Across-Country Variations of Real-World Data and Evidence for Drugs: A 5-European-Country Study

• Published in: Value in health 2023-04, Vol.26 (4), p.3-10
• Main Authors: de Pouvourville, Gérard, Cunningham, David, Fricke, Frank-Ulrich, Lindgren, Peter, Mantovani, Lorenzo, Murphy, Linda A., Solà-Morales, Oriol, Mestre-Ferrandiz, Jorge, Akehurst, Ron
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: country comparison; Europe; France; Germany; Humans; Italy; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; real-world data; real-world evidence; Sweden; Technology Assessment, Biomedical
• ISSN: 1098-3015; 1524-4733; 1524-4733
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.01.009

This study aimed to describe the role of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) in health technology assessment (HTA) in 5 European countries and to identify the hurdles to the acceptance of RWE and suggest directions toward its more effective use. Authors from France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden used a common template to extract evidence. For England, the Cancer Drugs Fund was described and analyzed as a particular model for the use of RWD to provide evidence for coverage decisions and managed entry agreements. In all countries except Germany, HTA bodies acknowledged the relevance of RWD/RWE to address postlaunch uncertainties. In Germany, evidence from randomized controlled trials remains the gold standard, and evidence based on RWD is generally rejected. Multiple sources of RWD exist, but the quality, the immediate relevance of existing sources, and their interoperability limit their adaptation to the specifics of a given drug. This leads to skepticism about the validity of the evidence. Timing is also a key issue: the production of evidence may not be synchronized with the HTA and pricing bodies’ agendas. The Cancer Drugs Fund case emphasizes that a strong partnership among all stakeholders and a pragmatic use of existing data, alongside clinical evidence provided by companies, are key success factors. A continuous investment in national health information systems is a key issue for providing valid RWE. Processes and aids to guide the acceptability and usage of RWE derived from pairing between sources and questions are essential. •Using a combination of desk research and expert opinion collated by country experts in England, France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, this article aimed to provide the reader with an understanding of the use of real-world evidence for health technology assessment and reimbursement decisions in each geography.•The article also helps identify key issues shared across the countries and identify areas of improvement that might reduce skepticism and promote more efficient use of real-world evidence.