NEW YORK—According to PwC (more formally known as PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP), consumers and drug and device manufacturers are changing practices and shifting their attitudes with respect to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Increased pressures for speedy access to breakthrough drugs and medical devices, and a focus on value in addition to medical benefit, are driving these changes, the firm says. Those changes will likely put pressure on the FDA to consider changes as well.
These thoughts comes by way of “The FDA and industry: A recipe for collaborating in the New Health Economy,” a new report from PwC’s Health Research Institute (HRI) based on findings from surveys of consumers and senior industry leaders.
“To meet 21st-century demands for innovation, it will be important for drug and medical device manufacturers to collaborate with the FDA to consider changes to the regulatory framework,” according to Mike Swanick, PwC global pharmaceuticals and life sciences leader. “While recognizing the FDA’s investments to improve its relationships with manufacturers and speed drug and device delivery, manufacturers still want greater flexibility in product development and review.”
The report reveals how drug and device companies are adapting to the new health economy, including consumer and insurer focus on cost-effectiveness as well as medical benefit. Forty three percent of survey respondents said they are willing to have their products judged based on both clinical and economic value, compared to just 14 percent in 2010.
Additional key findings of the PwC HRI report include:
- Seventy-eight percent of executives said that the FDA has improved the quality and frequency of its communications in the past two years.
- Seventy-six percent think that the agency provides actionable feedback and 70 percent think it offered more applicable guidance, rules and regulations in the past two years.
- Seventy-one percent believe that the FDA can accelerate approval programs by balancing swifter approval with increased post-market surveillance.
As to healthcare consumers, the survey found that they want input into developing therapies. Relatively few (39 percent) believe the FDA incorporates their views in the agency’s review process, and only 38 percent say that drug and device manufacturers adequately consider their views.
“With greater access to medical information than ever before, consumers are assuming responsibilities that have historically resided with the FDA or industry—such as developing guidance, creating incentive programs and funding research and development directly,” according to Michael Mentesana, PwC’s U.S. pharmaceutical and life sciences research and development advisory services leader. “As a result, companies have a real opportunity to seek out and use consumer feedback to better demonstrate value over existing therapies.”
In the summer of 2014, PwC’s HRI surveyed 100 senior executives on issues such as regulations, the development of new therapies, and patient engagement. Previous surveys were conducted in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2006 and 2010. In the most recent survey respondents included chief executive officers, chief operating officers, presidents, vice presidents and department directors responsible for managing the company’s relationship with the FDA. Industry trade association Biocom, located in Southern California, helped recruit survey respondents. Survey respondents represented a broad cross section of the pharmaceutical and life-sciences industry in terms of head count, revenue, and product lines. In addition, 1,000 adult consumers were also polled about their views of the FDA, the pharmaceutical/life-sciences industry and consumer access to therapies.
The full report is available at www.pwc.com/us/hripharmalifesciencesfda.
SOURCE: PwC news release
