Excitement is building as our team prepare for the upcoming World Evidence, Pricing and Access (EPA) Congress in Amsterdam over the 5th–6th March 2025. This event offers a valuable opportunity to connect with key stakeholders in the market access and health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) community from across the globe. If you're planning to attend, be sure to visit the Petauri booth (no. 48). Complete the form here to arrange a meeting with our team.
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:
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:
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.
