Top 5 Conference Coverage of 2024

The top conference coverage of 2024 highlighted groundbreaking advancements and critical discussions across a variety of health care topics. From new treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to the implications of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), these studies and interviews from conferences across the globe underscored the evolving landscape of health care innovation and policy.

Here are the top conference highlights from 2024. You can check out all the conferences we covered this year here.

5. Late-Breaking Data From Clinical Trials Show Promise for the Future of COPD Treatment

At the American Thoracic Society 2024 International Conference, late-breaking clinical trial results revealed promising advances in COPD treatments. The ARISE study demonstrated the efficacy of amikacin liposome inhalation suspension in treating Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease. Meanwhile, the COURSE study showed that tezepelumab may reduce exacerbations and improve lung function, especially in patients with elevated blood eosinophils. Additionally, the NOTUS trial confirmed that dupilumab significantly reduces exacerbations and improves lung function in patients with COPD and type 2 inflammation.

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4. Epilepsy Drug Shows Promise in Reducing Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Late-breaking trial data presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress 2024 revealed that the epilepsy drug sulthiame could reduce respiratory pauses and improve oxygen levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The study showed dose-dependent reductions in apnea-hypopnea indices, with nearly 50% fewer respiratory interruptions at higher doses. As an alternative to continuous positive airway pressure machines, sulthiame offers hope for patients who cannot use tolerate standard treatments, although it is not approved in the US.

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3. Looking Back on ISPOR 2024: Hot Policy Topics, Welcome Focus on Employers, and More

After the 2024 meeting of ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research—Kimberly Westrich, MA, chief strategy officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council, reflected on the most valuable learnings from the conference, which ranged from the implications of the IRA to the overlooked role of employers in health care decisions. Employer-focused sessions addressed cost sharing, pharmacy benefit manager incentives, and alternative funding strategies, emphasizing the need for tailored frameworks that reflect employers' unique priorities.

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2. Dr Phaedra Corso Discusses How to Incorporate Economic Research Into Health Policy

Meanwhile at the ISPOR 2024 meeting, The American Journal of Managed Care^® spoke to Phaedra Corso, PhD, associate vice president for research at Indiana University, about the critical role of cost-effectiveness analysis in shaping public health policy. Corso emphasized its ability to prioritize resources and demonstrate returns on investment. Despite its importance, she noted challenges such as limited economic research, which often lags behind studies on intervention effectiveness, and a reliance on intermediate outcomes rather than long-term measures like lives saved.

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1. Semaglutide Enhances Heart Failure Outcomes in Obesity

Updated findings from the STEP-HFpEF program were presented at the 2024 European Society of Cardiology Congress, and highlighted the potential of semaglutide to improve outcomes for patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Subanalyses revealed significant benefits in symptom management, exercise capacity, and biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and NTproBNP. These benefits were particularly seen in patients with atrial fibrillation, who showed greater improvements in quality-of-life scores and functional metrics such as the 6-minute walk distance. Reductions in inflammation appeared independent of baseline CRP levels or weight loss magnitude.

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