Enabling timely and affordable access to new cancer treatments for Australian cancer patients.
Australian cancer patients need timely and affordable access to the best cancer treatments available.
Trends of increasing cancer incidence rates and improving cancer survival outcomes mean increasing demand for cancer treatment in Australia. Rapid growth in the number, type, combinations and cost of cancer treatments available make for a dynamic and complex treatment landscape.
Australia’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agencies, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), have raised health policy concerns about uncertainties in the projected number of patients forecast to require treatment at different disease stages.
PRIMCAT will take a data-driven modelling approach to provide 5-year epidemiological estimates of eligible patient populations and quantify the population health economic impact of new cancer treatments for three nominated priority cancers (colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma) and two pan-tumour biomarkers.
The work includes mapping current treatment algorithms and determining the actual use of treatments in the real-world, identifying new and emerging cancer treatments likely to be introduced in the next 5 years, identifying the prevalence of gene mutations in the cancer population at which these new treatments are targeted, and developing an online simulation model to predict the health economic impact of listing these new cancer treatments on the PBS and MBS. A significant amount of work is planned to validate the findings with an international panel of experts.
PRIMCAT is led by Professor Maarten IJzerman (UMCCR, MSPGH) in collaboration with Professor Yuting Zhang (Melbourne Institute), Dr. Koen Degeling and Dr. Fanny Franchini (UMCCR, MSPGH), Professor Sallie Pearson (the University of New South Wales), Professor Peter Gibbs (WEHI and Western Health), and Professor Benjamin Solomon, Professor Grant McArthur, Professor Stephen Fox and A/Professor Jayesh Desai (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre). PRIMCAT will draw on the world-leading expertise of a number of associate investigators, consumer representatives and international peers selected for an advisory board.
Nominated priority cancers:
- Colorectal Cancer
- Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
- Melanoma
- Pan-tumour biomarkers: MSI-H and NTRK
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Investigators
Principal Investigators- Professor Maarten IJzerman
- Professor Yuting Zhang
- Professor Peter Gibbs
- Professor Sallie Pearson
- Dr Koen Degeling
- Dr Fanny Franchini
- Professor Ben Solomon
- Professor Grant McArthur
- Professor Stephen Fox
- Associate Professor Jayesh Desai
Associate Investigators
Researchers
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Consumer Panel
The PRIMCAT Consumer Panel have a broad range of experience and expertise and will provide advice and feedback to the PRIMCAT research team bringing the consumer perspective over the course of the program:
- Ms Sophy Athan (Chair)
- Mr David Attwood
- Mr Paul Baden
- Mrs Wendy Benson
- Ms Catherine Bressanutti
- Mr George Jiang
- Mrs Carolyn Rowan
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Research partners
University of Melbourne | Cancer Health Services Research
University of Melbourne | Melbourne Institute
University of NSW | Centre for Big Data Research in Health
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
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Research support
PRIMCAT is a 3-year commonwealth funded multi-institutional research program and forms part of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Preventative and Public Health Research initiative.
Scheme: 2019 Targeted Health System and Community Organisation Research
Funding period: 2020 – 2023
Funding awarded: AUD 2.32 Million -
Contact
Karen Trapani – Project Manager PRIMCAT
Professor Maarten IJzerman's Cancer Health Services Research group
Analysing real-world costs and results of comprehensive cancer care to inform evidence-based health service interventions and improve outcomes for cancer patients.