In a recent Newsweek article I criticized the value framework applied by Daniel Goldstein and colleagues in Necitumumab in Metastatic Squamous Cell Lung CancerEstablishing a Value-Based Cost.
Goldstein had the chance to write a reponse in Newsweek to suggest I was wrong on the facts.
You decide.
Goldstein writes: In “Should Doctors Worry About the Cost of Extending Life?” Robert Goldberg suggests that our study was endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which is simply incorrect.
ASCO has recently developed a method to assess the value of cancer drugs, but it uses a completely different methodology. Our study used very sophisticated economic techniques that are used by researchers in many countries worldwide to guide coverage decisions. With value-based pricing, we proposed that the price of a drug should simply be linked to the benefit that a drug provides.
My Response: Dr. Goldstein plays a prominent role at ASCO conferences where he presented his value framework as an example of how to limit access based on price. That’s not a formal endorsement but Goldstein’s work was highlighted by ASCO media outlets, etc. The fact that he claims to use “very sophisticated economic techniques that are used by researchers in many countries worldwide to guide coverage decisions” and measure value that ASCO has highlighted as opposed to getting ASCO’s seal of approval is hair splitting.
In fact, it is these techniques (which are not very sophisticated) are what I criticized. My problem is not with the methodology but it’s use, which I believe is unethical.
Goldstein claims: “Goldberg also does not seem able to perform basic arithmetic. He suggests that we put a price of $20 on each day of life. If this were the case, it would amount to $7,300 per year.”
Me Again: Here's what Goldstein concluded: "These findings provide a value-based range for the cost of necitumumab from $563 to $1309 per cycle". Patients in the SQUIRE clinical trial comparing necitumumab with standard treatment for advanced head and neck cancer received six cycles of the new drug. Multiply 563x6 = $3378. So I should have divided $3378 by 365 days. That would be $9 a day. At the upper limit of price to value established by Goldstein, (1309x6= $7854) comes out to $21 a day.
Finally, Goldstein says I am not “understanding complex policy issues.” If stating at pricing drugs based on an arbitrary measure of value, a measure that is not scientific, but a rule of thumb is wrong is a reflection of my lack of insight I plead guilty. Similarly, if pointing out that the use of necitummab is the first treatment to extend the lives of people in 20 years is valuable for reasons beyond average survival in a clinical trial shows my ignorance, well I wear that dunce cap with pride.
Goldstein had the chance to write a reponse in Newsweek to suggest I was wrong on the facts.
You decide.
Goldstein writes: In “Should Doctors Worry About the Cost of Extending Life?” Robert Goldberg suggests that our study was endorsed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which is simply incorrect.
ASCO has recently developed a method to assess the value of cancer drugs, but it uses a completely different methodology. Our study used very sophisticated economic techniques that are used by researchers in many countries worldwide to guide coverage decisions. With value-based pricing, we proposed that the price of a drug should simply be linked to the benefit that a drug provides.
My Response: Dr. Goldstein plays a prominent role at ASCO conferences where he presented his value framework as an example of how to limit access based on price. That’s not a formal endorsement but Goldstein’s work was highlighted by ASCO media outlets, etc. The fact that he claims to use “very sophisticated economic techniques that are used by researchers in many countries worldwide to guide coverage decisions” and measure value that ASCO has highlighted as opposed to getting ASCO’s seal of approval is hair splitting.
In fact, it is these techniques (which are not very sophisticated) are what I criticized. My problem is not with the methodology but it’s use, which I believe is unethical.
Goldstein claims: “Goldberg also does not seem able to perform basic arithmetic. He suggests that we put a price of $20 on each day of life. If this were the case, it would amount to $7,300 per year.”
Me Again: Here's what Goldstein concluded: "These findings provide a value-based range for the cost of necitumumab from $563 to $1309 per cycle". Patients in the SQUIRE clinical trial comparing necitumumab with standard treatment for advanced head and neck cancer received six cycles of the new drug. Multiply 563x6 = $3378. So I should have divided $3378 by 365 days. That would be $9 a day. At the upper limit of price to value established by Goldstein, (1309x6= $7854) comes out to $21 a day.
Finally, Goldstein says I am not “understanding complex policy issues.” If stating at pricing drugs based on an arbitrary measure of value, a measure that is not scientific, but a rule of thumb is wrong is a reflection of my lack of insight I plead guilty. Similarly, if pointing out that the use of necitummab is the first treatment to extend the lives of people in 20 years is valuable for reasons beyond average survival in a clinical trial shows my ignorance, well I wear that dunce cap with pride.
