Abstract
Background: Since the start of the War on Cancer there have been enormous investments in improving oncology treatment. The return to society generated by this investment is unknown. We estimate the returns generated over the previous four decades and extrapolate future returns from current investment in cancer R&D.
Methods: Using data on cancer incidence, mortality, and treatment-specific R&D expenditures from 1973 to 2010, we used regression models and two-sided significance tests to relate investment in cancer treatment R&D to cancer mortality, by tumor type. For investment, we used a measure of the knowledge stock generated by cancer treatment R&D expenditures over the previous 25 years to capture the cumulative benefits of past innovations and advances in treatment.
Results: Investment of an additional $1 million in cervical, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer between 1973 and 1990 was associated with a cumulative return of more than $5 million from cancer R&D by 2010. Through 2010, investment in cancer R&D was associated with average benefits in excess of costs in all but two cancers, ovarian and pancreatic. Regarding future returns, we estimated that each additional $1 million invested in cancer treatment research and development in 2010 will produce over $28 million in value over the following 50 years.
Conclusions: The return to society from spending on cancer treatment R&D is large, but varies across tumor types.
Conflict of interest: Precision Health Economics is a consultancy to the health insurance and life science industries. AC holds the position of Chief Scientific Officer at Precision Health Economics. JPM and ACB are employees of Precision Health Economics. ZK is an employee of Celgene Corporation.
Research funding: None declared.
Author statement: This research was supported by Celgene Corporation under contract with Precision Health Economics. Precision Health Economics is a consultancy to the health insurance and life science industries. AC holds the position of Chief Scientific Officer at Precision Health Economics. JPM and ACB are employees of Precision Health Economics. ZK is an employee of Celgene Corporation.
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Supplemental Material:
The online version of this article (DOI: 10.1515/fhep-2014-0022) offers supplementary material, available to authorized users.
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