National Pharmaceutical Council Says Comparative Effectiveness Research Can Improve Patient Outcomes; Requires Thoughtful Prioritization, Rigorous Research Methods, and Integration With Provider Decision Support

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Washington, DC. (June 17, 2009) — Speaking at the National Pharmaceutical Council’s (NPC) symposium today, NPC President Dan Leonard said it’s critical for the federal government to “get comparative effectiveness research (CER) right” so that it will support the dialogue between health care providers and patients, and thus enhance the quality and value of patient care.

“Public and private health care stakeholders have recognized that the quality of patient care and health outcomes can be improved if there is more information available to help inform coverage decisions and treatment choices,” said Leonard in his opening remarks.

In recent weeks, NPC submitted comments to the Institute of Medicine’s CER Priority Setting Committee, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research, which is in the process of developing a draft definition, criteria for research, and a strategic framework for CER. NPC said that CER should provide evidence to encourage good decision making by health care professionals and patients; encompass all health care services; be rigorous and transparent; consider the needs of subpopulations; utilize a full range of types and sources of evidence; and disseminate study results in a timely manner.

These issues also were highlighted today at NPC’s symposium, “Entering a New Era of Evidence.” The symposium featured presentations on CER in the United States and abroad, as well as perspectives from Capitol Hill, the administration, and stakeholder organizations.  Speakers included:

  • Kurt Schrader, U.S. Representative (D-OR), and sponsor of The Comparative Effectiveness Research Act of 2009;
  • Shawn Bishop, Professional Staff, U.S. Senate Finance Committee;
  • Jean Slutsky, PA, MSPH, Director, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality;
  • Robert Kocher, MD, Special Assistant to the President, National Economic Council;
  • Adrian Levy, PhD, Director, Oxford Outcomes, who is working on NPC-sponsored research about health technology assessment organizations in other countries and what we can learn from them; and
  • A panel on CER in America, moderated by NPC Vice President for Clinical and Scientific Affairs Les Paul, MD, MS, and that featured Marc Berger, MD, Vice President, Global Health Outcomes, Eli Lilly and Company; Eugene Rich, MD, Scholar-in-Residence, Association of American Medical Colleges; Lindy Hinman, Vice President, America's Health Insurance Plans; and Marc Boutin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, National Health Council.

About the National Pharmaceutical Council  

NPC’s overarching mission is to sponsor and conduct scientific analyses of the appropriate use of biopharmaceuticals and the clinical and economic value of innovation. The organization’s strategic focus is on evidence-based medicine (EBM) for health care decision-making, to ensure that patients have access to high-quality care. NPC was established in 1953 and is supported by the nation’s major research-based biopharmaceutical companies. For more information, visit www.npcnow.org.

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