Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026
Modeling Spontaneous Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma mRCC in Mice Following Nephrectomy
Published on: April 29, 2014
Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer: An Analysis of Reimbursement Decisions
Carina Schey1,2, Genevieve Meier3, Janice Pan3
1Global Market Access Solutions, Geneva, Switzerland. carina@gmasoln.com.
Introduction:
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is a complex cancer for which several drugs have been developed over the years. More recently, drugs that target the specific cancer cell mutations have been developed for metastatic cell carcinoma. However, even with the recent influx of targeted therapy options, significant unmet needs exist in around half of treated renal cell carcinoma patients following the failure of first-line therapy. The aim of this study was to review the health technology appraisals of renal cell carcinoma treatments in several countries to establish what factors might affect the reimbursement decisions.
Methods:
The reimbursement data for 10 drugs in several countries were collated from the health technology assessment bodies for each country. The data included information on clinical trials used in the submission documents for the health technology assessment, the reimbursement decisions and the reasons for those decisions, as well as any specific restrictions for use of any of the included drugs.
Results:
Of the 10 drugs reviewed, only everolimus received a positive reimbursement decision by all the health technology assessment bodies included in the study. The most common reason for a negative reimbursement decision was lack of demonstration of cost-effectiveness of the drugs. Another frequently cited reason was unproven clinical efficacy and poor impact on overall survival.
Conclusion:
Despite the many treatment guidelines and current treatment options that are available for renal cell carcinoma, there remains an unmet need in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. On the basis of this analysis, the key reason for a drug not obtaining a positive reimbursement decision is due to poor efficacy or uncertainty of the drug's efficacy.
Funding:
Eisai, Inc.
Insights
Reimbursement decisions for renal cell carcinoma drugs are often negative due to unproven cost-effectiveness and efficacy. Understanding these factors is crucial for improving patient access to new cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Health Economics
- Pharmaceutical Policy
Background:
- Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) presents significant treatment challenges, with unmet needs persisting even with targeted therapies.
- Current treatment landscapes for mRCC involve numerous drugs, yet patient outcomes remain suboptimal for many.
- First-line therapy failure affects approximately half of mRCC patients, highlighting the need for effective subsequent treatment options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze health technology appraisals for mRCC treatments across multiple countries.
- To identify key factors influencing reimbursement decisions for mRCC drugs.
- To understand barriers to patient access for novel mRCC therapies.
Main Methods:
- Collated reimbursement data for 10 mRCC drugs from international health technology assessment bodies.
- Reviewed clinical trial data, reimbursement outcomes, and stated reasons for decisions.
- Examined specific usage restrictions imposed on reimbursed drugs.
Main Results:
- Only everolimus achieved positive reimbursement across all assessed health technology assessment bodies.
- Lack of demonstrated cost-effectiveness was the most frequent reason for negative reimbursement.
- Unproven clinical efficacy and limited impact on overall survival were also common reasons for denial.
Conclusions:
- Despite available treatments, unmet needs persist in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
- Efficacy, or the lack thereof, is the primary determinant for positive reimbursement decisions.
- Uncertainty in drug efficacy significantly hinders market access for mRCC therapies.
More Related Videos
05:36Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
Published on: February 8, 2020
06:38A Syngeneic Mouse Model of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma for Quantitative and Longitudinal Assessment of Preclinical Therapies
Published on: April 12, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:20Decision Making
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
01:09Decision Making: P-value Method
First, a specific claim about the population parameter is proposed. The claim is based on the research question and is stated in a simple form. Further, an opposing statement to the claim is also stated. These statements can act as null and alternative hypotheses: a null hypothesis would be a neutral statement while the alternative hypothesis can...
01:17Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment
One condition associated with renal failure is uremia. Uremia is characterized by impaired glomerular filtration and fluid accumulation in the body. This condition hinders the renal clearance of drugs, resulting in drug accumulation and potential...
01:20Renal Corpuscle
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
01:23Renal Clearance
Renal clearance refers to the volume of plasma cleared of a specific substance, such as creatinine, per unit of time. To measure clearance, urine samples are collected over a 24-hour period during each bladder voiding, followed by a single blood sample at the...