Pharmacoeconomics ― Principles and Practice

When Lorenzo Pradelli was first asked to serve as editor for a manual on pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research, his first thoughts were, “Another one? Are there not enough around?” Then he noticed that most of the literature is either academic in style (and weight!), or a textbook for students, while not much is available for people who have to deal with economic evaluations in health care, but do not engage themselves in performing such studies. Pharmacoeconomics is a quick reference and as an aid to understand papers dealing with pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research. The first section includes basic definitions commonly used in the industry, and is followed by a more in-depth exposition of the main methods and techniques, using descriptions of actual studies in the published literature. The result is a practical tool that can guide stakeholders involved in the decision-making process in health care to a robust insight of the theoretical and methodological aspects of modern pharmacoeconomics.

Lorenzo Pradelli is medical director at AdRes Health Economics and Outcomes Research srl, Torino, Italy. He is in charge of the design, development, and management of pharmacoeconomic research, with particular reference to the medical and scientific aspects. He is member of the scientific board of Farmeconomia. He is editor-in-chief of the monographic journal Profili in Farmacoeconomia, and is the author or co-author of more than thirty articles on pharmacoeconomics, including original scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, oral communications, and presentations at national and international congresses. Albert Wertheimer is a professor of pharmacy economics at the School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where has been since 2000. Previously, he was a professor at the University of Minnesota, dean of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, director of Health Outcomes Management at Merck and Company, and a vice president at First Health, a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) firm.