The conference organisers have curated an exceptional programme featuring thought-provoking presentations and dynamic panel sessions led by industry leaders driving market access strategy and practice. Following the opening keynote sessions, the conference will split into nine topic tracks and main plenary sessions each day. Here, we outline our top recommendations for sessions from each topic track.

Jump to your favourite topic to see our recommendations and some suggested pre-reading:

• Real-World Evidence & Data (in G102)
• Market Access (in the Auditorium)
• Pricing (in the Exhibition Hall)
• Pre-Launch Success (in G103)
• Reimbursement (in G104)
• Rare Diseases (in G105)
• Digital Transformation (in G106)
• Health Technology Assessment (in the Exhibition Hall)
• Health Economics & Outcomes Research (in G107)

Or consult the full agenda here.

Real World Evidence & Data

A key theme in the Real World Evidence & Data presentations is the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI has the potential to expedite the generation, synthesis, and analysis of real-world evidence (RWE). The Wednesday afternoon panel at 14:30 will focus on this topic, featuring speakers from top Pharma companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Takeda, Sanofi, and Novartis, along with independent experts.

We are eager to hear what Lianne Barnieh (Associate Director, HEOR – BeiGene) will discuss in the last session on Wednesday at 17:45. Earlier in the afternoon, Trine Pilgaard (Director, Head of Market Access, Denmark and Iceland – Pfizer) will review the landscape and use of RWE across Denmark at 16:15. There is another dive into a local market on Thursday afternoon at 15:50, where Eva Susanne Dietrich (Professor, Departments for Clinical Pharmacy and Regulatory Affairs – University of Bonn) will explore RWE in Germany.

Thursday lunchtime features interesting sessions on using real-world data (RWD) for market access and value communication. Frederico Calado (Real-World Data Strategic Partnership Lead – Sanofi) will cover ‘Value based approaches to searching, screening and developing RWD strategic partnerships’ at 12:00. Elena Panitti (Global Director, Evidence Valuation and Enablement – Novartis) will present ‘Digitizing the integrated evidence plan, benefits and learnings’ at 12:40.

The afternoon panel at 14:45 continues this theme, bringing leaders from Sanofi, GSK, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Chiesi, and Takeda together to explore ‘From data to decisions: harnessing evidence for seamless product launches’.

Prepare for the conference with:

• On-demand webinar: Best practice RWE approaches to support economic modelling for HTA
• On-demand webinar: Engage NHS healthcare decision-makers with RWD

Market Access

The market access track offers a variety of sessions. We are particularly excited about Matt Slabbert’s (Vice President, Global Head of Public Affairs – Astellas) session: ‘Novel medicines platform: what does this mean for EU access policy’ on Wednesday at 12:25. We look forward to his insights on the long-term impact of this platform, which aims to foster collaboration and improve access to high-cost novel medicines.

The theme of multi-national collaboration continues in the Wednesday afternoon panel session. Independent experts and policy advisers will join leaders from Novartis and UCB to discuss ‘Anticipated impacts of the European Union (EU) health technology assessment (HTA) on market access’. With the roll-out of the EU Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) this year for new cancer medicines and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), it is no surprise that this remains a hot topic.

A more surprising (and welcome) addition to the programme is Iroda Jurabekova’s (Global Director, Oncology Pricing and Market Access – Boehringer Ingelheim) session: ‘Leading an innovative culture in access teams’ on Wednesday at 15:35.

Prepare for the conference with:

• Summary and frequently asked questions (FAQs): EU Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) – Implications for Pharma and MedTech

Pricing

The pricing agenda explores the challenges of developing fair and commercially appropriate pricing strategies from various standpoints.

For example, Malik Ait-Yahia’s (Director, Head of Market Access, Pricing and Governmental Affairs – Biogen) session approaches the topic from the perspective of emerging markets and rare disease. Join his talk, ‘Developing fair pricing to increase rare disease access in emerging countries’, at 15:35 on Wednesday in the Exhibition Hall.

On Thursday at 12:40, independent global market access expert, Neil Grubert, will cover: ‘Implications of crossborder collaborations for pricing and procurement’. Neil is an excellent speaker and very knowledgeable about the market access landscape and policy changes across key markets. His presentation is sure to be informative!

The pricing panel on Thursday at 14:45 will explore ‘Value based healthcare in theory and practice: challenges for pricing’. With panellists from Menarini, Abbott Laboratories, Novartis, BeiGene, and Dutch health insurer trade association, Zorgverzekeraars Nederland, this is set to be a thought-provoking discussion that will address real-world challenges in developing pricing strategies.

For a local, Spanish perspective on pricing, join José Luis Sánchez (Director, Market Access, Spain and Portugal – Jazz Pharmaceuticals) on Thursday afternoon at 15:50 as he explores ‘Price negotiation evolution in Spain’.

Prepare for the conference with:

• Read: What is willingness to pay? – Comparing price testing methodologies

Pre-Launch Success

Pre-launch success may seem a little ambiguous, but here, many of the presenters interpret it as “preparations and strategy for a successful launch”. For example, Olga Diachenko (Director Market Access, EMENA – Accord Healthcare) will present ‘Subnational reimbursement strategies for successful launches’ at 16:15 on Wednesday. Similarly, one of the day’s final sessions will feature Najib Slassi (Commercial Director, Gene Therapies – Novartis) presenting ‘Elevating market access to enable successful launches’. It will be interesting to see common themes between these sessions. Both sessions seem likely to discuss how global teams can best support local affiliates by providing the right evidence, resources, and propositions for local market launches and reimbursement success.

On Thursday, Tina Fischer (Head of Health Technology Assessments, Oncology – Daiichi-Sankyo) will discuss incorporating early local HTA agency feedback into strategies for wider international launches. Catch her session: ‘Incorporating early advice from HTA bodies and local levels to ensure successful international launches’ at 15:50.

Prepare for the conference with:

• Read: 6 questions to ask when adapting global market access materials for local markets

Reimbursement

Day 1 of the reimbursement sessions focuses on antimicrobials. At 14:30 on Wednesday, a panel will explore ‘The UK subscription model for antimicrobials: what’s next internationally?’. Later, at 15:35, Jennifer Quinn (Head of Global Value and Access – Debiopharm International) will discuss ‘Leveraging current reimbursement pathways to enable more equitable access for antibiotics’.

Thursday features sessions on innovation, sustainability, and affordability. At 12:00, Ad Antonisse (Director, Market Access & Corporate Affairs – AstraZeneca) will present ‘Innovative reimbursement schemes: uncertainties and performance indicators’. The afternoon panel at 14:45 is a must-see. Leaders from Novartis, UCB, Sanofi, Viatris, and Zorgverzekeraars Nederland will join Mary Lynne van Poelgeest-Pomfret (President of the World Federation for Incontinence and Pelvic Problems [WFIPP]) to explore ‘Sustainability of healthcare: reimbursement driven by affordability constraints’.

We’re also excited about Ankita Kaushik’s (Senior Director, HEOR, Global Value and Access – Gilead Sciences) session at 12:40 on Thursday, ‘Evidence generated from clinical trials to maximise reimbursement’.

Prepare for the conference with:

• On-demand webinar: Maximising NHS impact on a budget: assessing value in healthcare

Rare Diseases

Be sure to attend the sessions on rare diseases. Orphan and ultra-orphan medicines face unique market access and reimbursement challenges. Experts will share insights on launching innovative treatments in this field.

We’re excited about Ning Lu’s (Director, International Market Access and Pricing – Blueprint Medicines) session, ‘International access needs for orphan drugs: improving evidence and pricing strategies’, at 11:45 on Wednesday. Her global perspectives on evidence and pricing in the rare disease space will be fascinating.

On Thursday at 15:50, Sebastian Kessel (Senior Director, Head of Market Access & Public Affairs, Germany – UCB) will discuss the challenges and opportunities of launching multiple assets in one indication. An interesting strategic challenge!

Prepare for the conference with:

• On-demand webinar: Rare disease market access – Launching orphan drugs in secondary markets: the Nordic and MENA regions
• Four-part in-depth read: Challenges for orphan medicines entering the European market
• On-demand webinar: Rare disease market access: Strategic and tactical challenges facing orphan medicines entering Europe

Digital Transformation

Wednesday’s digital transformation sessions will focus on AI and RWD in market access and HEOR. Don’t miss Bill Malcolm’s (Executive Director, Global HEOR Economic & Predictive Modelling – BMS) session on ‘Generative AI applications in market access and HEOR’ at 11:45.

Thursday’s agenda, chaired by Health Innovation Network CEO, Rishi Das-Gupta, shifts the focus towards digital innovation in healthcare. It begins with a session on HTA for digital health technologies and the EDiHTA project at 11:55.

At 12:40, Aodan Tynan (Vice President, Global Market Access – Astellas) will present ‘Omni channel approaches to improve customer interactions through digital and other pathways’. It’s encouraging to see omni channel customer engagement being discussed.

Prepare for the conference with:

• On-demand webinar: Digital payer value communication tools – How to meet the needs of your internal stakeholders and customers
• Read: Digital options to enhance your local market access materials
• Read: Evolving market access pathways for AI-enabled Medtech in Europe

Health Technology Assessment

As expected, the EU JCA is a key topic in the HTA sessions. Wednesday’s panel at 14:30, titled ‘HTA Panel – Challenges for the implementation of the EU HTA’, will feature panellists from the French Authority for Health (Haute Autorité de Santé [HAS]), Consortium of Health and Social Care of Catalonia, and European Commission & National Agency for Regional Care Services, Italy. Eelko Den Breejen (Sr Director, Global Access Strategy & Pricing Oncology Team Lead, Portfolio & Market Engagement – Pfizer) will provide the industry perspective. This is a must-attend session!

On Thursday at 12:40, Helen Knight (Director of Medicines Evaluation – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE]) will present ‘Balancing cost-effectiveness and affordability: Developing methodological approaches to implement complex and high-volume products in the NHS’. Her insights on balancing these elements in healthcare systems will be intriguing.

The Thursday afternoon panel will revisit the topic of AI, focusing on its value in HTA. Panellists include leaders from HTA bodies, such as Dalia Dawoud (Associate Director, Research – NICE), Rosa Maria Vivanco Hidalgo (Head of HTA – AQuAS Gencat), and Oresta Piniazhko (Director, HTA Department – Ministry of Health, Ukraine). Leaders from BMS and GSK, along with Rishi Das-Gupta (CEO – Health Innovation Network) and Meindert Boysen (Independent HTA Expert & Chair – Health Technology Assessment International [HTAi] Global Policy Forum), will also participate.

Prepare for the conference with:

• Summary and FAQs: EU Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) – Implications for Pharma and Medtech
• On-demand webinar: Artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical trials: implications for evidence synthesis and market access
• On-demand webinar: Maximising NHS impact on a budget: assessing value in healthcare

Health Economics and Outcomes Research

The HEOR agenda is varied, as expected. We’re particularly excited about Matthias Bischof’s (Senior Director, International Health Economics – Novartis) session at 16:15 on Wednesday, titled ‘Societal perspectives in cost effectiveness analyses: a comprehensive assessment’.

On Thursday at 12:40, Christina Vandorou (Director, Macroeconomics and Health Policy, EMEA –Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine) will explore ‘The value of investing in healthcare systems for the future’. This broad but enticing topic promises to offer valuable insights.

Prepare for the conference with:

• Quick read: What does HEOR really mean in 2025?
• On-demand webinar: De-mystifying health economic model classifications and structures

Learn more about our plans for World EPA Congress and connect with our team here.

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The symposium featured the following guest speakers and facilitators:

• Professor Hilary Garratt CBE (ICB NHS Non-Executive Director, Accredited Senior Executive Coach and Mentor)
• Dr Raj Patel MBE (Former Senior Medical Director in NHS England, NHS Transformation Consultant)
• Patrick McGinley (Head of Costing and Service Line Reporting, NHS Trust)
• Gail Fortes Mayer (Associate Director of Strategic Commissioning, ICB)

The symposium brought National Health Service (NHS) leaders and life sciences experts together to discuss the future of healthcare, focusing on innovation, collaboration, and transformation. The event launched with an energising discussion on the life sciences sector’s crucial role in advancing patient care. This discussion identified several surmountable barriers to partnership, which highlighted the need for new ways of working from both the NHS and industry. The ambition to make real change was evident throughout.

NHS–industry collaboration

The symposium stressed the critical importance of NHS–industry synergy to drive access, innovation, and transformation. Whilst the NHS’s complexity and constant evolution pose challenges, these partnerships can greatly improve patient outcomes and care quality. Mtech Access offer training solutions specifically designed to help industry partners navigate and understand these complexities, paving the way for more effective collaborations.

Stakeholder engagement

Understanding key stakeholders and funding models emerged as essential to building successful partnerships and optimising patient outcomes. The symposium offered a valuable platform for NHS leaders and industry representatives to connect, share insights, and strengthen partnerships for the future.

Policy and leadership

Attendees highlighted the need for strong leadership to navigate volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. Public dialogue and promoting integrated care promotion were emphasised as essential strategies for navigating the complexities of the healthcare system.

Digital transformation and workforce expansion

Other central themes included digital transformation, balancing finances, workforce expansion, and nurturing talent. The discussion emphasised the need for reform in social care and action to meet the needs of an ageing population.

Integrated care

Integrated Care Partnerships, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), and provider collaboratives were explored as mechanisms to improve patient outcomes, enhance productivity, reduce inequalities, and drive broader economic and social growth. These new structures present a unique opportunity for the life sciences industry to engage at scale and support the development of a more efficient, cohesive healthcare system.

Evidence-driven approach

The symposium emphasised the value of an evidence-driven approach to address population health needs and deliver proactive care. Leveraging data to improve planning and care delivery can help the NHS tackle its most pressing challenges. As an evidence-driven approach is at the heart of what we do at Mtech Access, it was encouraging to hear this advocated by both NHS and industry. We look forward to exploring how data can be best leveraged by our industry partners and the NHS to aid improved relationships and better outcomes for patients.

Challenges and opportunities

Our guest speakers also examined workforce shortages and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Industry partners were urged to drive rapid innovation and secure funding to support these advancements.

Partnering with NHS Integrated Care Systems

Successful engagement with NHS Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) requires a strategic, collaborative approach. Key takeaways for industry partners included:

Understanding ICS structures

Each ICS has its own unique priorities and challenges. Partners who spend time learning more about the local context and specific needs of the ICS they engage with will be better positioned to collaborate effectively.

Mtech Access’s training programmes help partners develop this understanding, making the ICS landscape easier to navigate.

Building strong relationships

Establishing relationships with key ICS stakeholders, including clinical leaders, commissioners, and decision-makers, is crucial. Building trust and showing a commitment to improving patient outcomes will set a strong foundation for success.

Aligning with NHS priorities

Tailoring your initiatives to the priorities of the NHS, such as improving outcomes, enhancing productivity, tackling inequalities, and supporting economic and social growth is essential. Customised proposals aligned with each ICS’s goals can make a meaningful impact.

Demonstrating value

Clearly communicating the value that your solutions offer, including clinical, economic, and operational benefits, is key. Evidence of successful implementations and measurable outcomes can reinforce your case for partnership.

Mtech Access experts in value communication and evidence can help you communicate your proposition in a way that will resonate with NHS decision-makers.

Collaborating on evidence-driven projects

Engaging in projects that use data to identify population needs and deliver proactive care is beneficial. An evidence-driven approach can help partners address NHS complexities and improve planning and care delivery.

Being flexible and adaptable

Given the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, flexibility is essential. Industry partners should remain open to feedback and adapt to changing circumstances, including co-designing solutions with the ICS and other stakeholders.

Focusing on integrated care

Supporting initiatives that promote integrated care across all settings, fostering collaboration with various sectors and providers beyond the NHS.

The ‘triple win’

A ‘triple win’ approach emerged as a powerful framework for partnership. Focusing on solutions that deliver value across these three areas ensures initiatives are sustainable and impactful. This holistic approach not only improves patient care but also aligns with NHS goals and drives innovation within the life sciences sector.

In conclusion, the transforming healthcare symposium provided invaluable insights into the future of healthcare, emphasising the need for collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based strategies to enhance patient care and outcomes. With strong partnerships and Mtech Access’s support in understanding the structure and priorities of the NHS, both the NHS and life sciences sector can work together to overcome challenges and build a more effective, efficient healthcare system.

To fully capitalise on the insights and strategies from the transforming healthcare symposium, explore how Mtech Access can support your organisation’s journey through the NHS landscape. With services designed to make sense of policy shifts, navigate complex funding systems, and deepen your understanding of evolving healthcare structures, we can help you align your strategy with NHS priorities.

From interpreting key policy changes to understanding the financial systems that drive the NHS, our tailored solutions provide essential insights for effective engagement. Whether you’re looking to grasp the structures and decision-makers within ICBs and Primary Care Networks (PCNs), learn about prescribing pathways and budgets, or drive impactful service redesign, Mtech Access offer expert guidance every step of the way.

Connect with us to unlock opportunities for meaningful partnership with the NHS, support sustainable transformation, and advance patient care together. Email info@mtechaccess.co.uk to discuss our training and strategic consulting services.

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On 18th June, I had the distinct pleasure of participating in an expert panel at the HTAi annual meeting held in the picturesque city of Seville, Spain. The session, titled ‘Surrogate Endpoints in Health Technology Assessment (HTA): From Trials to Economic Evaluations’, was very much a collaborative endeavour. Orchestrated by Professor Rod Taylor (Professor of Population Health Research, University of Glasgow), I was joined on stage by fellow panellists:

• Professor Oriana Ciani (Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, Italy)
• Professor Marissa Lassere (St George Hospital and School of Population Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia)
• Professor Dalia Dawoud (Science, Evidence and Analytics Directorate, Science Policy and Research Programme, NICE, London, UK)

It was an honour to share the stage with such distinguished colleagues and contribute to a lively and engaging discussion. The session was attended by approximately 60 HTA stakeholders, all eager to delve into key considerations regarding appropriately validating and using surrogate endpoints for addressing HTA-related objectives.

Setting the stage: An academic perspective

Our session began under the experienced guidance of Professor Oriana Ciani, who laid the groundwork by providing a comprehensive academic perspective. Oriana’s presentation focused on the critical aspects of validating surrogate endpoints to ensure that these accurately predict final clinically relevant outcomes. Her insights set a robust foundation for the subsequent discussions, emphasising the importance of rigorous validation processes in maintaining the integrity of HTAs.

Bridging theory and practice: A clinical standpoint

Professor Marissa Lassere then provided a fascinating overview of the history and evolution of surrogate endpoint validation frameworks, dating back to the 1980s. Marissa’s ability to contextualise these frameworks within both historical and modern contexts enriched the session, offering a bridge between theoretical research and practical application in clinical settings.

My contribution: Key considerations when using surrogate endpoints within HTA models

When it was my turn to speak, I focused on the critical role of surrogate endpoints in economic evaluations for HTA, highlighting three fundamental pillars:

1. Using the best possible evidence: I stressed the enduring preference of sourcing evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that report final, patient relevant outcomes. Whilst the pressure to expedite approval and reimbursement processes often leads to reliance on surrogate endpoints for final outcomes, it is crucial to establish that the candidate surrogate endpoint has been robustly validated as such. This should be through use of meta-analysis methodologies to establish trial-level and arm-level correlations for the surrogate endpoint and final outcome, as well as biological plausibility for the assumed surrogate–final outcome predictive relationship
2. Systematic assessment of uncertainty: assessing the uncertainty inherent in the relationship between surrogate and final outcomes is essential. I advocated for following NICE guidance on the use of Monte Carlo simulation methods in probabilistic sensitivity analyses to robustly evaluate the stability of results when using surrogate endpoints for final outcomes. This was illustrated using the context of a case study based on a cost-effectiveness analysis of endovascular ultrasound renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension using systolic blood pressure as a surrogate endpoint to predict final cardiovascular outcomes
3. Transparent reporting: transparency is paramount when reporting the use of surrogate endpoints. I recommended detailed documentation reporting why and how surrogate endpoints are used, as well as the methodologies employed to test uncertainty

To illustrate these points, I presented a compelling case study to showcase how this works practically.

Concluding insights and audience engagement

The session concluded with Professor Dalia Dawoud providing an insightful and engaging overview of the latest NICE HTA methods guidance on surrogate endpoint validation and use. Dalia highlighted the importance of collaborations between HTA bodies and regulators, advocating for the establishment of cross-party agreement on best practices for validating and using surrogate endpoints.

Reflecting on the experience

Participating in this panel was a rewarding experience, showcasing the combined expertise of all members and highlighting the collaborative spirit necessary to advance HTA practices relating not only to the validation and use of surrogate endpoints, but for all areas. The discussion reaffirmed the significant potential role of surrogate endpoints in HTA, and the need for ongoing research and collaborative dialogue to refine their validation and application.

As we look ahead, I am excited about the potential for further advancements in this field and the role that we can play in shaping the future of HTA in this regard. Stay connected with us for more insights and updates on our work as we continue to lead the conversation in HTA.

For more information on the use of surrogate endpoints in HTA and how these can support your market access strategy, email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

More insights on surrogate endpoints:

• On-demand webinar: Surrogate endpoints – Overcoming reimbursement and validation challenges
• ISPOR poster: The Assessment of Surrogate Endpoints and their Impact on HTA Recommendations and accompanying author interview

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Who’s attending from Mtech Access?

David Niziol

MD & Founder

Anthony Bentley

Director – Health Economics

Clare Foy

Director – Global Market Access

Adam Brown

Director – Consulting Services

Hannah Palin

Director – Market Access

Lydia Crowe

Director – Commercial

Key reads and insights ahead of ISPOR

What role does ICER play in US market access?

We delve into ICER’s influence on drug pricing and access in the US. We also explore the importance of maximising engagement with ICER for favourable pricing and access outcomes…

Top 10 HEOR trends – A detailed look at ISPOR’s 2024–2025 topics

We bring together specialists from across Mtech Access to look at each of ISPOR’s top 10 HEOR trends for 2024-25. Jump in, as our experts give their hot-take on each trend, sharing their perspectives on what’s happening in these areas…

EThe role of economic evaluation in US healthcare

Hannah Palin (Director – Market Access) and Calum Jones (Associate Director – Health Economics) explore the landscape for economic evaluation in the US and highlight important considerations for companies seeking to infiltrate this key market….

Free guide to market access and reimbursement in key European markets

Request your copy of our popular introductory guide: ‘Market access and reimbursement in key European markets’…

AMCP dossier planning for US market access and reimbursement

What is an AMCP dossier and how are they used in US market access? Drawing on their extensive experience compiling AMCP dossiers, here, our global market access experts explain when, why and how…

EU Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) – implications for Pharma and Medtech

What is the EU Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) and what does it mean for market access and reimbursment in Euorpe?…

6 questions to ask when adapting global market access materials for local markets

How can you ensure that the market access materials, value proposition and evidence developed by global teams, will resonate for your local audience?…

Setting your product up for success – commercialisation strategy for the US market

How can you ensure your product is set up for success from early clinical trials right through to launch and commercialisation? In this Global Whispers webinar we explore best practice…

The post Meet us at ISPOR in Atlanta, GA, USA appeared first on Mtech Access.

It’s no secret that the NHS faces challenges, including funding constraints, workforce limitations, an ageing population, and advanced medical technologies. Not to mention the fact that many of the integrated care systems (ICSs) are still finding their feet. To overcome these challenges, it is vital that there is transformation of clinical services and pathways.

That’s no easy task, and the speakers at our NHS Transformation Symposium last week focused on the role of the life sciences industry in bringing meaningful change to the NHS.

The main takeaway from the Symposium was that we can only succeed if the NHS, regulatory bodies, and life sciences industry combine strengths.

The challenges with adopting new technologies – why is the NHS not doing XYZ?

One of the questions that our speakers frequently receive is “why doesn’t the NHS implement a particular technology?”.

Dr Penny Dash (Chair of North West London ICS) was our first speaker of the day. She emphasised that, whilst the NHS recognises the benefits of new technologies and treatments, there is considerable pressure on ICSs; their hands are often tied by central government with regard to resource allocation, and budgetary constraints limit their ability to be flexible.

Although a hospital or ICS might be keen to adopt a new technology to help staff work more efficiently, mandated staffing levels can make efficiencies and cost savings difficult to realise. One of the examples given was the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support early cancer diagnosis.

Paul Miller (Non-Executive Director, BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board [ICB]) explored this in the final session of the day. He explained that, due to current budgetary constraints, many ICSs are now running at a significant deficit. Therefore, any innovation should look to demonstrate cost savings within the financial year to increase the chance of it being adopted.

NHS leaders are time poor

Our speakers also highlighted that NHS leadership faces a continuous onslaught of immediate challenges. Recently these have included RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) in hospital buildings, capacity issues in emergency departments, and ongoing strike actions. Every day there’s a new fire to put out.

As a result, senior NHS leaders may only have 30–60 minutes a week to consider new technologies and innovations. Value propositions and pitches must be succinct and consider the full clinical pathway, to allow NHS leaders to easily assess new technologies.

What can industry do?

To encourage the NHS to adopt new technologies, the industry must make them aware of the innovations available. If senior NHS leaders don’t know what innovations are accessible, then they can’t drive the transformation of services and embrace new opportunities.

There can be a problem with lack of communication between the industry and the NHS. Often, key individuals vary across ICSs, leaving those in industry unsure who to contact. That’s where Mtech Access can help, as we can direct them to the right individuals and test ideas with our NHS Associate network.

To effect change, innovation must work both locally and at scale. Richard Smale (Executive Director of Strategy and Transformation, BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB) emphasised that any new technologies must have value propositions that meet the needs of all NHS stakeholders at the different levels of localisation.

From neighbourhoods to whole system levels, any innovation that struggles to provide value to all levels of the system will have a much harder time achieving buy-in from the wider healthcare system.

Collaboration is key

All our NHS speakers emphasised their willingness to work with industry. They were keen to help industry better understand the NHS, its needs and challenges, and the art of the possible. They also recognised the importance of NHS leaders gaining a better understanding of industry and the constraints it faces.

Our Chief Innovation Officer, Prof. Phil Richardson, encouraged attendees to embrace collaborative ways of thinking and consider working with other suppliers in the healthcare market to bring the NHS comprehensive solutions.

This may involve developing forums where companies and the NHS are able to talk, at an above-brand level, and find effective solutions, which may involve more than one company.

Presenting comprehensive, targeted evidence

Several of our speakers spoke to the need for comprehensive and appropriate evidence for the innovations developed by industry. Clinical trials, pilots, NICE approval, and case studies of implementation are invaluable in demonstrating that a technology has the potential to meaningfully transform the NHS.

Ensuring that your evidence asks and answers the questions of NHS key decision makers is vital to adoption. It is all too easy to ask the wrong questions in a study and then collect evidence that doesn’t demonstrate the value of your technology to the NHS.

Building collaborative and ongoing conversations with the NHS allows industry to understand the metrics and evidence that resonate with decision makers.

A call to action: uniting for a better future

Reflecting on the insights and perspectives shared during the Mtech Access NHS Symposium, it is clear that transformation is a collective journey.

The challenges facing the NHS are formidable. Yet, they are not insurmountable when we work together. Across the UK, innovative technologies are being implemented that will deliver real change for the benefit of patients and staff.

Mtech Access are committed to fostering and nurturing these collaborations, acting as a bridge between the NHS and industry. By facilitating meaningful dialogue and partnerships, we aim to support the NHS in achieving its transformational goals and delivering improved healthcare outcomes for the UK population.

We extend our gratitude to all participants, speakers, and partners who made this symposium a success. Together, let us embark on this transformative journey, united in our purpose to revolutionise healthcare for a brighter and healthier future.

If you would like to work with us and other companies at an above-brand level, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk to learn more about our plans in this area.

Please find resources from the symposium, including the event slides, in our event resource library.

To work with our experts on optimising your NHS engagement, evidence, and market access strategies, please email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

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Richard has previously held positions as UK Market Access Director at AbbVie, Allergan and BMS. Over to Richard…

An NHS in need of treatment?

If the NHS were its own patient, for what would it be treated?

There are undoubtedly several answers to that question. The phrase ‘multiple comorbidities’ may indeed spring to mind. But a promising diagnosis for the NHS’s principal ailment would be “inputitis”. Medical purists may well point out that this is simply to say that its inputs have become inflamed. Yet this, in a sense, was the message delivered by Dr Penny Dash, the opening speaker at Mtech Access’ recent NHS Transformation Symposium.

The wearer of several healthcare hats, Penny spoke to the meeting mainly from the basis of her experience chairing the North West London Integrated Care System. Eschewing the traditional formula for what is holding the NHS down – too little money dug in against too much demand – she focused instead on two areas. Firstly, the surfeit of top-down directives, usually inspired by whatever is the political obsession of the day. Secondly, and above all, an exaggerated concern with what goes into the delivery of healthcare. As opposed to what we get out of it.

Anyone who follows NHS political debates will know that, sooner or later, someone will complain about the number of hospital beds. As if the health service should be measuring itself by the same standards as a furniture retailer. At the same time, it is generally understood that the aim and direction of health policy should be towards prevention; keeping people from needing a hospital bed in the first place. Logically, a long-term fall in the number of beds should be a sign that things are working.

Inputs versus outputs

It is all too easy, however, to adopt a knowing attitude about the failings of NHS management culture while overlooking the fact that “inputitis” is an important watch-out for industry itself. For companies approaching the NHS, the malady manifests as a focus only on the product – industry’s “input” – rather than on the outcomes the product might help achieve or the problems it can solve.

That is not to say that companies do not present their products in terms of the benefits they confer. But what can get forgotten is that the best outcomes are only achieved if the product is used in the best possible way.

This is not always straightforward and takes effort, resource, and partnership to achieve. It also takes an openness (not always a given) to change. It is often only a long-term, rather than short-term, gain.

Dr Penny Dash offered the example of “virtual wards”. These are an important and promising innovation, with obvious benefit potential for both patients and the health service. Yet the NHS is still in the business of working through all the implications of what caring for patients “virtually” means. It is only when we understand those wider effects in context that we can properly assess the value of the various types of technology that make virtual wards an achievable reality.

The power (and challenges) of transformation

Products that are truly innovative are, almost by definition, those that bring about significant transformation. Yet transformation can be an uncomfortable and sometimes unwelcome experience. Especially in an organisation such as the NHS, which is beset by day-to-day pressures and with little or no headspace for seeing the bigger picture.

It should, therefore, be fundamental to the nature of industry–NHS partnerships that they are focused on helping the health service to work through the challenges that transformation brings, and to emerge stronger and better on the other side.

Industry needs to approach this task in the spirit of foresight and not just hindsight. This means looking ahead to the consequences of adopting this or that technology, and anticipating how they can be handled.

It should go beyond focusing only on what is known about a product at any given time. Data that, at least early in a product’s lifecycle, come almost entirely from the artificial world of a clinical trial.

Looking beyond HTA and reimbursement

Industry needs to know what the NHS wants. For Pharmaceutical companies in particular this can sometimes seem like a distracting question. The whole system is geared towards moving new products successfully through a Health Technology Assessment (HTA), so as to achieve reimbursement and access. Getting past the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), however, has rather less to do with understanding what the NHS wants than with the particular, and sometimes rather recondite, needs of health economists.

One of the challenges for any market access strategy is, therefore, to look beyond HTA to understand how value can be cultivated over an extended period in the real world of the NHS itself. Again, partnership along the entirety of this pathway will be key.

Meanwhile, for other technologies, including AI-based innovations whose pathways are less dominated by NICE, a different set of questions arises. Questions about how ‘value’ is to be measured and understood exactly. Industry should set itself the task of co-creating answers to this question with the NHS itself.

A more collaborative approach

One thing that the NHS says very clearly that it wants is a more collaborative approach from industry. By this the speakers at the Symposium, at least, meant collaboration within industry itself. Not just between industry and the health service.

This can present challenges. Companies naturally expect to compete with each other, and competition is itself an important spur to innovation. Nor can collaboration be allowed to tip over into anti-competitive behaviour.

Nevertheless, there are good examples of how companies can and do work together to advance a common agenda with the NHS or other stakeholders. For example, for several years I was involved with the Industry Vision Group, an alliance of companies with interests in ophthalmology. We acted together to engage the NHS over issues such as the potential for data-based and digital technologies to transform eyecare. As another example, the Lung Cancer Policy Network, involving industry partners but also many other stakeholders, is a global initiative presenting a strong and united voice for improving outcomes in that dreadful disease.

Such alliances create interfaces for the NHS with industry and others that are extremely valuable. They do not substitute for individual company interactions; however, if done well, they can help create an environment in which such interactions can be more productive, beneficial and building of trust.

Can a collaborative approach from industry cure the NHS of its inputitis? Probably not. But it can make an extremely strong statement that industry itself is listening to its customer. It shows that it is marching in step with the desire to improve outcomes for patients and to create a sustainable future for the NHS.

Do you agree with Richard’s reflections? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop us an email via info@mtechaccess.co.uk or join the conversation on LinkedIn or X/ Twitter.

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Here, Sophie explores some key themes from the conference. Jump to:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning in evidence synthesis
• Recommendations on rapid reviews
• Journal cooperation for research integrity
• Representation and accessibility

Artificial intelligence and machine learning in evidence synthesis

As artificial intelligence (AI) gains traction in all areas of modern life, it is not surprising that reviewers are exploring its capabilities. The use of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, show the potential that machine learning (ML) has for streamlining screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment.

The sessions at Cochrane showcase some of the latest thinking and innovations in AI as well as some of the challenges it brings. While much progress has been made, and ML will undoubtedly become a part of the systematic review process in the future, human systematic reviewers should be reassured that we won’t become obsolete any time soon. Adoption of these technologies in Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) bodies is currently limited

Unfortunately, there is also potential for misuse of AI. The involvement of AI in falsified research has caused an ‘arms race’ between the fraudulent use of AI and the use of AI to detect such fraudulent research.

The Mtech Access innovation team are currently exploring the use of AI across the healthcare sector. To learn more and contribute to their research, email info@mtechaccess.co.uk.

Recommendations on rapid reviews

The demand for systematic reviews continues to expand with shorter timelines reflecting commercial and clinical pressures. This was especially prevalent during the COVID pandemic, when evidence on a limited timescale was crucial. Coincidentally, Cochrane presented guidelines for the ‘rapid review’ in March 2020, just days before the pandemic began.

In an afternoon workshop session, the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group (RRMG) described increased speed of planning, conducting and sharing systematic reviews as a main characteristic of the rapid review. However, they specified that in order to qualify, methods considered non-essential should be simplified or omitted, and should be clearly described by the authors (meaning ML won’t be the answer here).

Almost all stages of a full gold-standard systematic literature review are condensed in a rapid review. The potential for bias or error here explains the prerequisite for authors to report all methodology comprehensively and transparently.

Journal cooperation for research integrity

An interesting morning session on research integrity found the speakers recommending cooperation between journals.

Greater cooperation could help draw attention to fraudulent research groups. It could also help avoid the successful resubmission of content previously rejected due to dubious data.

Collaborations between journals, but also between national and international research bodies, will help reduce duplication of research and help bring to light the publication of fraudulent data.

Representation and accessibility

Despite a somewhat underwhelming turnout for the equality, diversity, and inclusion session, it proved to be a really interesting discussion about these key issues within both Cochrane and scientific publishing in general.

Representation issues include gender, racial, and language biases, as well as accessibility issues, including lack of support for disabled individuals or access to librarians in academic settings. These are still prevalent and require active challenging for any progress to be made.

The key takeaway from this session was the under-representation of these groups in leadership, such as on editorial boards. Until these groups have leaders that represent them, disparities are bound to continue.

Final thoughts

Overall, the Cochrane Colloquium 2023 was a great meeting that brought the systematic review community together in-person for the first time since the COVID pandemic, and celebrated 30 years of the Cochrane institution. We are excited to see what innovations and methodological updates the next 30 years brings!

To discuss the latest research methodologies with our evidence synthesis experts, email info@mtechaccess.co.uk

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