Clinical impact of rapid molecular diagnostic tests in patients presenting with viral respiratory symptoms: A systematic literature review.

Background: Molecular tests can detect lower concentrations of viral genetic material over a longer period of respiratory infection than antigen tests. Delays associated with central laboratory testing can result in hospital-acquired transmission, avoidable patient admission, and unnecessary use of antimicrobials, all which may lead to increased cost of patient management. The aim of this study was to summarize comparisons of clinical outcomes associated with rapid molecular diagnostic tests (RMDTs) versus other diagnostic tests for viral respiratory infections.

Outcomes of patients aged ≥26 years with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in ZUMA-3 and historical trials.

Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) is an autologous anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy approved in the USA and European Union (EU) for adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL; aged ≥26 years in EU). Here, outcomes for patients with R/R B-ALL aged ≥26 years in ZUMA-3 treated with brexu-cel were compared with historical standard-of-care (SOC) therapy. After median follow-up of 26.

Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparisons of Brexucabtagene Autoleucel with Alternative Standard Therapies for Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adult Patients.

Introduction: Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel), a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, is approved for relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults aged 18+/26+ years in the US/European Union (EU), based on efficacy results from the single-arm ZUMA-3 trial. This study aimed to estimate the relative treatment effects of brexu-cel versus inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO), blinatumomab (blina), and chemotherapies using unanchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) methods.

Methods: Individual patient data from ZUMA-3 and published aggregate level data from two randomized controlled trials, INO-VATE (InO versus chemotherapy) and TOWER (blina versus chemotherapy), were used.

Impact of the treatment crossover design on comparative efficacy in EMPOWER-Lung 1: Cemiplimab monotherapy as first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: In randomized-controlled crossover design trials, overall survival (OS) treatment effect estimates are often confounded by the control group benefiting from treatment received post-progression. We estimated the adjusted OS treatment effect in EMPOWER-Lung 1 (NCT03088540) by accounting for the potential impact of crossover to cemiplimab among controls and continued cemiplimab treatment post-progression.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to cemiplimab 350 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W) or platinum-doublet chemotherapy.

Matching-adjusted indirect comparison of axi-cel and liso-cel in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma.

In the absence of a randomized head-to-head trial, an unanchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison was performed to estimate the relative treatment effects of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; ZUMA-1) versus lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel; TRANSCEND-NHL-001) for treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after at least two lines of therapy. After matching, axi-cel and liso-cel had comparable objective response rates and duration. Compared to liso-cel, axi-cel was associated with improvements in overall survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.

Correlation Between Early Time-to-Event Outcomes and Overall Survival in Patients With Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Receiving Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Overall survival (OS) is the most patient-relevant outcome in oncology; however, in early cancers, large sample sizes and extended follow-up durations are needed to detect statistically significant differences in OS between interventions. Use of early time-to-event outcomes as surrogates for OS can help facilitate faster approval of cancer therapies. In locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC), event-free survival (EFS) was previously evaluated as a surrogate outcome (Michiels 2009) and demonstrated a strong correlation with OS.

Systematic literature review and network meta-analysis of pembrolizumab versus other interventions for previously untreated, unresectable or metastatic, MSI-high or MMR-deficient CRC.

To compare pembrolizumab with competing interventions for previously untreated, unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancer. Trials were identified via a systematic literature review and synthesized using a Bayesian network meta-analysis with time-varying hazard ratios (HRs). Using intention-to-treat data, HRs for overall survival were generally in favor of pembrolizumab but not statistically significant; however, statistical significance was reached versus all comparators by month 16 when accounting for crossover.

Cost-Effectiveness of Cemiplimab Versus Standard of Care in the United States for First-Line Treatment of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression ≥50.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness, from a US commercial payer perspective, of cemiplimab versus other first-line treatments for advanced non-small cell lung cancer with programmed death-ligand 1 expression ≥50%.

Methods: A 30-year "partitioned survival" model was constructed. Overall survival and progression-free survival were estimated by applying time-varying hazard ratios from a network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of cemiplimab vs pembrolizumab for treatment of advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Most cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (CSCCs) can be treated with surgical excision or radiation; however, approximately 1% of patients develop advanced disease. In 2018, the FDA approved cemiplimab-rwlc as the first programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody for the treatment of patients with metastatic CSCC or locally advanced CSCC who are not candidates for curative surgery or curative radiation. In June 2020, pembrolizumab, another PD-1 monoclonal antibody, was approved for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic CSCC who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.

Assessing the Value of Cemiplimab for Adults With Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cemiplimab in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) from a payer perspective in the United States.

Methods: A partitioned survival model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of cemiplimab versus historical standard of care (SOC). All inputs were identified based on a systematic literature review, supplemented by expert opinion where necessary.

Comparative effectiveness of nivolumab versus standard of care for third-line patients with small-cell lung cancer.

To estimate the comparative effectiveness of nivolumab versus standard of care (SOC) in terms of overall survival (OS) for small-cell lung cancer patients treated with two prior lines of chemotherapy, in other words, third line in the USA. Data were from CheckMate 032, a single-arm trial of nivolumab, and real-world electronic patient records. Comparisons of OS were conducted using three different methods to adjust for differences (regression, weighting and doubly robust) between the populations.

Comparing Efficacy, Safety, and Preinfusion Period of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel versus Tisagenlecleucel in Relapsed/Refractory Large B Cell Lymphoma.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) and tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) are autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell therapies for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma (RR-LBCL). Both can induce durable responses; however, cross-trial comparisons are difficult due to differences in study design. In this study, the registration trials of axi-cel and tisa-cel were compared using a matching adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC).

Indirect comparison of nivolumab ± ipilimumab (CheckMate 032) versus other treatments for recurrent small-cell lung cancer.

To estimate the comparative efficacy of nivolumab ± ipilimumab versus alternative treatments for small-cell lung cancer after at least one prior line of chemotherapy. A systematic literature review identified six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that could be connected in a network. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves from these RCTs were synthesized using network meta-analysis models.

Estimated Versus Observed Expenditure Associated with Medicines Recommended by the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group.

Objectives: The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) appraises the clinical and cost effectiveness of new medicines being considered for National Health Service (NHS) prescribing in Wales (UK). The aim of this study was to compare the estimated expenditure on selected medicines submitted by pharmaceutical companies for appraisal with the observed expenditure on these medicines following recommendation.

Methods: Medicines appraised and recommended for use in NHS Wales by AWMSG between May 2005 and December 2013 were identified for inclusion in the study.

Pembrolizumab versus the standard of care for relapsed and refractory classical Hodgkin's lymphoma progressing after brentuximab vedotin: an indirect treatment comparison.

Background: There is significant unmet need among patients with relapsed and refractory classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (RRcHL) who have failed multiple lines of therapy, including brentuximab vedotin (BV). Pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, is one possible treatment solution for this population.

Research Methods: The objective of this study was to compare progression-free survival (PFS) with standard of care (SOC) versus pembrolizumab in previously BV treated RRcHL patients.

The cost of oropharyngeal cancer in England: A retrospective hospital data analysis.

Objectives: To estimate the total costs of treating head and neck cancers, specifically oropharyngeal, laryngeal and oral cavity cancer, in secondary care facilities in England during the period 2006/2007 to 2010/2011.

Design: Patient records were extracted from an English hospital database to estimate the number of patients treated for oropharyngeal, laryngeal and oral cavity cancer in England. Identified resource use was linked to published United Kingdom cost estimates to quantify the reimbursement of treatment through the Payment by Results system.

Communicating the Risk of MRSA: The Role of Clinical Practice, Regulation and Other Policies in Five European Countries.

Background: The threat posed by Meticillin-resistant (MRSA) has taken on an increasingly pan-European dimension. This article aims to provide an overview of the different approaches to the control of MRSA adopted in five European countries (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK) and discusses data and reporting mechanisms, regulations, guidelines, and health policy approaches with a focus on risk communication. Our hypothesis is that current infection control practices in different European countries are implicit messages that contribute to the health-related risk communication and subsequently to the public perception of risk posed by MRSA.