In this first episode of season 2 we discuss Health Technology Assessment, a multidisciplinary, transparent process for evaluating therapeutic agents and technologies in terms of efficacy and value in treating the indicated population, within the wider context of a country's healthcare system. Joining us to discuss this is Dalia Dawoud, Senior Scientific Advisor at NICE, the National Institute for for Health and Care Excellence in London, and Eline van Overbeeke, Health Economics and Outcomes Research Manager, Pfizer, both co-leading work package 2 in EHDEN focusing on evidence generation in HTA and outcomes benchmarking.

In a broad ranging conversation Dalia and Eline, viewing this from a HTA agency and a biopharmaceutical company, cover what is 'HTA', and how RWD is rapidly growing as a data source for evidence generation to support contextual insights into therapeutic areas, longer term evaluation in-market, especially also where RCT data is minimal or absent, and in validation of modelling and assumptions. Challenges in utilising RWD are discussed, and how EHDEN is responding to this, for instance as addressed in the PharmacoEconomics paper of late 2019. Finally, we focus on the learning curve for all concerned and a forthcoming, initial module of courses related to HTA and use of RWD/RWE to be launched in the EHDEN Academy.

The views expressed by the participants are personal and not necessarily reflective of their organisations.