26 June 2024 - Beneluxa Webinar on Alzheimer’s Disease: Exploring New Horizons in Treatment
On 6th June 2024, a Beneluxa scoping webinar on Alzheimer’s disease organized by the Dutch National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland), in collaboration with Beneluxa’s Domain Task Force “Information-Sharing”, was held. Around 30 experts, representing prescribers, public payers such as health insurers, and patient organizations, of the five Beneluxa countries participated.
The purpose of the webinar was to understand the evolving landscape of Alzheimer's disease treatment and to gather insights from experts. This collaborative discussion serves as input for potential collaboration of Beneluxa countries concerning the introduction of new Alzheimer's products in the health systems.
Participating prescribers, public payers and patient representatives discussed challenges and prerequisites for introducing Alzheimer treatments currently in the pipeline, by sharing their views on the potential of these new medicines to improve the quality of life for patients and on implications of these treatments on the organization of care.
This webinar marks a significant step in exploring the potential of Beneluxa’s collaboration to better comprehend the potential impacts of these new treatments.
Last update: 26 June 2024
24 January 2024 - Beneluxa Initiative announces successful conclusion of Libmeldy price negotiations, directly benefiting patients in three countries
As members of the Beneluxa Initiative, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, have successfully concluded joint pricing negotiations for Libmeldy, a treatment designed for Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD), having arrived at a mutually agreeable pricing arrangement with the manufacturer Orchard Therapeutics.
MLD is a rare disease affecting an estimated 1 in 40,000 – 160,000 people. Its effects are devastating to those suffering with it and their families. Children with MLD will directly benefit from this agreement as Libmeldy will become available for reimbursement in the three countries.
The negotiations were carried out based on a joint Health Technology Assessment (HTA) procedure involving the three countries, showcasing the effectiveness of a unified approach in ensuring equitable access to innovative therapies. The outcome of successive negotiations with the manufacturer has shown that collaboration through the Beneluxa Initiative can support positive outcomes for countries and, in particular, for patient access to the latest medications. Access to Libmeldy through this multi-country agreement is a testament to the collaborative spirit driving the Beneluxa Initiative.
The Beneluxa Initiative remains committed to fostering collaboration among member countries, continually working towards solutions that enhance access to innovative therapies, contributing to patient well-being and healthcare system sustainability.
Stephen Donnelly T.D., the Irish Minister for Health:
‘Today’s announcement that Libmeldy is approved for reimbursement in our three countries provides hope for the families who can now access this life-changing medicine. It clearly demonstrates the importance of partnerships such as the Beneluxa Initiative, in delivering new innovative medicines for patients. The Initiative offers the opportunity to the pharmaceutical industry to deliver sustainable access to medicines across our health services.’
Frank Vandenbroucke, the Belgian Minister of Health and Social Affairs:
‘By working together across national borders, we can make vital medicines available to patients. To improve their lives, to save their lives. The patient should always come first, especially when a life is at stake, and then a government has to pull out all the stops for that. And that is why we need to cooperate much more in Europe. Beneluxa is a great example of cooperation so that we can avoid pharma producers pitting countries against each other.’
Conny Helder, the Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport:
‘This positive result is great news for MLD patients and their families. This collaboration between Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands shows once more the benefit of our countries collaborating on price negotiations. Our countries will continue this successful collaboration to secure affordable access to medicines for patients in all our countries.’
Last update: 24 January 2024
19 December 2023 - The Beneluxa Initiative welcomes new chair and vice-chair
On November 30, while attending EPSCO, the Beneluxa Ministers met, and re-affirmed their commitment to work together. On December 8, the Steering Committee of the Initiative met in The Hague, where the Netherlands assumed the chair from Belgium, and Ireland took up the newly established vice-chair position.
Both the outgoing and incoming chairs agreed on the importance of collaboration, an important issue on the European agenda. The Steering Committee decided to establish a Policy Working Group, to support the Initiative’s strategic position. The meeting also assessed new opportunities such as collaboration on the topic of Alzheimer’s Disease and the use of horizon scanning.
The Initiative will continue its efforts in 2024, seeking to foster collaboration in the interest of making medicines accessible, affordable, and available in its Member States.
1 December 2023 - Beneluxa-ministers meet in the margin of EPSCO Health
The health ministers from the countries participating in the Beneluxa-initiative met during the EPSCO meeting on November 30th to exchange on their collaboration. Focus of their discussion were Managed Entry Agreements and External Reference Pricing. All ministers agree on the importance of collaboration on these, and other, topics.
They highlighted the effective collaboration within Beneluxa, but also the need to continue reaching out to other stakeholders and similar initiatives or partnerships.
The meeting was also an occasion to hand over the chairmanship of the Beneluxa-initiative from Belgium to the Netherlands. The outgoing Belgian chair is confident that the Dutch colleagues will fulfil the chairman’s role with competence and enthusiasm. Further, for the first time, a vice-chair for the Beneluxa-Initiative has been nominated, that is Ireland.
27 October 2023 - Joint Health Technology Assessment for Hemgenix
On 20 February 2023 the European Commission granted conditional approval for Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec), a gene therapy used to treat adults with severe and moderately severe haemophilia B, an inherited bleeding disorder caused by the lack of factor IX (a protein needed to produce blood clots to stop bleeding). Hemgenix is used in adults who have not developed inhibitors (proteins made by the body’s natural defence) against factor IX.
Belgium and the Netherlands aim to undertake a joint Health Technology Assessment of Hemgenix as part of a reimbursement application by the manufacturer. As a consequence, HTA agencies in the two countries will align on the timing and content of the local HTA procedures. Based on the outcome of the HTA, countries will determine if the joint assessment will be followed by a joint price negotiation.
19 July 2023 - Joint publication analysing the feasibility of joint HTA between Beneluxa countries
In collaboration with University of Utrecht researchers, an analysis of assessed indications in 4 Beneluxa countries was carried out: Austria, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. For BE, IE and NL, the conclusions on added benefit and the reasons for any differences in conclusions were analysed for the period 2016-2022. All these were national procedures of HTA, and not joint Beneluxa procedures.
Only 44 (10%) of the 444 included indications were assessed by all four member countries. Between any pair of two countries, the overlap was higher, up to 188 (BE-IE). Added benefit conclusions matched in 67-74% of the indications, depending on the countries compared. In the remaining cases most often a difference on one added benefit level was observed.
This study shows that collaboration on HTA between the Beneluxa Initiative member countries would likely not result in added benefit conclusions that would be different from added benefit conclusions in national procedures.
03 July 2023 - Beneluxa General Assembly 28 June 2023
At the end of June 2023, the Beneluxa Initiative organised its biggest General Assembly meeting yet. Over 40 participants joined us at the lively city centre of Dublin, Ireland.
The overarching theme of the meeting was Collaboration: Collaboration on different levels and in different forms. We discussed how to collaborate with regard to IHSI and the European HTA regulation; and insights were shared from other international collaborations. The theme of collaboration was not only reflected in the agenda, but also in the participants.
We were pleased to welcome delegates from the European Commission who enlightened us on the pharmaceutical strategy and on the EC proposal on pharmaceutical legislation, with a clear focus on the impact and possibilities for international collaboration.
Colleagues from the International Horizon Scanning Initiative joined us to guide our discussion on how to jointly optimise the use of the IHSI database and the High Impact Reports.
We discussed, with insight information from the HTA coordination group, how the Beneluxa Initiative and its members can prepare and what opportunities might be generated from the EU HTA regulation for the Beneluxa Initiative.
Representatives from the Finose group and the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum joined us as well, which was an excellent opportunity to share experiences but also reflect on how cooperation between collaboration can be optimised.
The Irish Minister for Health Mr. Stephen Donnelly TD honoured our group with a live visit, to express his support for the Initiative and emphasise the opportunities of an international collaboration, such as the Beneluxa Initiative.
And, perhaps most importantly, the meeting also proved to be an excellent networking opportunity.
We want to send a warm thank you to all attendees and we hope to repeat our success next year.
21 June 2023 - Beneluxa statement at EPSCO Council in June 2023: Applying a needs-driven approach to pharmaceutical innovation
The topic of “a needs-driven approach for pharmaceutical innovation” was brought on the Agenda of the EPSCO Council on June 13th 2023 at the request of the members of the Beneluxa initiative (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Ireland).
In a patient-centred healthcare system, research and development should be driven by needs of patients and of the society as a whole. However, as things stand today, private investments in R&D tend be aimed towards the highest expected return on investment; and regulatory incentives and financial support for R&D are still mainly supply driven.
The Beneluxa members propose to think of new systems, allowing for a change in business models. Models that focus more on real needs rather than on supply. This requires a life cycle approach and a clear, joint message as to which therapeutic interventions have the greatest health benefits for society as a whole.
The EU has a crucial role in this, through its important research funding programs, as well as through regulatory incentives. We believe that these leviers should be used in a more targeted way to better address the public health needs in the EU.
Beneluxa members urge for applying a needs-driven approach to pharmaceutical innovation:
- We call for a common approach to identify unmet needs at EU level
- We call for a dialogue on an evidence-based operationalisation of the definition of unmet needs in the EU pharmaceutical legislation
- We invite Member States to provide predictability to healthcare developers as to health interventions addressing high unmet needs they intend to include in their benefit package
- We welcome Member States in a discussion on a voluntary coordinated approach to needs driven reimbursement systems
- We invite Member States to engage in a dialogue on shifting toward a needs driven pharmaceutical model
Link to the full note: pdf (europa.eu)
Link to the EPSCO meeting: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council - Consilium (europa.eu)
12 May 2023 - The Beneluxa Initiative welcomes the strengthening of the FINOSE collaboration
Congratulations to Denmark and the FINOSE group.
It is with a warm-hearted feeling the Beneluxa Initiative learned that Danish Medicines Council will join and hereby strengthen the FINOSE collaboration. We know first-hand how important and impactful joint activities are and we understand, from experience, the value of each single member. The news that the FINOSE collaboration will not only continue its work, but also strengthen it, confirms once again that voluntary collaboration between HTA agencies is necessary.
The Beneluxa Initiative congratulates both Denmark and the FINOSE group for these joint forces. We value our ongoing dialogue with FINOSE members and hope for future fruitful and successful cooperations between the Beneluxa Initiative and the reinforced FINOSE group.
12 April 2023 - Outcome of joint negotiations for Libmeldy
Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands jointly agreed to end the negotiation discussions on reimbursement with the manufacturer of Libmeldy, a gene therapy for the treatment of metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD).
The joint reimbursement process for Libmeldy started with a Health Technology Assessment by Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. In December 2022 the three participating countries initiated price negotiations. They came to an aligned position on what would be an acceptable price for this product in all three countries, taking into account many aspects, such as the expected value, uncertainties, and medical need. However, the manufacturer was not prepared to make the product available under the proposed reimbursement conditions.
Members of the Beneluxa Initiative acknowledge that it is very disappointing for patients and all concerned that it has not been possible to reach an agreement with the manufacturer.
It is the fourth time that Beneluxa countries have jointly negotiated on the price of a therapy. While the most recent negotiations have resulted in a positive reimbursement decision in all participating countries, the negotiations for Libmeldy did not result in an agreement being reached that would support reimbursement in Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands for this promising but extremely expensive therapy.
About Beneluxa
The Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy is a voluntary collaboration between Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg, Austria and Ireland. The cooperation was initiated with the aim of sustainable access to and appropriate use of medicines. Together its members strive to enhance patients’ access to high quality and affordable pharmaceutical treatments. Besides undertaking joint price negotiations, the partnership works together on horizon scanning, health technology assessments and sharing of knowledge and expertise on policies and challenges yet to come.
13 March 2023 - The Beneluxa initiative identified four impactful medicines suitable for a joint submission
The members of the Beneluxa Initiative have reviewed the Dutch Horizon Scan 2023-2024 of upcoming marketing authorization of medicines. Using selection criteria such as expected therapeutic impact and excluding extensions of indications, the following list of medicines was generated for which Beneluxa would like to start a joint evaluation:
- Fezolinetant – menopause symptoms – Astellas
- Leriglitazone – X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy – Minoryx
- Phenylbutyrate/tauroursodeoxycholic acid – Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – Amylyx
- Vamorolone – Duchenne’s disease – Santhera Pharmaceuticals
The companies involved will be invited soon by the Beneluxa Initiative to discuss the possibility of a future Beneluxa joint submission in two or more member states. Fruitful discussions are expected at informal meetings.
The Steering Committee wants to stress that the Initiative remains open for other medicines where companies are interested to submit a joint dossier.
21 December 2022 - Beneluxa reaching out to other collaborations: international experience sharing on negotiations of new pharmaceuticals
From the 27th – 28th of June 2022, Amgros and the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum hosted an international workshop on negotiations on new pharmaceuticals with representatives from organizations in 9 countries in Copenhagen, Denmark. Als Beneluxa representatives took part.
Representatives from the following organizations: Amgros I/S (Denmark), Sykehusinnkjøp (Norway), Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (Sweden), Landspítali (Iceland), National Center for Pharmacoeconomics and the Corporate Pharmaceutical Unit of the Health Service Executive (Ireland), Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (The Netherlands), RIZIV-INAMI (Belgium), Infarmed (Portugal), and the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance and Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (Canada), exchanged experience and challenges regarding the position of the negotiator, especially when negotiating on new pharmaceuticals. The group also discussed future opportunities for experts to interact and share knowledge beyond existing collaborations such as the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum and the Beneluxa Initiative. In this, the group aimed to identify key elements that impact the position of the negotiator and utilised the outcome of this analysis to determine a future work agenda.
Going forward the organizations will amongst other things discuss potential solutions to ensure sustainable and equitable access to effective medicines – especially in smaller markets. And how negotiators deal with the lack of evidence on the effectiveness of high-priced new medicines and the increasing pressure on pharmaceutical budgets.
There was a general and fruitful exchange of thoughts during the meeting.
Link to the joint statement at the AMGROS website.
11 October 2022 - Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands complete joint HTA report on gene therapy Libmeldy
The first step in the joint reimbursement process for Libmeldy® (atidarsagene autotemcel), a gene therapy product for the treatment of children with metachromatic leukodystrophy, was successfully completed. The authors of the pharmacotherapeutic evaluation were RIZIV-INAMI Brussels, and the pharmacoeconomic and budgetary assessment for the three countries (Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands) was conducted by NCPE in Dublin. ZIN, Amsterdam, contributed as co-author and DSV, Vienna, as reviewer.
Cross-border consultations resulted in a scientific and economic report, approved in all three countries where the company submitted the dossier. This will facilitate agreement on reimbursement terms and be the basis for joint negotiations should the company and the Beneluxa Initiative decide to enter into such a process.
NCPE summary: https://www.ncpe.ie/atidarsagene-libmeldy/
ZIN report: https://www.zorginstituutnederland.nl/publicaties/adviezen/2022/09/27/pakketadvies-sluisgeneesmiddel-atidarsagene-autotemcel-libmeldy
13 July 2022 - Joint statement at EPSCO Council June 2022: Market entry in Europe for drugs - evidence gaps and potential solutions
At the request of the members of the Beneluxa initiative (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Ireland) the market entry in Europe for medicines which lack conclusive evidence in comparative effectiveness was brought on the Agenda of the EPSCO Council (Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health) on 14 June 2022.
In relation to the new European HTA Regulation (2021/2282) the current evidence gaps (lack of comparative data) for conducting HTA evaluations and potential solutions were highlighted:
- Europe can only truly establish a structural cooperation on HTA, if HTA agencies receive the necessary comparative data to conduct their evaluations.
- Member States have acknowledged the need for a more tailored approach to data in adopting the EU regulation on HTA and its provisions for ensuring that the generation of evidence fulfils the needs of the Joint HTA initiative and the national HTA agencies.
- We believe that we need to find ways to encourage and incentivise that clinical trials are designed from the outset so that they generate not only the information needed for market authorisation, but also the comparative data needed for HTA evaluations.
- We invite the other EU Member States as well as the European Commission to become aware of this issue that is not limited to our countries alone. Accordingly, we draw your attention to the joint statement from the Beneluxa and Nordic Pharmaceutical forum from June 4th 2021.
- We value the provisions in the regulation on joint HTA that focus on creating early scientific consultations, potentially addressing both regulatory as well as HTA data requirements. Strengthening early dialogues between companies and HTA agencies are a first way forward to get the set-up of clinical trials right. This dialogue should aim at developing adequate industry guidelines for marketing authorization application dossiers including clear “HTA package” recommendations and requirements.
The link to the full paper is below.
Link to the EPSCO meeting: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/epsco/2022/06/14/
15 June 2022 - Pharmaceutical Developments on Haemophilia
This report, written by the Taskforce Horizon Scanning of the Beneluxa Initiative, describes the current situation of Haemophilia and provides an overview of new pharmaceutical developments regarding this disease. The current treatment options are listed, as well as the pharmaceutical costs in some of the Beneluxa countries.
The focus of this report are the pharmaceuticals with the potential to enter the market in the upcoming years. These are displayed in a detailed table. The setup of the clinical trials, including the used biomarkers, are summarised. Also, the possible challenges, both on HTA level as on Health care level, are described.
With this report, the Beneluxa Initiative aims to timely inform policy makers, healthcare organizations, payers and the general public on upcoming new pharmaceuticals and possible challenges.
22 Feb. 2022 - Joint HTA assessment on autologous gene therapy Libmeldy ongoing
The company Orchard Therapeutics (Netherlands) BV has stated its willingness to participate in a joint assessment of the autologous gene therapy Libmeldy (atidarsagene autotemcel) within the framework of the Beneluxa initiative. Intensive consultations have been going on between the consortium and the company since then.
The European Commission granted the marketing authorisation to this orphan drug for the treatment of patients with the rare condition of metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) in December 2020. It is authorised for children with late infantile or early juvenile forms of the disease who have not yet developed symptoms; or for those with early juvenile MLD who have initial symptoms but can still walk independently and before the onset of cognitive decline.
In December 2021, the company submitted a dossier of clinical and pharmacoeconomic evidence to support reimbursement in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. As a consequence, HTA agencies in these three countries are diligently carrying out the health technology assessment of Libmeldy. Based on the outcome of the HTA assessment, involved parties will determine if the joint assessment could be followed by a joint price negotiation.
According to national regulations, the end of this assessment procedure is scheduled for June 2022, but these timelines do not take into account possible clock stops at different times during the procedure.
28 Jan. 2022 - Pharmaceutical Developments on Alzheimer’s Disease
This report, by the Taskforce Horizon Scanning of the Beneluxa Initiative, describes the current situation of Alzheimer’s disease and provides an overview of new pharmaceutical developments regarding this disease.
The current treatment options are listed, as well as the available guidelines and an estimation of the current pharmaceutical costs for this disease in the Beneluxa countries.
The main focus of the report is on the new pharmaceuticals to enter the market between 2022 and 2027. The setup of the clinical trials, including the used biomarkers, are summarised. Also, the possible challenges, both on HTA level as on Health care level, are described.
With this report, Beneluxa aims to timely inform policy makers, healthcare organizations, payers and the general public on upcoming new pharmaceuticals and possible challenges.
13 Dec. 2021 - Ministers of Health acknowledge the importance of a HTA on Covid Therapeutics
On December 6th, Ministers of Health and representatives of the Beneluxa countries met to discuss the Beneluxa Initiative. Subjects of this exchange on political level were the current state of affairs and visions on national and international policy development. The need for a joint, international Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on Covid Therapeutics was discussed and a shared position to be presented at the EPSCO meeting of December 7th, underlining the importance of HTA, was developed.
The importance and the opportunities of the strategic positioning of the Initiative were highlighted and will be further discussed during a next high level meeting.
27 Oct. 2021 - The information on the Joint HTA assessment of ZYNTEGLO has been updated
ZYNTEGLO betibeglogene autotemcel (shorter name: beti-cel) was jointly assessed as a Beneluxa pilot, which led to a successful publication of this joint effort in July 2021. The pharmacotherapeutic assessment was written by RIZIV-INAMI; the pharmaco-economic assessment was written by ZIN as well as the budget impact for the Netherlands and Belgium. The National Centre for Pharmaco-Economics (Dublin) was the external reviewer in the Belgian procedure.
End September 2021, the manufacturer Bluebird bio has withdrawn its application for reimbursement of ZYNTEGLO in the Netherlands and Belgium. Bluebird bio announced to “wind down” its operations in Europe and to focus on the business in the United States. Apparently, the company has tried to find a partner who can market their gene therapies in Europe, but they have not yet succeeded. The Beneluxa initiative regrets the company’s decision to exit the European market.
The HTA report can be found here: https://www.zorginstituutnederland.nl/publicaties/adviezen/2021/07/21/pakketadvies-sluisgeneesmiddel-betibeglogene-autotemcel-zynteglo
Website written in Dutch; HTA report written in English
08 Oct. 2021 - Outcome of joint negotiations for Zolgensma
Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands have reached an agreement on the pricing of Zolgensma, a gene therapy for the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Zolgensma will be reimbursed for two specific groups of young patients in all three countries.
The aim of the Beneluxa Initiative is to enhance the access of patients to high quality and affordable treatment. The joint reimbursement process for Zolgensma started with a Health Technology Assessment by Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands, with Austria as external reviewer in the Belgian procedure. In July 2021 the three directly participating countries initiated price negotiations.
It is the first time that Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands have jointly reached an agreement on the price of a drug. While previous Beneluxa pilots have already proven that joint negotiations with two countries can be effective, the process for Zolgensma shows that negotiations by three countries can also be successful. As a result, the gene therapy will be available in all three countries for SMA patients with a bi-allelic mutation in the SMN1 gene and a clinical diagnosis of Type 1 and for presymptomatic patients with up to three copies of the SMN2 gene.
Frank Vandenbroucke, the Belgian Minister of Health and Social Affairs:
“Beneluxa is still called an Initiative, but is in the meanwhile a strong ‘brand’ and gold standard for voluntary collaborations between Member States. Our ability to make Zolgensma affordable for SMA patients in our three countries simultaneously shows that Beneluxa’s stated aim to ensure sustainable access to innovative medicines can be translated into tangible and shared results.”
Paul Blokhuis, the Dutch State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport:
“Great that the collaboration between the countries is such a success. This partnership makes medicine more accessible and this is great news for the patients who now get access to this medicine. We are committed to continuing this successful collaboration in the future.”
Stephen Donnelly, the Irish Minister for Health:
“The reimbursement of Zolgensma by the HSE represents a great achievement in ensuring access to this gene therapy for two groups of young SMA patients. This is a welcome decision for their families, carers and friends. The success of the joint process for Zolgensma represents a tangible output of the Beneluxa partnership and I wish to take the opportunity to recognise and thank the HSE, including the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics, and the other participating countries for their significant role in this process.”
Paul Reid, the Irish HSE Chief Executive Officer:
“The HSE as its standard, engages in commercial negotiations with drug manufacturers to ensure we obtain the best possible value for new medicines. This enables the HSE to reimburse as many medicines as possible, for as many patients as possible, within its resources. HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer must be made on objective, scientific and economic grounds. Providing funding for new high-cost innovative medicines alongside the many demands of the health service presents a continual challenge and the Beneluxa engagement with international colleagues aims to collectively address this challenge. This is the first time that Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands have jointly conducted such a negotiation and reached an agreement on the price of a medicine. From today, the HSE will provide reimbursement of Zolgensma for a subgroup of patients who meet the specified criteria on which the Beneluxa assessment and negotiation was based.”
Beneluxa achievements
In 2015 the Beneluxa cooperation was initiated with the aim of sustainable access to and appropriate use of medicines. Together, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Ireland want to enhance patients’ access to high quality and affordable pharmaceutical treatments. Besides undertaking joint price negotiations, the partnership works together on horizon scanning, health technology assessments and sharing of knowledge and expertise on policies and challenges yet to come.
Recently, the International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI) has been launched, having originated within the Beneluxa collaboration. Its goal is to build a permanent horizon scanning system that can support countries and institutions in policy planning and their decision making regarding the reimbursement of new pharmaceuticals. A wide group of countries is currently invested in the IHSI.
01 Oct. 2021 - Assessment of COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies is needed
The Beneluxa Initiative considers value assessments of medicines prior to reimbursement in their respective countries, to be essential in quantifying the potential added benefit of treatments relative to the price requested. This concept was reaffirmed in a recent joint statement with the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum.1
The urgency of the pandemic had required some changes to normal medicine regulatory processes to tackle the global pressure on health systems; for the EMA this has resulted in the introduction of rolling reviews. Rolling reviews involve a real time examination of evidence to establish if sufficient information is available to support a marketing authorization. This allowed countries to prepare early on for joint procurement of e.g. vaccines at an exceptional time.
More recently the EMA has begun rolling reviews on monoclonal antibodies to treat some patients with COVID-19 (September 2021)2. However the Beneluxa considers it appropriate at this stage of the pandemic that these therapies3 are assessed for value within established national processes, before decisions on reimbursement or procurement are made. Informed decision making in this matter includes exchange of available HTA information within Beneluxa.
1 https://amgros.dk/4889/
2 https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/treatments-vaccines/treatments-covid-19/covid-19-treatments-under-evaluation
3 https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2231
30 June 2021 - Beneluxa statement: award of contract to supply the International Horizon Scanning Database
We are delighted to share that today the International Horizon Scanning Initiative - IHSI - has made a major step forward in securing development of the international horizon scanning database which is open to all interested countries.
We share the enthusiasm of the IHSI for the future, believing that a big step has been taken allowing the authorities to better prepare themselves for future therapeutic innovations in order to offer patients rapid access to the most appropriate therapies.
Given the fast progress of the initiative, the importance for the public to access medicines within appropriate timelines and the amount of available data, collaboration with a well experienced, dedicated and highly motivated organization, which can provide the necessary tools, was the logical way forward.
After an international competitive tender process and several selection rounds, we are happy to announce that a promising candidate was found. We are especially proud as we consider IHSI to be the large scale spin-off of our own Beneluxa Horizon Scanning activities. To see our ideas and initiatives come to fruition is a huge accomplishment and pride. Taking this step, key activities will be further divided. While IHSI will concentrate on providing extensive and ready-to-use data, the Horizon Scanning activities of the Beneluxa initiative will focus on how to benefit from this data to the greatest extent.
Link to the news on the IHSI (International Horizon Scanning Initiative) website: https://ihsi-health.org/2021/ihsi-awards-contract-to-supply-the-international-horizon-scanning-database/
29 June 2021 - Short Statement on Alzheimer’s HTA
The Beneluxa group is following with attention the therapies relative to Alzheimer’s disease coming to the market. Recently the FDA in the US approved an anti-amyloid antibody amid some controversy; a decision from EMA is not yet available.
Beneluxa wishes to emphasize that clinical endpoints such as changes in cognitive scores or dementia scales are considered as the endpoints relevant for HTA agencies in Alzheimer’s clinical trials. Biomarker data are not considered sufficient for demonstration of benefit for HTA agencies.
04 June 2021 - Joint statement of the Beneluxa Initiative and the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum
In recent years, efforts to enhance international payer collaboration and the willingness to exchange expertise and knowledge have increased substantially. The need for international exchange intensifies due to the challenges that authorities, including payers face concerning pricing, reimbursement and procurement of medicines and therapies. In order to ensure access to new medicines for patients these issues are essential to solve in an effective and rational way. The efforts have materialised in the form of international platforms such as the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum (NLF); constituting of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland, and the Beneluxa Initiative; constituting of Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland and Luxembourg. Concrete outcomes of these platforms include the organisation of the international horizon scanning initiative (IHSI) as well as an increased interaction between these platforms. A number of strategic meetings have taken place where other international payers also joined these discussions. Recently, the European Commission has launched a new Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe highlighting similar issues with regards to ensuring access to affordable medicines. The Strategy specifically refers to the strengthening of existing and potential new cross-country collaborations.
Our joint efforts have focused on a number of issues related to the pricing and reimbursement of medicines. The Beneluxa Initiative and the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum will initially aim to examine the following matters together:
The importance of cost effectiveness in the assessment of value of medicines. The appropriate use of cost effectiveness offers a framework, which allows decision makers to maximise health gain within a limited budget. It also allows decision makers to estimate the price which is likely to achieve value. Therefore, the certainty of cost-effectiveness should be considered in any negotiations. i.e. the (un)certainty about the effectiveness of the medicine balanced with the high monetary risk.
Availability of robust clinical evidence for decision makers in a timely manner. The Beneluxa Initiative and Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum agree that timely access to effective medicines for patients is important. However, a number of recent developments within the process of market authorisation have been designed to facilitate earlier access to medicines. With this, the challenge arises that there may be a lack of data demonstrating clear benefit at earlier time-points. This makes value assessments increasingly difficult. Therefore, the availability of clinical evidence (including studies where the endpoints are not met) is of vital importance to allow decision makers to adequately assess benefit and value. We aim to mainly examine the following: 1) the timing of the (cost) effectiveness assessment, and 2) the value-framework for assessing medicines in general, with a focus on those medicines for which there is limited or no data to support a decision based on the (cost) effectiveness.
The need to collaborate on the challenges facing decision makers in relation to achieving value from medicines is abundantly clear. We will address some of these issues together through continuous dialogue and an intensification of the collaboration between countries aiming to achieve more alignment in our value assessments.
See also: https://amgros.dk/4889/
28 May 2021 - Beneluxa Statement on high cost SMA treatments
Pharmacological treatments of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) have expanded across the full spectrum of the disease. Onasemnogene abeparvovec targets disease in patients with SMA who are presymptomatic or who are type 1 symptomatic, and less than 6 months of age. Nusinersen has a broad licence encompassing type 1 to type 3 SMA and includes adulthood. Risdiplam, which received CHMP positive opinion in February 2021, is the first oral treatment aimed at treating patients from 2 months of age into adulthood (Type 1 to 3).
It is possible that patients would receive at least 2 different of these treatments over their lifetime. Further, there are additional treatments in the pipeline. Currently the evidence base at point of regulatory approval mainly considers these treatments as stand alone. However, sequential use of at least two of these therapies, is not outside the scope of the licences, and has been observed in the clinical setting. Moreover, evidence of the long-term efficacy and safety of these treatments is lacking.
Given the considerable uncertainty associated with the long term effect of these treatments, health technology assessors and payers should incorporate the potential sequential costs of these high cost treatments. The (financial) risk associated with the lack of long term data and potential use of sequential treatments should not be carried by payers alone.
26 May 2021 - Strategic Positioning for the future of the Beneluxa Initiative
On May 21th 2021, the Steering Committee of the Beneluxa Initiative met virtually. The Belgian Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health, Frank Vandenbroucke, opened the meeting (link to video).
Updates of the Domain Task Forces on their activities were supplemented by information on the recent outreach of the Beneluxa Initiative towards other collaborations, including the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum. An important point of discussion concerned the strategic positioning of the Beneluxa Initiative as a key player in the European pharmaceutical landscape and as a thought leader in European and international debate. Further discussions were held with regard to the possibility of specific and aligned Beneluxa processes for HTA and Pricing & Reimbursement.
21 May 2021 - Beneluxa joint assessment Zolgensma completed
The Beneluxa Initiative announces it has successfully completed another joint effort; the assessment of Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).
Following the reimbursement application by Novartis Gene Therapies with the Beneluxa Initiative, the assessment bodies in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands (RIZIV/INAMI, NCPE and the Healthcare Institute respectively) have collaboratively completed the clinical and cost effectiveness assessment of Zolgensma; the Austrian Dachverband der Sozialversicherungsträger was external referee in the Belgian procedure. The assessment bodies are now considering and/or formulating an advice to their national authorities on the reimbursement of Zolgensma and any reimbursement conditions. Once this phase has been concluded, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and the company will decide upon joint negotiations within the Beneluxa Initiative framework.
http://www.ncpe.ie/drugs/onasemnogene-abeparvovec-zolgensma-hta-id-20021/
19 May 2020 - Joint HTA assessment of Zolgensma
On May 19 the European Commission granted conditional approval for Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) for the treatment of patients with 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with a bi-allelic mutation in the SMN1 gene and a clinical diagnosis of SMA Type 1; or for patients with 5q SMA with a bi-allelic mutation in the SMN1 gene and up to three copies of the SMN2 gene.
The Beneluxa Initiative welcomes a dialogue with the company AveXis/Novartis on access and affordability of the product in each country. Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands aim to undertake a joint HTA assessment of Zolgensma as part of a reimbursement application by the manufacturer, with Austria acting as the reviewing expert in the procedure. The company AveXis/Novartis has stated its willingness to collaborate on this joint assessment and dialogue on reimbursement. As a consequence, HTA agencies in the three countries will align on the timing and content of the local HTA procedures. Joint price negotiations within the Beneluxa Initiative always start with a joint HTA procedure. Based on the outcome of the HTA assessment,countries will determine if the joint assessment will be followed by a joint price negotiation.
25 February 2020 - Beneluxa Position Statement on CAR-T
Because of considerable upfront costs, CAR-T(°) treatments are in the process of being reviewed by a number of countries to determine whether they represent value for money. Many countries have determined that the early evidence indicates a benefit, but there is uncertainty due to the single-arm nature of the trials and the lack of data in the longer term. The impact of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients treated with CAR-T further adds to the uncertainty as to whether the CAR-T is responsible for the possible prolongation of survival or whether the stem cell transplant primarily contributes to this.
Clinicians have indicated that a proportion of patients in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who receive CAR-T are likely to continue to receive stem cell transplants. In determining comparative and cost effectiveness, the influence of this choice of treatment pathway should be carefully considered.
(°) Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T-lymphocytes
30 January 2020 - No “lottery for life” - Statement by Beneluxa Health Ministers addressing the global managed access program designed by Novartis and Avexis
The Health Ministers of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Ireland have strong reservations in relation to the plans of Novartis and AveXis to let chance decide which seriously ill children will receive medication before it reaches the European market.
The approach set by the global managed access program is unprecedented and differs significantly from established early access schemes.
The Ministers – united in the Beneluxa-initiative – urge pharmaceutical companies to use objective medical criteria when they allow early access to innovative medicines.
The pharmaceutical company Novartis has recently applied for Market Authorization at the European Medicines Authority (EMA) for its product Zolgensma ®, for the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. By announcing this approach, Novartis has raised hope throughout patient communities but has remained silent on the exact plan and the legal challenges of such a system.
In their joint statement, the Ministers express strong concern at the organisation of a lottery-like approach for patients who are eagerly awaiting potential treatment: "The high level of uncertainty and the non-transparent approach is unacceptable. It proves no sincere commitment to patients and only increases the distress of the families concerned. They are given false hope. If one equals the fate of a patient to a lottery ballot, human dignity and moral values get out of sight. Lotteries are by their nature a form of gambling and this is absolutely the wrong model to bring to healthcare.”
Companies are certainly free to provide their products to patients before they are reimbursed. But the ministers involved believe that this should always involve close cooperation with physicians on the basis of impartial medical criteria and medical need.
The Beneluxa Ministers of Health call upon Novartis and AveXis to revise their system for providing early treatment for European patients pending marketing authorisation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Commitment to patients
The Public Health Ministers of the Beneluxa Initiative appreciate the company's efforts to develop a drug for this vulnerable patient group. Alongside patients and prescribers, they await the final marketing authorisation for the product.
The Ministers fully understand the motivations of desperate parents fighting for the life and well-being of their children and their physicians to secure a life-saving treatment and are fully supportive of a properly implemented early access programme that could benefit individual patients.
The Ministers from the Beneluxa initiative have a commitment to patients to fight for sustainable access to medicines in their countries. They strive to increase patients’ access to high quality and affordable treatments. In a fair and accountable manner.
If the drug is approved in Europe, this treatment for spinal muscular atrophy will be the most expensive drug to date with an estimated cost of 2 million EUR per patient.
The Ministers therefore urge Novartis and AveXis to enter into a genuine dialogue with the Beneluxa initiative to explore sustainable, clinically and ethically appropriate ways to provide this medication to all young patients who need it after obtaining marketing authorization.
04 December 2019 - Beneluxa experts and leaders met: “We are open to engage the next pilots”
On 25 and 26 November 2019, the Beneluxa Initiative held its Steering Committee meeting and General Assembly in The Hague and considered the progress made in the collaboration and the future work agenda. Technical experts have been collaborating to produce HTA reports; a common template for submission of a dossier and HTA reports has been developed and is ready to be piloted. In addition, the International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI) was established as an independent legal entity earlier this autumn (https://ihsi-health.org/) and will be operationalised during 2020. IHSI had been initiated by Beneluxa but is open to further countries to join (currently 9 countries participate in IHSI). The Beneluxa representatives also discussed the concept of transparency, based on the earlier position of Beneluxa on transparency (see 16th May below), and considered options of how to respond to the resolution on improving the transparency of markets for medicines, vaccines and other health products adapted by the World Health Assembly in May 2019 in an effort to expand access.
27 November 2019 - Building an International Horizon Scanning Initiative
Horizon Scanning aims to highlight important pharmaceutical and medical technology innovations before they reach the market by continuously gathering data and analyzing research and literature.
This improves insight in expected costs and enables timely decision making and (joint) price negotiations.
The Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy aims to seek successful ways of collaborating on pharmaceutical policy. One of its goals is to set up a systematic approach on horizon scanning for pharmaceutical products through IHSI. The IHSI is open to any interested country. Countries interested in participating in the IHSI can contact info@beneluxa.org.
Link to the official IHSI website: https://ihsi-health.org/
The Kick-Off Meeting of IHSI took place on 29 Oct. 2019.
Link to press releases:
https://www.maggiedeblock.be/belgie-slaat-handen-in-elkaar-met-8-andere-landen-om-geneesmiddelen-betaalbaar-te-houden/
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2019/10/29/minister-bruins-start-nieuw-internationaal-samenwerkingsverband-geneesmiddelen
27 November 2019 - Cross-collaboration meeting on strategic decisions for pricing and reimbursement
On 27 November 2019, the Beneluxa Initiative hosted an exchange with 11 countries in Den Haag, The Netherlands. Representatives from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Scotland and Sweden discussed future opportunities for experts to interact beyond existing collaborations such as the Beneluxa Initiative and the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum.
The goal was to discuss solutions to ensure sustainable and equitable access to effective medicines. Topics spanned a variety of issues, such as the lack of evidence on the effectiveness of high-priced new medicines and the increasing pressure on pharmaceutical budgets. There was a general and fruitful exchange of thoughts on methodological approaches including willingness to pay.
16 May 2019 - Steering Committee of the Beneluxa Initiative
On May 15th 2019 the Steering Committee of the Beneluxa Initiative met to discuss the following topics:
- The next steps for the International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI)
- Ongoing activities of the Beneluxa Initiative, among which selection of new candidates for joint HTA and potential joint negotiations
- Strategic ways to move forward with the activities of the Beneluxa Initiative
- Transparency of prices:
The members of the Beneluxa Initiative highly value transparency as a key contributor to achieving sustainability of access to medicines. Transparency will assist in improving insight into the inner workings of the pharmaceutical value chain. We strongly support access to data generated by clinical research, including negative and inconclusive outcomes. We welcome a wide debate on these topics and further discussion at international level. The first concrete step should be to create price transparency among countries
05 March 2019 - Building an International Horizon Scanning Initiative
Horizon Scanning aims to highlight important pharmaceutical and medical technology innovations before they reach the market by continuously gathering data and analyzing research and literature.
This improves insight in expected costs and enables timely decision making and (joint) price negotiations.
The Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy aims to seek successful ways of collaborating on pharmaceutical policy. One of its goals is to set up a systematic approach on horizon scanning for pharmaceutical products through IHSI. The IHSI is open to any interested country. Countries interested in participating in the IHSI can contact info@beneluxa.org.
Open market consultation for Horizon Scanning
The open market consultation that took place end of 2018 aimed to inform companies and organisations that are active in this market regarding the upcoming public procurement procedure for the setting up of an international horizon scanning system (HSS) that will be initiated as a joint effort by the countries participating in the IHSI. The market consultation also aims to obtain market operators’ input on the viability of the procurement design and conditions, before launching the call for tender, provisionally planned in the first quarter of 2019.
The market consultation was open to all interested parties, regardless of their geographical location, size or governance structure of their organisation and was published on October 20th 2018 on the EU’s Official Journal (TED). On November 12th 2018 a meeting was held in the Hague for interested parties. The presentation from this meeting can be found below. The market consultation ended on the 27th of November 2018.
Results of open market consultation
The open market consultation has been concluded and the results can be found in the document below. The preparations for the tender launch are being made and interested parties will be informed as soon as more information can be made public on the tender procedure and timelines.
Last update: 05 March 2019
18 February 2019 - General update
On 22 November 2018, the Steering Committee of the Beneluxa Initiative discussed in Vienna key topics concerning the collaboration in the areas of the horizon scanning (see also the current Open Market Consultation Announcement on “Building an International Horizon Scanning Initiative” and joint HTA reports. Other topics of discussion were transparency of negotiated results within the Initiative and strategic ways to move forward with the activities of the Initiative.
Last update: 18 February 2019
12 July 2018 - Positive outcome of joint reimbursement negotiations on Spinraza
Beneluxa Initiative partners Belgium and the Netherlands successfully negotiated the reimbursement of Spinraza
Belgium and the Netherlands have reached an agreement on the pricing of Spinraza, a drug for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Spinraza will be reimbursed for specific groups of patients in both countries.
The aim of the Beneluxa Initiative is to enhance the access of patients to high quality and affordable treatment. The agreement on Spinraza is the first positive outcome of a joint negotiation of the Beneluxa Initiative. As a result of negotiations, which started in February of this year, Spinraza will be reimbursed in both countries under similar conditions. The joint process consisted of a joint Health Technology Assessment, followed by a joint price negotiation.
Although previous pilots have proven that joint negotiations can be successful, this particular case is a great achievement that benefits patients in both countries.
Ireland has recently joined the Beneluxa Initiave too. With several pilots ongoing, the aim is to expand future negotiations with other Beneluxa partners and to enhance efficiency by streamlining reimbursement processes in different countries.
Bruno Bruins: ‘First and foremost, the positive outcome is wonderful news for the young SMA patients and their families, both in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is also a very clear and promising example of the benefits of working together on price negotiations and pharmaceutical policy. Biogen’s willingness to engage in a joint process and discover the benefits of gaining swift access in several markets at the same time is a positive development. Therefore I hope more companies will follow this example.’
Maggie de Block: ‘I am delighted to be able to make this orphan drug available to our SMA patients, barely one year after it received a marketing authorization. There was no treatment at all for these patients, but that is now changing. This means a giant step forward for these people and their families. At the same time, I am very proud of how we have tackled this. Today, we demonstrate that countries can jointly negotiate the reimbursement of orphan drugs to the benefit of their patients. This is a very important signal for everyone involved in Beneluxa and an extra motivation to further develop this international cooperation.’
For more specific details on the reimbursement of Spinraza in Belgium and the Netherlands, read the specific press releases:
Link Belgium
Link The Netherlands
22 June 2018 - Ireland joins Beneluxa initiative
Today, the Irish Minister for Health, Simon Harris signed an Agreement with his colleagues from Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Austria to join the Beneluxa Initiative on Pharmaceutical Policy. The ceremony took place during the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) in Luxembourg. Ireland is the fifth country to join the collaborative alliance on pharmaceutical policy.
Minister Harris stated: “I am pleased that my Ministerial colleagues from Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg have enabled Ireland to join this exciting, international collaboration on drug pricing and supply. I want the newest and most innovative medicines to be available in a timely manner to all our citizens. This collaboration will assist us in doing just that by ensuring that medicines can be sourced at a price that is affordable and sustainable in the context of the ever competing demands for resources rights across our health service”.
The BeNeLuxA Ministers responsible for pharmaceutical policy welcomed Ireland joining and participating in the collaboration.
Dutch minister Bruno Bruins for Medical care said: “Ireland is a great addition to the Beneluxa family. All five countries face similar issues regarding access and affordability to new and innovative medicines. By joining forces we improve our mutual position in price negotiations towards the pharmaceutical industry and we have a stronger voice at European level. In this way we can ensure that our patients can count on access to affordable, innovative medicines in the long term”.
Belgian minister Maggie De Block of Social Affairs and Public Health said: "Four years ago, each country still worked on its own. Today, we are five countries joining forces, our objective being to offer the best care possible, as soon as possible and in a sustainable way to all our patients. I hope that other European countries will join us soon. Because the more patients we represent, the more our voice will be heard when discussing high-cost innovative medicines".
Luxembourg minister of Health Lydia Mutsch said: “We believe that information sharing and collaboration between countries will benefit policy initiatives on pricing and reimbursement of medicines. By working closely together, we can better negotiate medicine prices with the industry and request more transparency on the cost build-up of pharmaceutical products. Our aim is to ensure patients’ fair and sustainable access to essential medicines.”
Beneluxa achievements
In 2015 the Beneluxa initiative was initiated aiming for sustainable access to, and appropriate use of, medicines in the participating countries. Together, the countries want to enhance patients’ access to high quality and affordable pharmaceutical treatments. The cooperation is not limited to joint pricing negotiations. The coalition also works together closely on a horizon scanning, to explore which innovative – often extremely expensive – medicines are expected to reach the market in the near future. In addition, the Beneluxa partners conduct joint health technology assessments and share data and policies. The collaboration recently introduced the international horizon scanning initiative (IHSI), that goes beyond the current coalition of countries. Its goal is to build a permanent horizon scanning system that can support countries and institutions in policy planning and their decision making regarding the reimbursement of new pharmaceuticals. A wide group of countries is currently invested in developing the IHSI further.
More info on the Beneluxa initiative can be found on http://www.beneluxa.org/
24 May 2018 - Steering Commitee Meeting
On the 24th of May 2018, the Steering Committee of the Beneluxa Initiative met in Brussels. On the 25th of May 2018, the Beneluxa General Assembly took place. A representative of Ireland, at the time in process of joining the Initiative, participated in the Steering Committee meeting.
The following topics were discussed:
1. updates on the on the Initiative’s four Domain Task Forces:
2. Alternative business models to develop medicines (such as the Fair Medicines Initiative)
3. Austria’s planned activities related to pharmaceutical policy under the upcoming EU Presidency
4. Developments concerning the reimbursement of pharmaceuticals in Europe
5. The Beneluxa Initiative has opened a twitter account to announce news and new content on the website. The Beneluxa Initiative twitter can be found at https://twitter.com/BeneluxaCoop.
18 January 2018 - Steering Commitee Meeting
The Steering Committee of the Beneluxa initiative met in Luxembourg on 18 January 2018.
Experiences with joint HTA reports and joint negotiations were assessed, and the planned activities for 2018 in the areas of HTA and pricing and reimbursement were discussed. Topics included a discussion of moving ahead with collaboration in the areas of Horizon Scanning and patient registries.
28 November 2017 - Orientation Meeting on Patient Registries
Policy makers and national patient registry experts from Beneluxa countries, Hungary and the United Kingdom met in Vienna on 28 November 2017 to explore a possible collaboration in the field of patient registries in order to increase efficiency, and enhance evidence generation and information sharing.
The meeting aimed to identify the challenges and prerequisites for collaboration in the field of patient registries, and ways to move forward. As a supportive exercise, results of a preliminary mapping of patient registries in the member countries of the Beneluxa initiative were presented. As different types of registries exist, key learnings included the need for a clear definition of patient registries and scope in order to determine which type of registry would be appropriate for a potential pilot in the near future. Furthermore, technical and political challenges of a joint registry (e.g. interoperability of datasets, legal framework/collaboration agreements, as well as how necessary information can be collected) were identified.
The Beneluxa partners will further explore a collaboration in the field of patient registries.
11 November 2017
Information on the first results of actual joint HTA procedures are available here.
6 September 2017 - Website of the Beneluxa collaboration launched
The competent authorities of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Austria have committed to cooperate in order to contribute towards the sustainable access to medicines in their countries.
Further information on the Beneluxa cooperation can be found on this website, which was launched on September 6, 2017.
27 June 2017 - Meeting on Joint Horizon Scanning
A meeting was organised in Brussels on 27 June 2017 to explore options for potential collaboration between authorities on Horizon Scanning - even beyond the Beneluxa countries.