PI Professor Marja Blom, PhD student Jaana Joensuu, University of Helsinki

Collaboration: Docent, MD Dan Nordström, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine and Helsinki University Hospital, PhD KJ Aaltonen,  Finnish Pharmaceutical Pricing Board, Docent, MD T Sokka, Department of Rheumatology, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Jyväskylä.

Measuring effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in secondary health care

Effectiveness is measured using a standard generic Health Related Quality of Life instrument (15D), often supplemented by disease specific measures. Combining effectiveness data with cost information enables the estimation of short-term cost-effectiveness of various interventions. So far, the data collection covers patients receiving treatment according to standard hospital care routines in over sixty distinct medical entities.

PI Professor Marja Blom, University of Helsinki. Collaboration: Professor Risto P. Roine, University of Eastern Finland, Helsinki University Hospital; Docent Pirjo Räsänen, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki

Effectiveness ad costs of biosimilars in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

The research is designed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and costs of biosimilars in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. Patient reported outcomes are collected at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) at different time points before and after switching to biosimilar. The costs of specialized medical care are collected from the HUS Ecomed database. The primary endpoints of the study are changes in costs and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) before and after switching to biosimilar. Research began in 2015.

PI Professor Marja Blom, PhD student Saara Huoponen, University of Helsinki. Collaboration: Docent Perttu Arkkila, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki; Docent Taina Sipponen, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki; MD Anja Eberl, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki; Docent Pirjo Räsänen, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki; Professor Risto P. Roine, University of Eastern Finland, Helsinki University Hospital

Economic burden of fluoroquinolone-related adverse events

The aim of this research is to evaluate the economic impact of fluoroquinolone-related adverse events in Finland. Though fluoroquinolones are generally well tolerated drugs, they have been associated with serious adverse events, which often require both sick leave and health service use. These, in turn, cause potentially significant costs for patients and society. Fluoroquinolones used in Finland include levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, of which the latter is most used. Research began in 2017.

PI Professor Marja Blom, PhD student Laura Saarukka, University of Helsinki. Collaboration: Professor Janne Backman, Professor of clinical pharmacology and personalised medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki/HUSLAB, Docent PhD Pirjo Räsänen, External Evaluation Unit, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, MD Outi Lapatto-Reiniluoto, specialist in clinical pharmacology and internal medicine, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa/HUSLAB

Decision making of drug reimbursement, risk sharing agreements, health technology assessment decision-making and funding new high-cost cancer drugs

PI Marja Blom, University of Helsinki. Collaboration: Professor Anthony Harris, Professor Jeff Richardson, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.