The use of the EVITA algorithm for clinical assessment of novel agents used in
prostate cancer, metastatic melanoma, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Author(s): Szucs TD(1), Puri D, Blank PR.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Institute of Pharmaceutical Medicine (ECPM), University of Basel,
Klingelbergstrasse 61, 4056, Basel, Switzerland, thomas.szucs@unibas.ch.
Publication date & source: 2014, Eur J Clin Pharmacol. , 70(8):983-90
PURPOSE: Existing health technology assessment methods can be time-consuming and
complicated to use in practice. EValuation of pharmaceutical Innovations with
regard to Therapeutic Advantage (EVITA) is a recently developed drug assessment
strategy that provides a detailed and clinically relevant evaluation of new
agents compared to standard therapies. We therefore sought to use EVITA to
evaluate eight novel agents recently introduced to clinical practice or in
late-stage trials for the treatment of prostate cancer, metastatic melanoma, or
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS: Eight agents (abiraterone, enzalutamide, sipuleucel-T, Prostvac, radium
223, ipilimumab, vemurafenib, and belimumab) were selected for study using the
EVITA algorithm. A comprehensive literature search was performed to find clinical
trial data, which were then classified using the EVITA protocol. EVITA was also
compared to results from health technology assessments (HTAs) or reimbursement
decisions.
RESULTS: The EVITA scores for the eight drugs ranged from 5.5 to 9: all the
selected agents are therefore classed as 'recommended' and are likely to produce
a therapeutic advantage. In particular, vemurafenib is likely to be highly
beneficial to patients with metastatic melanoma and radium 223 to patients with
metastatic prostate cancer affecting the bone. The EVITA results were generally
concordant with HTAs.
CONCLUSIONS: All the agents show favourable EVITA scores and are therefore
recommended for clinical practice. EVITA is an easy-to-use tool that provides
clinical context to the assessment of newly introduced agents and can be easily
used by non-specialists.
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