WTO member states including the EU, the US and the UK argue that waiving certain IP rights is unnecessary for enhancing responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Insurers argue that better use of real world data and multiple pricing assessments could help lower drug prices in Germany.

To keep investors happy, companies will have to start showing that their high-priced advanced therapies offset costs elsewhere in the health care system.

To maintain high prices and avoid access restrictions, companies marketing advanced therapies will have to show payers that their products save money elsewhere in the healthcare system.

The pharma and biotech industries have welcomed Australia’s coronavirus recovery budget, which also sets aside funding for research into COVID-19 vaccines and makes positive changes to R&D tax incentives.

Existing evidence supporting advanced therapies through health technology assessments may be flawed, but economic modeling approaches could help solve some of the problems.