Use of IHSI Data: Oncology Pipeline Monitor and Drug Alerts for ‘High-Impact’ Medicines

Duration: Q2 2026 to Q4 2026 (3 PM)
Language: English

Background: High-impact medicinal products — particularly innovative therapies such as targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and cell and gene therapies — account for a growing share of drug costs in Austrian hospitals. The increasing number of highly specialised medicinal products entering the market complicates budget planning and strategic resource allocation for decision-makers at both the hospital and regional health fund levels.

AIHTA has been active in horizon scanning initiatives since 2009, when the programme line on early assessments of new oncological therapies was initiated to support decision-making by regional drug commissions and payers. As part of the previous Horizon Scanning in Oncology (HSO) initiative, 91 early assessments of selected new oncology medicinal products were prepared by the end of 2019, with a focus on products predicted to have significant financial and/or therapeutic implications. Due to the evolving European regulatory environment and Austria’s membership in the International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI) network, in 2020, the focus was temporarily shifted from the active horizon scanning to preparation of monthly fact sheets on all recently approved oncology indications. However, following the establishment of the Austrian Appraisal Board (“Bewertungsboard für ausgewählte Arzneimittel”) in 2024, we leverage the data from the IHSI database to aid decision-makers in identifying high-cost and specialised medicinal products used in the intramural setting (and at the intersection of in- and extramural) with imminent or recent EU marketing authorisation, and in prioritising those that qualify for a full health technology assessment.

Work Package 1: Pipeline Monitor Database accompanied by a Summary Report

• pilot WP1 will focus on the field of oncology; planned to gradually extend to all relevant therapeutic areas

Aims:

• Produce a visually accessible, synthesised overview of the upcoming oncology medicinal products based on the pipeline data in the IHSI database
• Develop selection criteria to prioritise oncology medicinal products associated with high potential impact (in collaboration with hospital decision-makers and clinical experts), building upon the prioritisation applied in IHSI High impact reports)
• Estimate the eligible population in Austria for selected oncology indications to derive approximate preliminary budget impact estimates

Research questions:

RQ1 Which oncology medicinal products are currently in the pipeline and expected to reach the Austrian market within the next 2 years?

RQ2 Which of these medicinal products are expected to have a significant impact on the Austrian healthcare system, in particular the intramural sector and the intersection of in- and extramural care?

RQ3 How can IHSI data be processed and visually presented to best support strategic decision-making by hospital administrators and regional health funds?

Outputs:

• Primary: A report presenting developments in the oncology pipeline in a visually accessible format for decision-makers, including brief profiles for selected oncology medicinal products with high projected impact
• Secondary (supportive): Excel pipeline database facilitating product prioritisation using the IHSI data; database of Austrian epidemiological estimates for major cancer types and subtypes; selection criteria

Method:

1. Extraction of data from IHSI database using tailored search strings
2. Transfer of data into Excel database with manual curation
3. Research on the estimated incidence of major cancer types and subtypes in Austria and early cost signals for the medicinal products
4. Selection of oncology medicinal products with high expected impact, taking into consideration the prioritisation undertaken by IHSI for the IHSI High Impact reports

Work Package 2: Drug Alerts for high-impact medicinal products

• not restricted to a specific therapeutic field, but the pilot will focus on the field of oncology

Aims:

• Ensure early awareness of medicinal products under regulatory evaluation that are associated with a potentially high financial and/or organisational impact on the Austrian intramural sector, including at the intersection of in- and extramural care

• Develop selection criteria for streamlined identification of such medicinal products in the IHSI database across therapeutic fields (in collaboration with hospital decision-makers and clinical experts)
• Disseminate the information to the hospital management via standardised brief profiles (‘Drug Alerts’)

Research questions:

RQ4 Which medicinal products currently under regulatory evaluation are expected to have a high financial and/or organisational impact on the Austrian healthcare system, in particular the intramural sector and the intersection of in- and extramural care? What selection criteria are most appropriate for a systematic early identification of such medicinal products?

Output:

• Primary: Standardised profiles (‘Drug Alerts’) on selected, high-impact medicinal products covering: indication, mechanism of action, clinical evidence summary, expected Austrian eligible population, and preliminary cost estimates
• Secondary (supportive): Excel pipeline database facilitating product prioritisation using the IHSI data; selection criteria for streamlining the early identification; database of Austrian epidemiological estimates for the associated conditions

Methods:

1. Development and testing of the selection criteria defining high-impact medicinal products in the IHSI database (in collaboration with hospital decision-makers and clinical experts)- pilot will focus on the oncology medicinal products identified in WP1
2. Systematic monitoring of the regulatory pipeline and the IHSI database for a sufficiently early identification of such medicinal products
3. Extraction of IHSI records meeting the selection criteria into Excel, prioritisation of products that deserve a dedicated Drug Alert profile
4. Derivation of rough budget impact for the Austrian intramural sector, combining epidemiological estimates and early cost data
5. Preparation of brief profiles

Timeline:

The project will be carried out in cooperation with the following institutions, subject to their approval of the project protocol:

• WiGEV (Vienna Hospital Association)
• Vorarlberg Hospital Association
• International Horizon Scanning Initiative Quality Management Committee (IHSI QMC)[1]
• Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (Full member IHSI)[2]