PHP51 - The Professionals’ Perspective of Patient Involvement in Market Access: A Descriptive Analysis

Abstract

Pharmaceutical product development stages include; pre-launch, peri-launch and post launch. There is growing evidence to support patient involvement in pharmaceutical product development and their access to such products. However, there is no consensus regarding the stage in which patients should be involved into the development of products, and how to bring them to market. This study examined the views of professionals regarding the patient perspective of market access. A questionnaire survey was used for the present study. This questionnaire was administered at the ISPOR conference, Glasgow to 104 participants. Descriptive analysis was carried out to investigate the stage in which patients should be involved in market access. Thirty-three participants were Consultants, 46 had Pharmaceutical background, 12 were Healthcare professionals, 11 were from Academia and 2 participants were Payers. 47.6% of the participants believed that patients should be involved, whilst 52.4% believed that they should not be involved. Of the 47.6%, five (4.8%) of the participants (4 from Pharma and 1 from academia) believed that patients should be involved at pre-launch stage. Similarly, 5 (4.8%) of the participants (4 from Pharma and 1 from academia) believed that patients should be involved at peri-launch. 38 (36.5%) of the participants (23 with Pharma background, 6 consultants, 5 healthcare professionals and 4 academia) agreed that patients should be involved at post-launch stage. The findings suggest that majority of the professionals believed that patients should be involved at post-launch stage. Patient involvement in the development of drugs and early engagement with reimbursement agencies like National Health and Care Excellence may help to facilitate resource allocation to improve their health outcomes through access to timely intervention. Future studies are required to explore the views of the patients of their involvement in pharmaceutical product development, and access to the product.