Access to innovative therapies is hampered by limited clinically relevant information on high expenditure technologies not always reflecting the actual health benefit.
Treatment optimisation performed by the non-commercial sector addresses patient-oriented questions in the health care systems. Information such as but not limited to combination, optimal dose, duration and schedule, biomarker determination and ultimate beneficiary populations is usually not available at the time of registration. All such de-escalation approaches are long needed as patients may be over treated with expensive treatments where accessible when lack of information prevents access elsewhere, leading to inequalities across the EU.
These multi-faceted challenges fall in the gap between supranational approval and long overdue for change national health care systems. Structuring the role of independent clinical research for treatment optimisation in Europe can contribute to ensure this critically needed continuum.
- Denis Lacombe, Chief Executive Officer, The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)