Table 1 Acceptance of methodology of indirect comparisons by IQWiG, HAS, NICE and SMC within benefit assessments
Methodology of indirect comparison | Explanation | Acceptance by | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IQWiG | HAS | NICE | SMC | ||
Unadjusted | •Naïve use of single study arms of different trials (violation of randomization) | − | − | − | / |
•Application of matching procedures and multivariate analysis | |||||
Adjusted | •Meta-analytical summary of RCT outcomes | + | + | + | / |
•Subtraction of realized therapeutic effects (control group vs. verum group(s)) | |||||
•Comparison of adjusted verum groups | |||||
MTC | •Combination of evidence from direct and indirect comparisons | − | + | + | / |
•Basic assumptions of adjusted indirect comparison are applied | |||||
•Efficacy ranking of examined therapies | |||||
•Bayesian and frequentist approach | |||||