Earlier this month, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) announced an upcoming assessment of the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of cystic fibrosis therapies. The report is tentatively expected to include a review of lumacaftor/ivacaftor (Orkambi®) and ivacaftor/tezacaftor (VX-661), a combination therapy currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

ICER is an independent nonprofit research institute that analyzes the value of medications at their current cost. Their reports include information on how well therapies work, how they compare to available treatments, and the relative value to patients and the health care system overall.

Throughout the eight-month development of their evaluation, ICER invites public comment to help inform and shape their final report. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been in communication with ICER to help them understand cystic fibrosis and the complexity of treating the disease. Our goal is to help incorporate the patient and clinician experience in their assessment of CF therapies.

This work is in support of our overall mission to help people with CF access high-quality, specialized care. We are leading research to help foster a health care system that best serves all people with CF and working with external partners to answer critical questions about how to define value in CF care.

For more information about ICER and their evaluation process, visit their website.