ICER Launches Cloud-Based COVID-19 Cost-Effectiveness Model for HTA Agencies

The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has launched a cloud-based, cost-effectiveness modeling program for use by health technology assessment (HTA) agencies when projecting COVID-19 treatment costs.

ICER says the initiative will help provide greater transparency and support decisionmaking on drug pricing and coverage.

The first model available enables HTAs to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of remdesivir and other in-development COVID-19 treatments.

The ICER-COVID models look at two pricing approaches, one based on “cost recovery” for the manufacturer, in which the price is adequate to return the costs of production of the drug, the other based on traditional cost-effectiveness analyses looking at the incremental health benefits and costs within the health system.

The UK, Canada, Australia and South Africa are currently participating in the program. — Jason Scott