On 30 June 2025, the ASCERTAIN Consortium held its Stakeholder Day in Oslo, bringing together experts from academia, healthcare, industry, and policy to discuss sustainable access to innovative health technologies (IHTs). The event focused on refining access-based pricing, cost-effectiveness, and reimbursement models by aligning them with stakeholder needs and expectations.
Setting the Stage: Why ASCERTAIN Matters
Carin Uyl-de Groot (Erasmus University Rotterdam) opened the meeting with an overview of ASCERTAIN’s mission: to build a public, cloud-based tool that supports fair and sustainable access to IHTs. She highlighted the financial strain on healthcare systems, unequal access across the EU, growing uncertainty in clinical evidence, and the environmental impact of new therapies. The project focuses on three use cases: Precision Cancer Medicine, Cell and Gene Therapy, and Next Generation Sequencing.
Pricing Models to Support Negotiations
Maximilian Salcher-Konrad (Gesundheit Österreich) and Anne Hendrickx (AIM) presented a pricing model combining cost-based elements (e.g. R&D, manufacturing) with value-based factors (e.g. clinical benefit, societal value). Their model, adaptable to different EU contexts, aims to support existing national processes. A key insight: treatment costs can vary significantly based on disease prevalence, a point illustrated through cancer drug scenarios.
Stakeholder Perspectives on Pricing
Contributions from stakeholder organizations enriched the dialogue:
- EAHP emphasized the need for transparent pricing and practical tools for procurement.
- IKK e.V. proposed using the ASCERTAIN model to inform initial benchmark pricing in Germany’s AMNOG process.
- EHA highlighted the growing affordability crisis, citing real-world examples of delayed patient access due to price disputes.
Global Cost-Effectiveness and Reimbursement Models
Eline Aas (University of Oslo) introduced scalable cost-effectiveness models tailored to two user groups: technical experts and decision-makers. Modular structures and flexible parameters were key features to support international use and adaptation.
Tom Belleman (Erasmus University Rotterdam) explained how ASCERTAIN’s reimbursement models will evaluate Managed Entry Agreements (MEAs). These finance- and outcome-based agreements aim to reduce uncertainty and align payment with real-world results.
HTA and Procurement: Practical Needs and Governance
Industry and public stakeholders shared operational perspectives:
- AbbVie Scandinavia advocated for modular tools that are simple and transparent, while noting challenges like confidentiality.
- NoMA (Norway’s HTA body) outlined the value of shared, open-source models for national and cross-border assessments.
- Sykehusinnkjøp stressed the importance of evolving prices based on post-launch data and called for MEAs that genuinely improve access.
ASCERTAIN Policy Support Tool: Designed for Real-World Use
Moritz Mumme and Pascal Wendel (OptiMedis) showcased the upcoming ASCERTAIN Policy Support Tool. Designed for both technical and non-technical users, the platform supports full or partial assessments using the project’s pricing, cost-effectiveness, and reimbursement models. Features include guided workflows, customizable sharing, parameter validation, and AI-assisted support.
Looking Ahead
The Oslo meeting reaffirmed ASCERTAIN’s commitment to transparency, collaboration, and practical impact. The consortium continues to refine its tools with input from diverse stakeholders and invites ongoing participation in user testing and co-creation.
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