Cost-Effectiveness Methods and Newborn Screening Assessment

Population-based screening of newborns: Findings from the newborn screening expansion study (part two)

Rapid advances in genomic technologies to screen, diagnose, and treat newborns will significantly increase the number of conditions in newborn screening (NBS). We previously identified four factors that delay and/or complicate NBS expansion: 1) variability in screening panels persists; 2) the short duration of pilots limits information about interventions and health outcomes; 3) recent recommended uniform screening panel (RUSP) additions are expanding the definition of NBS; and 4) the RUSP nomination and evidence review process has capacity constraints. In this paper, we developed a use case for each factor and suggested how model(s) could be used to evaluate changes and improvements. The literature on models was reviewed from a range of disciplines including system sciences, management, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The results from our analysis highlighted that there is at least one model which could be applied to each of the four factors that has delayed and/or complicate NBS expansion. In conclusion, our paper supports the use of modeling to address the four challenges in the expansion of NBS.

Metabolomics to Improve the Diagnostic Efficiency of Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Early diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM)—a large group of congenital disorders—is critical, given that many respond well to targeted therapy. Newborn screening programs successfully capture a proportion of patients enabling early recognition and prompt initiation of therapy. For others, the heterogeneity in clinical presentation often confuses diagnosis with more common conditions. In the absence of family history and following clinical suspicion, the laboratory diagnosis typically begins with broad screening tests to circumscribe specialised metabolite and/or enzyme assays to identify the specific IEM. Confirmation of the biochemical diagnosis is usually achieved by identifying pathogenic genetic variants that will also enable cascade testing for family members. Unsurprisingly, this diagnostic trajectory is too often a protracted and lengthy process resulting in delays in diagnosis and, importantly, therapeutic intervention for these rare conditions is also postponed. Implementation of mass spectrometry technologies coupled with the expanding field of metabolomics is changing the landscape of diagnosing IEM as numerous metabolites, as well as enzymes, can now be measured collectively on a single mass spectrometry-based platform. As the biochemical consequences of impaired metabolism continue to be elucidated, the measurement of secondary metabolites common across groups of IEM will facilitate algorithms to further increase the efficiency of diagnosis.

A Review of Rare Disease Policies and Orphan Drug Reimbursement Systems in 12 Eurasian Countries

Background: Despite international initiatives on collaboration within the field of rare diseases, patient access to orphan medicinal products (OMPs) and healthcare services differ greatly between countries. This study aimed to create a comprehensive and in-depth overview of rare diseases policies and reimbursement of OMPs in a selection of 12 countries in the Western Eurasian region: Armenia, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed and an analysis of publicly available legislative and rare disease health policy data was undertaken in five focus areas: rare disease definition, newborn screening, registries, national plans, access to/reimbursement of OMPs. Results: Screening programs are broadly implemented but the number of screened diseases differs significantly (2-35 diseases), either between EU and non-EU countries, between EU member states and sometimes even within a single country. In most countries rare disease registries are operating with regional, national, European or worldwide coverage. The number of rare disease registries is growing, as a result of the National Plans (EU) and increased international scientific cooperation. France, Russia, and Poland have a centrally acting registry. National plans are present in all EU countries but implementation varies and is ongoing. The number of reimbursed OMPs in the selected countries ranges from nearly all available OMPs in the Netherlands, Germany, and France to zero in Armenia. Reimbursement rules differ considerably regionally and a trend is observed of reimbursement conditions getting stricter for expensive (orphan) drugs. Discussion: Inequality in patient access to new OMPs still exists due to variations in national policies, healthcare budgets, health insurance, and reimbursement systems. The observed differences are challenging for rare disease patients, health authorities and manufacturers alike. Progress can be seen, however, and international cooperation and harmonization is slowly but steadily expanding in the rare disease arena.

Towards the automated economic assessment of newborn screening for rare diseases

OBJECTIVE

Economic assessments of newborn screening programs for rare diseases involve the use of models and require huge efforts to synthesize information from different sources. Sharing and automatically or semi-automatically reusing this information for new assessments would be desirable, but it is not possible nowadays due to the lack of suitable tools.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We designed and implemented the Rare Diseases Ontology for Simulation (RaDiOS) after performing two reviews, and critically appraising the existing data repositories on rare diseases. The first review involved previous published economic assessments, and served to identify the main parameters required to model newborn screening. The second review aimed at locating existing data repositories potentially available to inform these parameters.

RESULTS

We found key model parameters on epidemiology, screening methods, diagnose methods, pathogenesis, treatment and follow-up tests. We also identified seven data repositories directly related to rare diseases. None of such repositories was well-suited for the automated generation of simulation models. We incorporated the identified parameters as structured classes and properties of the new ontology (RaDiOS). We carefully set the relationships among the parameters so to allow automated inference from the ontology.

CONCLUSIONS

RaDiOS is an ontology that serves as a data repository to automatically build simulation models for the economic assessment of newborn screening for rare diseases.

Genotypic and phenotypic correlations of biotinidase deficiency in the Chinese population

Biotinidase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder that affects the endogenous recycling and release of biotin from dietary protein. This disease was thought to be rare in East Asia. In this report, we delineate the phenotype of biotinidase deficiency in our cohort. The genotypes and phenotypes of patients diagnosed with biotinidase deficiency from a medical center were reviewed. The clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and molecular test results were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 6 patients were evaluated. Three patients (50%) were diagnosed because of a clinical illness, and the other three (50%) were identified by newborn screening. In all patients, the molecular results confirmed the BTD mutation. The three patients with clinical manifestations had an onset of seizure at the age of 2 to 3 months. Two patients had respiratory problems (one with apnea under bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) therapy at night, and the other with laryngomalacia). Hearing loss and eye problems were found in one patient. Interestingly, cutaneous manifestations including skin eczema, alopecia, and recurrent fungal infection were less commonly seen compared to cases in the literature. None of the patients identified by the newborn screening program developed symptoms. Our findings highlight differences in the genotype and phenotype compared with those in Western countries. Patients with biotinidase deficiency benefit from newborn screening programs for early detection and management.