Health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) is no longer a “one-and-done,” cookie-cutter process. The needs of specific assets at different points in the product life cycle can vary significantly based on a variety of factors, including market dynamics, the policy environment, and even the targeted disease itself and its impact on patients. In a recent series on the top trends in HEOR, Avalere experts identified some of the biggest influences on evidence generation needs, such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other policy changes, increased use of value assessment to inform coverage, reimbursement, and utilization management decisions, and the continued shift towards patient-centered care.  

As life sciences companies consider their HEOR budgets for the coming year, leaders have the opportunity to revisit their portfolio’s research and evidence needs in order to support their company’s overall commercialization strategy. Considering the five specific elements below will ensure a robust HEOR strategy that prepares your organization for the upcoming year and sets you up for success in the years beyond.  

1. Examine your evidence generation plan from a stakeholder’s perspective. 

The healthcare market is constantly evolving, so your evidence generation plan must be evaluated annually and updated to reflect these new dynamics. Consider the important stakeholders for your asset portfolio: payers, providers, and patients. Understand what each stakeholder expects and needs from your evidence, and incorporate those evidence needs into your research plans.  

2. Assess value assessment needs based on each product’s stage in the life cycle.

Value assessment in the US, such as ICER, the IRA, and other policy changes are shifting evidence needs across the product life cycle. Pre-launch assets may need economic modeling and value assessment planning to prepare for a potential review by the Institute for Clinical Effectiveness Research and other health technology assessment bodies. In-line products, meanwhile, will need to generate evidence to prepare for potential Medicare price negotiation late in their life cycle.

3. Expand your capabilities with innovative data partnerships or data sources.

Consider how your evidence generation capabilities can be improved through innovative data partnerships and new data sources. Data on social determinants of health, for example, may uncover details of patient access challenges or biomarker lab data  that can be used to identify and target specific patient sub-populations.  

4. Remember that patient-centered research is paramount.

Stakeholders increasingly expect manufacturers to infuse the patient perspective into evidence-generation strategies. Evidence can be used to better understand the experiences of patients with a particular condition, for example, or to describe how innovative treatments can directly and indirectly impact that experience. Conducting patient preference studies and exploring health disparities research can highlight existing barriers to care or provide insights to determine what patients need for successful care. Ensuring your evidence generation plans incorporate the patient perspective will ensure you can communicate patient needs to healthcare decisionmakers. 

5. Consider HEOR’s integral relationship to other aspects of the business.

Research agendas are traditionally intended to support market access, but a well-planned strategy considers the potential uses by other aspects of the business. With forethought, your research can have greater impact and produce a higher return on investment if used to support field teams speaking to providers about improving treatment protocols, marketing teams seeking to reach a target patient population, or patient support programs that need to understand patient needs and barriers to access. Incorporating a broader set of business needs in your research agenda can improve business efficiency and provide additional value across the organization. 

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Avalere leverages our staff’s deep expertise in evidence generation planning, data partnership evaluation, and HEOR to help clients develop their annual research agendas and conceptualize studies that meet their business objectives. To learn more about how Avalere can partner with you to ensure your evidence generation strategies reflect current market trends and future business needs, connect with us.