Conference Presentation, Panel, Fireside Chat
Innovation for All: Strategies for Maximizing Impact | Future of Health Summit 2024
Milken InstituteMatthew Herper, Jay Bradner, Debi Brooks, Lisa D. Earnhardt, Elizabeth Fowler, Marc Samuels
- The Parkinson's Foundation anticipates that a new biomarker capable of detecting synuclein with 90% accuracy in spinal fluid could enable a test to identify the disease up to 10 years before symptom onset, potentially generating follow-up research worth approximately $1 billion and transforming the field through partnerships with the patient community.
- Amgen projects that its investment in population genetics and the development of medicines targeting PCSK9 and Lp(a) will characterize protective effects across populations, while their GIPR-targeted therapy (Mitide) aims to treat obesity and has shown no effect on bone mineral density in Phase 1 trials, with Phase 2 results expected later this year.
- Abbott expects its continuous glucose monitor to assist 10 million of the over 500 million people with diabetes in managing the disease 24/7, with partnerships aiming to drive access and local initiatives in Stockton, California, to change the current paradigm of usage.
- The CMS Innovation Center plans to test outcomes-based payment arrangements for expensive cell and gene therapies, such as those for sickle cell disease, with the goal of eventually mandating these models rather than relying on voluntary participation to improve total cost of care and quality.
- Experts predict that future healthcare systems must shift from "sick care" to health care by leveraging AI, remote monitoring, and virtual clinics to solve access barriers, such as the travel distance required for deep brain stimulator programming and the underutilization of continuous glucose monitors.
- Significant delivery and reimbursement barriers remain, including the lack of specific CMS codes for brain injections, reimbursement struggles for physical therapy in progressive diseases, and the failure of an inhaler delivery mechanism due to unaddressed grip strength limitations in the Parkinson's patient population.
- Strategic challenges and risks include the difficulty of manufacturing scalable medicines compared to therapies requiring extensive steps, the high cost of current sickle cell care averaging $4 to $6 million, and a private sector expenditure landscape where 95% targets treatments rather than prevention.
- Long-term outlooks suggest that scaling philanthropy could fund neurodegeneration research similarly to oncology within 15 years, while resolving regulatory issues like confusing REMS requirements is essential for improving access to CAR T therapies.
- The panel highlights that current payment systems relying on 1965-66 precedents and budget-neutral requirements may hinder innovation, suggesting that future reforms could address spillover effects and improve reporting on the broader impact of new tests.