharmaceutical companies will eventually cease responding to the incentives to develop orphan drugs because they will increasingly be uncertain whether the drugs, if developed, will be reimbursed’.
Open access: Drummond, M. and Towse, A., 2014. Orphan drugs policies: a suitable case for treatment. The European Journal of Health Economics. 15(4), pp.335-340. For additional information, please contact Adrian Towse.
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