Transferability of Real World Evidence to Support HTA Recommendations in Lower Income European Countries

Background and aims: Lower income European countries (LIECs) have more limited financial resources to cover high-cost technologies in rare diseases than higher income European countries (HIECs). Our study explores how treatment recommendations in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) can be supported in LIECS by transferring real-world evidence (RWE) generated by target trial emulation (TTE) method in HIECs. Method: In the HTx project transferability aspects of the MDS case study were considered upfront. HTA agency consortium partners set expectations for the MDS case study team on how to integrate the new TTE methodology into the routine work of HTA bodies. In consecutive workshops consortium members and external HTA experts identified the main challenges of transferring evidence generated by TTE method to LIECs and made conclusions on how to overcome these challenges. Results: The lack of local real-world data before making reimbursement decisions is an important challenge to apply the TTE method to LIECs. Differences in patient pathways and comparator technologies, limited expertise and resources for adapting international HTA methods are significant barriers of transferring RWE from other countries. Still, transferring RWE to LIECs from other countries based on the TTE methodology represents an improvement to the current standard HTA methods, especially if joint clinical assessment provides the unbiased judgement on the relative effectiveness of orphan medicines. The TTE approach also provides an opportunity to LIECs to judge the value of high-cost technologies for different patient subgroups. However, HTA professionals in LIECs need training about advanced methodologies. Conclusion: This is the first study to explore how RWE generated by the TTE method can be transferred to optimize treatment decisions of patients with a rare disease in countries with limited HTA capacities. Five general concluding statements were made on the novelty of the TTE method and on how to overcome main challenges of transferring TTE results to HTA systems in LIECs.