Cure – at what cost? Implications of novel therapies in melanoma

DR JENNIFER SOON
Medical Oncologist and PhD Candidate
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Cancer Health Services Research (UMCCR)

Equitable and timely access to novel effective cancer medicines is an important issue for clinicians and consumers alike. However the rising costs of cancer treatment are challenging the financial sustainability of healthcare systems in Australia and across the world. Many countries are exploring ways to optimise the value of healthcare dollars spent. As a result, health technology assessment (HTA) and regulatory processes are under scrutiny with the Australian Government commissioning an independent review of the system aimed at improving time to access and ensuring current HTA methods are fit for purpose given the rapid evolution of the treatment landscape.

Under the supervision of Professors Grant McArthur, Maarten IJzerman and Dr Fanny Franchini, Dr Jennifer Soon’s PhD research aims to support HTA decisions in cancer medicine reimbursement by providing data-driven projections on the impact of novel melanoma therapies on population estimates, treatment pathways and resource utilisation. In this seminar, Dr Soon will outline her current research including a novel approach to consumer engagement and results from a horizon scanning project to identify promising cancer medicines in the pipeline.

Dr Jennifer Soon is a Medical Oncologist with a special interest in health policy, data science and improving healthcare value for people. Following on from a Melanoma and Translational Research Fellowship with Professor Grant McArthur at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in 2020, she has embarked on a PhD project that marries her interests and has allowed her to explore the interaction between health economics and the pursuit of outcomes that matter to patients.