Drug Evaluation Committee Overview and Notes on Network Meta-Analysis Based on the ISPOR Report (2011)
November 2019
The Data Science Subcommittee of the Drug Evaluation Committee’s FY2019 Task Force 4 summarized the basics and key considerations of network meta-analysis.
Network meta-analysis is a methodological approach that, based on the results of multiple trials, enables not only direct comparisons between drugs but also indirect comparisons regarding outcomes such as drug efficacy and safety.In recent years, case studies on its application have been reported, and there are plans to utilize these results as information for formulating treatment guidelines and making healthcare policy decisions. However, there are important considerations for its application, such as the complexity of the methodology.This JPMA report provides an explanation of the overview and key considerations of network meta-analysis, drawing on a report published by ISPOR (International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research) in 2011.