Key trends in Asia-Pacific

What are the current trends and challenges in the APAC Policy, Access, Value, and Evidence landscape that Avalere Health is helping clients solve?

Governments are increasingly looking at and learning from each other, though this has different implications in the mature markets versus the emerging markets; these are discussed in this article: “A holistic approach to market access in emerging markets”.

Our support for clients may also differ depending on the market archetype.

In the mature markets, where the use of health technology assessment (HTA) is well established, we see several key trends for the year ahead and beyond.

First there is a streamlining of processes in these markets, especially for rare diseases and cell and gene therapies, covering both domestic processes and when compared with global standards.

Secondly, we see HTA agencies increasing in importance in reimbursement decisions, moving from being technical advisors to becoming decision-makers themselves.

Thirdly, the importance of locally generated pharmacoeconomic data, especially real-world data, is increasing. Many Asian regulators have long required local clinical data, and this is now expanding to payer requirements as well.

Finally, we see increasing use of managed entry agreements and other risk-sharing agreements by payers to address their concerns about the higher cost of some of the highly innovative new therapies.

In these mature markets, we help our clients develop strategies and navigate local requirements for achieving optimal access for their products in systems with well-defined structures and processes.

 

 

What are the trends and challenges in the emerging APAC markets?

In the emerging markets, as their healthcare systems and payer structures are evolving, the trends and challenges are both more basic and more complex than in the mature markets.

First of all, governments in emerging markets are expanding their use of HTA with a focus on capacity building. Many countries have been influenced by NICE in the UK, both as a benchmark system but also as NICE has actively advised governments in the region. Increasingly, emerging markets have also been influenced by Thailand’s HITAP as a more relevant local example.

Secondly, budget impact and pricing will remain the primary concern in emerging markets, with limited opportunities for advanced medicines, as HTA agencies in these markets are more focused on ensuring that essential drug lists are securely supplied with generics and biosimilars.

Thirdly, as public coverage remains focused on basic care, private insurance continues to grow and is becoming a focus of innovation in expanding access to medicines.

Finally, the impact of digital health on access, especially with the rise of telemedicine during the pandemic and the emergence of “super apps” as healthcare players, is still evolving in terms of closing the gaps in access to healthcare delivery and funding in emerging markets.

In these emerging markets, we help our clients tailor strategies for evolving local requirements, explore innovative approaches to expand access, and build capabilities in their local and regional access teams.

 

How are digital applications helping to accelerate access in the APAC region?

With APAC markets each having distinct characteristics and priorities, developing the right evidence generation strategy requires insight, agility, and collaboration. A good approach is for global or regional teams to identify the resonant issues across all markets, and then work closely with affiliates to filter out which of these make sense in the local context – it isn’t easy. To get there, companies need a consistent framework for assessing evidence risk across markets; informed, collaborative, and integrated decision-making; an integrated evidence generation plan; and enhanced prioritisation at the regional and/or market level.

So how can you achieve it? Technology is a great enabler. We’ve supercharged our expert knowledge of the payer landscape with digital innovation that gives market access teams rapid access to insight that informs their evidence generation strategy. Avalere Health’s suite of digital applications includes the PRMA Healthcheck^®, which provides a systematic and consistent approach to analysing the various factors that influence APAC pricing, reimbursement, and market access.

In addition, we offer hēRo3, a cloud-based economic modeling platform used for evidence reviews for new prescription drugs, medical tests, and other healthcare interventions. This platform significantly increases transparency, reduces errors, and speeds evaluations. Since its introduction, hēRo3 has been used by more than a dozen large biopharma companies, colleges, and universities around the world, as well as the largest drug-pricing watchdog in the US.

 

What sets Avalere Health apart from other solution providers for life sciences commercialisation?

Avalere Health has brought together best-in-class global expertise with multidisciplinary skill sets and deep knowledge of both the HEOR and the payer landscapes in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region. With this global reach, we can build bespoke, best-in-class teams around the client’s challenge, bringing in expertise across the capability and the organisation.

Avalere Health has ushered in a new phase of growth and impact, focused on delivering an integrated and innovative end-to-end service offering. To support its accelerated global growth, Avalere Health has built a people-focused environment where employees are empowered to think differently, thrive, and produce award-winning work that meets the evolving needs of biopharmaceutical, medical technology, and wellness clients.

The company re-imagined its vision and values, unifying its 1,300 global team members under a common aspiration: “We imagine a healthier world and create the connections to make it happen.” This new purposeful vision emphasizes a culture of diversity and collaboration, empowering teams to work cross-functionally to develop effective solutions to healthcare’s most complex challenges across the product, service, and portfolio lifecycle.

Avalere Health has created a fresh way to develop, launch, and grow brands, offering a full suite of best-in-class services for development and commercialisation of pharmaceutical and biomedical therapies. We shape and affect connections between people and life-enhancing therapies, empowering people with the knowledge and the motivation needed to improve outcomes.