Real-world realities

Conducting real-world outcomes studies to gain formulary access is quickly becoming the cost of doing business in the U.S. Anthem Inc., which just disclosed its third pharma partnership to collect real-world evidence, stresses that for the data to be useful, the studies must be observational and shouldn't morph into just another clinical trial.

On Dec. 8, Eli Lilly and Co., Anthem and its health outcomes research subsidiary, HealthCore Inc., announced a five-year collaboration to collect real-world evidence in yet-to-be determined therapeutic areas. HealthCore's previous deals include a July deal with Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH and a 2011 partnership with AstraZeneca plc that has provided lessons for subsequent studies...