Boston, Mass., June 1, 2016 – The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has announced an updated timeline for the release of an upcoming report on treatments for remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Originally scheduled to be discussed at an October 2016 meeting of the California Technology Assessment Forum (CTAF), the report will now be the subject of a February 2017 meeting of CTAF. There will be no October 2016 meeting of CTAF.
ICER is committed to ensuring that all reports fully assess the available evidence within the scope of the review and adequately consider the perspectives of all stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, payers, and manufacturers. Due to the numerous treatments and perspectives to be considered in a review of treatments for RRMS, we have decided to delay the release of the report to allow ample time to fully consider all aspects of the topic and to ensure that the report’s findings are relevant and actionable for all stakeholders.
As mentioned in an earlier release, ICER’s report will include a number of approved and emerging therapies for RRMS. After further consideration, the initial list has been updated to include several additional therapies, included below. This list is subject to change as the scope of the report develops:
- Alemtuzumab (Lemtrada®, Sanofi-Genzyme)
- Daclizumab (Zinbryta™, Biogen and AbbVie, Inc.)
- Dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera®, Biogen)
- Fingolimod (Gilenya®, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Corp.)
- Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®, Teva Neuroscience, Inc.; Glatopa™, Sandoz)
- Interferon beta-1a (Avonex®, Biogen)
- Interferon beta-1a (Rebif®, EMD Serono. Inc.)
- Interferon beta-1b (Betaseron®, Bayer)
- Interferon beta-1b (Extavia®, Novartis)
- Natalizumab (Tysabri®, Biogen)
- Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus™, Genentech, Inc., Roche Group)
- Peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy®, Biogen)
- Rituximab (Rituxan®, Genentech, Inc., Roche Group)
- Teriflunomide (Aubagio®, Sanofi-Genzyme)
The key dates for report development, including periods for public comment, have been adjusted to accommodate the revised timeline. The key dates for the report are as follows:
| Draft Scoping Document Posted | July 1st |
| Public Comment Period on Draft Scope | July 1st-July 15th |
| Revised Scoping Document Posted | July 22nd |
| Draft Evidence Report and Voting Questions Posted | On or about November 22nd |
| Public Comment Period on Draft Evidence Report and Voting Questions | November 22nd-December 14th |
| Evidence Report and Revised Voting Questions posted | On or about January 19th |
| Public Meeting | February 2017 |
Additional information will be posted to the ICER website as it becomes available.
About ICER
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is an independent non-profit research institute that produces reports analyzing the evidence on the effectiveness and value of drugs and other medical services. ICER’s reports include evidence-based calculations of prices for new drugs that accurately reflect the degree of improvement expected in long-term patient outcomes, while also highlighting price levels that might contribute to unaffordable short-term cost growth for the overall health care system.
ICER’s reports incorporate extensive input from all stakeholders and are the subject of public hearings through three core programs: the California Technology Assessment Forum (CTAF), the Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (Midwest CEPAC) and the New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (New England CEPAC). These independent panels review ICER’s reports at public meetings to deliberate on the evidence and develop recommendations for how patients, clinicians, insurers, and policymakers can improve the quality and value of health care. For more information about ICER, please visit ICER’s website.