News | Avalere Health Advisory

Arthritis Foundation To Receive Pro Bono Services From Avalere Health Advisory

mgomez@avalere.com — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:05:55 +0000

Avalere Health Advisory is taking an important step to help organizations like the Arthritis Foundation reach EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE. Avalere Health Advisory will donate its data-driven analysis and consulting services to the Foundation, which is one of the largest nonprofit organizations and serves nearly 60 million adults and hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S.

Avalere Health will focus its pro bono services for the Arthritis Foundation on disease prevalence, progression, and treatment impacts for women as they age. Despite existing research, sex-specific analysis remains limited.

“Through this collaboration, the Arthritis Foundation will be able to identify the critical health challenges affecting women aged 40 and older, particularly those within the Medicare population, with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis,” said Laura Housman, Ph.D., Practice Director at Avalere Health.

Avalere Health Advisory’s Pro Bono Grant Initiative is a new program created to offer free data-driven analyses, research, or consulting services to nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations.

“There are healthcare organizations that are facing unique challenges in today’s current funding environment,” said Dr. Housman. “This Initiative is our way of ensuring nonprofit groups continue to deliver their services that could have been delayed, cut, or shelved because of limited resources.” Avalere Health’s pro-bono committee is now taking applications for Fall 2025 and the deadline to submit is Friday, August 29. Applications will be selected based on four evaluation criteria:

Impact on Underrepresented Populations: Addressing an underrepresented population, location, or disease state.
Public Reach: Opportunity to increase impact or adoption through highly public or significant work.
Promotion of Health Equity: Potential to advance health equity, improve access to healthcare, or enhance health outcomes for individuals.
Relevance to Avalere Health’s Mission: Alignment with Avalere Health’s efforts to reach EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE.

Recipients of the Avalere Health Advisory’s Pro Bono Grant Initiative will receive services based on their specific needs. The company will not undertake any lobbying activities, including any project that will require Avalere Health or any of its employees to register as a “Lobbyist” under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act or similar state laws. Any public-facing deliverables will require Avalere Health to retain editorial control and will not include specific recommendations, advocacy, or endorsement of any specific policy position. All deliverables and research will maintain objectivity and will be neutral in tone.

To apply for the Avalere Health Advisory Pro Bono Initiative, please download the application form here:

2025 Application_Avalere Health Advisory Pro Bono Initiative

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Research on Opioid Use Reveals States, Local Governments Spend $94 Billion Annually

mgomez@avalere.com — Tue, 20 May 2025 17:34:33 +0000

A new study from Avalere Health shows opioid use disorder (OUD) places tremendous financial and resource burdens on taxpayers and local communities. “The Cost of Addiction: Opioid Use Disorder in the U.S.” is the first-of-its-kind study that reveals state and local governments shoulder >$94 billion annually with Massachusetts, Kentucky, Nevada, and New Hampshire reporting the highest rates.

OUD is diagnosed when individuals experience persistent and ongoing need to use opioids, which can involve prescription or illegal opioids, leading to significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. Approximately 6.1 million people in the U.S. have the disease, but only one in four receive recommended medications for treatment.

“Despite the well-established benefits of OUD therapies, individuals with OUD face significant barriers to treatment,” said Margaret Scott, a Principal at Avalere Health. “Our study shows that barriers to care include physician stigmatizing and expressing reluctance to treat OUD patients, inadequate provider education and training, geographic distances to treatment locations, and social stigma.”

Avalere Health conducted the research and modeled the costs and treatment-savings effects of OUD nationally and by state. The researchers focused their analysis on three key areas:

Identifying the prevalence of OUD
Modeling the costs of OUD
Evaluating the cost savings of four ambulatory OUD treatments (i.e., behavioral therapy alone; behavioral therapy plus methadone; behavioral therapy plus transmucosal buprenorphine; and behavioral therapy plus long-acting injectable [LAI] buprenorphine)

Avalere Health researchers discovered that the U.S. national average cost of OUD per case is nearly $700,000, with over $150,000 borne by government, businesses, and families. Of the treatments evaluated, long-acting injectables with behavioral therapy demonstrated the highest estimated annual per-case savings at $295,000. In the four states with the highest OUD cases, researchers outlined the total federal and state costs*.

“As states and local governments explore new strategies to reduce healthcare costs, encouraging public health, governments, and payers to prioritize OUD treatments can lead to greater savings,” said Michael Ciarametaro, Managing Director at Avalere Health.
To download “The Cost of Addiction: Opioid Use Disorder in the U.S.,” click here.

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CMS Deputy Group Director Mark Newsom Joins Avalere Health’s Advisory Team

mgomez@avalere.com — Fri, 09 May 2025 17:11:33 +0000

Mark Newsom, the Deputy Group Director for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently joined the advisory team at Avalere Health. Newsom will serve as a Managing Director and a subject matter expert on the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs.

“With increasing focus among healthcare stakeholders on the future direction of drug development, rising cost pressures, and the ongoing reorganization at federal agencies, our clients are facing significant uncertainty,” said Milena Sullivan, Practice Director, Policy Advisory. “Mark’s experience and deep knowledge of CMS policies will be invaluable in guiding clients on critical business strategies and policy decisions.”

As Deputy Group Director at CMS, Newsom co-managed six divisions, driving:

Medicare Part D benefits policy, formulary review, medication therapy management (MTM) and plan contracting
Medicare Advantage and Part D Stars Quality Program
Operation of the Health Plan Management System (HPMS)

In addition to his roles at CMS, Newsom also served as a senior policy advisor at the Congressional Research Service during the development and passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In addition to his working the government sector, Newsom held senior policy and compliance roles at Humana, CVS Health, and Coventry.

“Avalere Health’s reputation in policy and market access attracts some of the best experts in the field,” said Newsom.

“Mark’s skills and experience will be invaluable to our growing portfolio of clients to both health plans and life science companies,” added Sarah Alwardt, President, Avalere Health Advisory.
The Advisory team at Avalere Health serves clients across the healthcare ecosystem, bringing actionable strategies and data-driven solutions that anticipate and adapt to the latest industry trends, reaching EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE and creating a world where no patient is left behind.

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Developing winning supplemental benefits packages

mgomez@avalere.com — Fri, 09 May 2025 17:02:52 +0000

As health plans continue to face financial pressures, it is even more important to execute supplemental benefit strategies that can lead to their success. In partnership with the Managed Care Resource Alliance, our health plans expert Eric Levine co-authored an article that describes the importance of taking a strategic, measured approach to identifying benefits that appeal to current and prospective members, support their health needs, and deliver high-quality services. Their article appeared in the March issue of Managed Healthcare Executive.

To read the article, visit Managed Healthcare Executive.

Learn More
Our team includes published researchers, pharmacists, and physicians as well as statisticians, health economists, and other public health experts. We apply our perspective to a wide range of datasets, giving clients real-world information and analysis needed to achieve their objectives. To learn more about how Avalere’s team can support your business, connect with us.

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PharmaTimes article: Overcoming barriers to care using AI

mgomez@avalere.com — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:40:33 +0000

US patients often struggle to receive the care they need in certain settings because of barriers like the lack of access to providers close to home or difficulty securing medical appointments. Avalere Health experts Zachary Klein and Brigit Kyei-Baffour write how AI can be used to optimize care that traditionally has been provided in outpatient settings or within physician offices. Supplementary or primary AI-assisted care has the potential to improve patient experience and will likely create additional opportunities for use and integration into the delivery of healthcare within the home, broadening access and improving quality of care.

To read the article, visit PharmaTimes.

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Avalere Is Awarded Accelerated Access to Medicare Claims Data

mgomez@avalere.com — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:29:51 +0000

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently awarded consulting firm Avalere accelerated access to its Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims and Part D Drug Event data through the Virtual Data Research Center (VRDC). The VRDC is a secure, virtual environment where researchers can access and analyze sensitive Medicare data. The VRDC data, which includes 100% of medical and pharmacy claims for the Medicare Parts A, B, and D markets, will now be provided with monthly updates and a shorter lag time in the data.

“Accessing more recent claims and receiving updates more frequently is a game changer,” explained Amanda Tripp, Managing Director. “The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving and access to these more timely data allows our top-notch analytical team to better support our clients.”

Avalere already has access to 2018-2023 medical claims (Parts A and B) and pharmaceutical data (Part D) for the FFS Medicare population. The new data use agreement with CMS will enable Avalere analysts to further develop patient journey studies that incorporate new technologies and drugs in a timely fashion.

The data can also be used to answer important and timely questions, such as:

Impact of policy changes such as site neutral payment,
Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act,
Effect on the delivery of care and access for patients with specific health conditions, and
Effect on therapeutic areas and to manufacturers.

As the US healthcare system still grapples with the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Avalere will be able to help healthcare stakeholders understand how the landscape has shifted and, more importantly, identify ways to support Medicare beneficiaries impacted by COVID-19.

“This new access to CMS data enables Avalere to accelerate our ability to provide clients insights faster,” added Maddi Davidson, Principal. “Our clients partner with Avalere for our subject matter expertise and our unique ability to analyze data.

To learn more about Avalere’s new data access and how we can support your business goals, connect with us.

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NORD Summit Reveals 2025 Rare Disease Priorities

mgomez@avalere.com — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:51:39 +0000

Each year, NORD’s Breakthrough Summit brings together more than 900 attendees to share the latest developments in the rare disease community.

This year, the NORD Summit’s theme, “Equitable Access to Innovation,” was woven into the sessions. Rising out of this overarching theme were three major topics consistently mentioned as both priorities and persistent gaps in the rare disease care environment. The topics were: Ensuring patient centeredness in care planning, delivering access to innovative therapies, and narrowing the focus on innovation. Avalere experts Shelby Harrington, RN, Mariia Salova, Nicole Betor, and Jasmine Nicole Namata shared their perspectives on the Summit with MedAd News.

To read about developments at the NORD Breakthrough Summit, visit MedAd News.

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Avalere applies our expertise in FDA regulatory strategy and evidence generation planning, access strategies for rare disease treatments, and strategizing impacts of IRA implementation to help healthcare stakeholders meet their strategic business objectives for approval and lifecycle management. To learn more about how Avalere can help you with clinical development planning, value, and access strategies for rare and ultra-rare disease assets, connect with us.

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Avalere Covered in Nephrology News

mgomez@avalere.com — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:47:43 +0000

COVID-19 exacerbated access challenges across the health care ecosystem — particularly in underserved communities. Avalere researchers observed that disadvantaged populations within end-stage renal disease accessed home dialysis less frequently after the pandemic, underscoring the need to develop access solutions. The research was presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2024, and Nephrology News requested an embargoed release of the poster study to promote its visibility.

To read the coverage, visit Nephrology News.

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Avalere helps clients gain insights on the patient experience by collecting and analyzing various types of data – including mixed-methods research – and facilitate conversations between clients and their key stakeholders. To learn more about the evolving kidney care space and how Avalere can help your business drive access and continuity of care in this dynamic time, connect with us.

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Avalere Published in PM360: Research that Reflects Reality

mgomez@avalere.com — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 16:44:53 +0000

Leveraging real-world data (RWD) leads to the generation of real-world evidence (RWE) data. RWE holds the promise of combining the benefits of clinical experience with the scientific rigor of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Avalere experts Shelby Harrington, RN, and Taylor Schwartz describe the benefits of utilizing RWE in “Research that Reflects Reality: The Gap Between Clinical-Trial Results and Real-World Data.”

To read the article, visit PM360.

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Avalere Industry Outlook Report Wins 2024 Design Award

Kate Ikeler — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:22:57 +0000

Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), a publication for business-to-business information and graphic design professionals, awarded Avalere in its 61st anniversary Inhouse Design Awards Competition for the 2024 Healthcare Industry Outlook report. GDUSA’s announcement said of the Inhouse Design Awards, “This is graphic design for commerce and culture at its best executed by creative professionals who ably advance their clients’ objectives and build meaningful value for their organizations, products, services, causes, ideas.”

The 61st anniversary competition had over 5,000 entries. Notable past winners include AARP, McCormick, Prime Therapeutics, United Nations, and WebMD. This is the fifth time Avalere’s Outlook report has won an award and the third time with this group, also winning in 2019 and 2021.

Avalere’s annual Healthcare Industry Outlook report and its accompanying live webinar predict the hot healthcare trends for the year. Distributed each January, the document—compact, easy to digest, and visually driven—outlines each trend and how it impacts healthcare stakeholders. The 2024 report, entitled “Accelerate Impact,” offers actionable insights on:

Adapting to the IRA’s landmark policy changes by revising your assumptions about Medicare market dynamics and considering new drug launch and pricing strategies
Enhancing your organization’s impact on access, utilization, and outcomes with strategic use of data and analytics, HEOR, implementation science, and artificial intelligence
Maintaining a patient-centric perspective by understanding how these trends impact patients and translating findings into policy and healthcare actions

Download the winning 2024 report.

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Health Policy Veteran Emily Donaldson Joins Avalere

mgomez@avalere.com — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:15:48 +0000

Health policy expert Emily Donaldson has joined Avalere as a principal and will focus on helping life sciences companies and health plans interpret, prepare for, and influence policy changes that will impact their strategic business goals.

“Emily’s extensive background in state policy and prescription drug benefits will prove invaluable as companies turn to us for support on issues related to commercial market health insurance, Medicaid, 340B, and state policies like prescription drug review boards,” says Miryam Frieder, practice director.

Before joining our firm, Emily served as director of US Policy at AbbVie, where she developed policies and strategies to help the company navigate the private health insurance and Medicaid markets, the 340B program, and the state health policy landscape. Previously, she served as deputy vice president for Policy and Research at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), where she led the commercial market and state issues portfolios. She has also served as director of state policy at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and policy counsel for BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. Emily also served as staff counsel for the South Carolina Senate after receiving her juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina.

“Avalere has built an unparalleled reputation for delivering insights,” adds Emily. “As more companies in the industry struggle to steer their business through the paradigm of changes, I’m looking forward to working with clients on cost, coverage, and affordability issues. Whether we’re looking at changes to the private insurance landscape or the sudden intersection of various state and federal policy issues like healthcare pricing and 340B, I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join this talented team.”

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Rethinking Evidence Strategy in HEOR Budget Planning

mgomez@avalere.com — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:01:32 +0000

For many of those who focus on generating value propositions through HEOR, Fall is the time for budget planning for the upcoming fiscal year. With so many changes influencing the healthcare landscape, revisiting and advancing an organization’s evidence needs is necessary to more accurately build an effective value-based commercialization strategy. The article, “Rethinking Evidence Strategy in HEOR Budget Planning,” was authored by Nicole Betor, Nancy El Hoyek, Laura Housman, Josie Lloyd, and Taylor Schwartz.

To read the article, visit Pharma Focus America.

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Avalere leverages our staff’s deep expertise in evidence generation planning, data partnership evaluation, and HEOR to help clients develop their annual research agendas and conceptualize studies that meet their business objectives. To explore how Avalere can partner with you to ensure your evidence generation strategies reflect current market trends and future business needs, connect with us.

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Clinical Trial Designs for Rare and Ultra-Rare Disease

mgomez@avalere.com — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 19:01:19 +0000

When designing clinical trials for rare and ultra-rare diseases, manufacturers must uncover ways to overcome the geographical and ethical challenges that do not plague chronic disease studies. The article by Mariia Saldova, “Innovating Clinical Trial Designs in Rare and Ultra-Rare Disease,” explores the importance of decentralized clinical trials in a patient population that is difficult to find and explains the benefits to patients seeking access to new therapies. The author describes how one gene therapy company was able to recruit and retain patients using innovative recruitment methods. She also discusses the importance of collaborating with advocacy groups and minority communities to identify and reach new patients.

To read the complete article, visit Med Ad News’ blog, PharmaLive.com.

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To learn more about how Avalere applies its robust experience in drug development, clinical trial design, and rare disease therapeutics, connect with us.

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The FDA’s Final Rule on Laboratory-Developed Tests (LDTs)

mgomez@avalere.com — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 16:11:19 +0000

In a watershed moment for the diagnostic test industry, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a rule overhauling how Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) are regulated. The rule aligns LDTs’ regulatory framework with that of medical devices and details the agency’s rationale for removing enforcement discretion from most LDTs. While this rule expands the FDA’s authority, providers and clinical institutions are concerned of the potential negative impact on patient access. As the new regulatory framework is phased in over the next four years, stakeholders—including laboratories, the wider diagnostics industry, patients, healthcare providers, and payers—must consider the wide-ranging implications of the rule.

The article, authored by Practice Director Laura Housman, lists several opportunities that diagnostic manufacturers may need to reconsider.

To read the full article, visit MedTech Intelligence.

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Avalere experts in regulatory strategy, evidence, and market access can help you navigate these evolving dynamics for LDTs. If you have questions regarding how this rule will impact your organization and the diagnostics landscape, connect with us.

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An Access Path for Digital Therapeutics

mgomez@avalere.com — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:56:10 +0000

While there has been substantial investment in and focus on the digital health sector, patient access to digital therapeutics (DTx) remains hindered by numerous obstacles, such as regulatory and reimbursement complexities, which ultimately slow progress for improving access. While reimbursement barriers exist for digital therapeutics, ongoing legislative efforts, development of private payer frameworks, and programs such as the Public Health Informatics and Technology Act are shaping a more supportive environment for DTx.

In the Med Ad News article, “Forging an Access Pathway for Digital Therapeutics,” Brigit Kyei-Baffour discusses the effort to simplify clinician prescription processes and enhance patient access. She also describes innovative approaches that explore new payment and evaluation models that drive innovation in healthcare delivery.

To read the full article, visit Med Ad News’ blog, PharmaLive.com.

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Avalere works closely with manufacturers and payers to evaluate, develop, and refine patient support programs that are finely attuned to the current policy and market landscape. We also collaborate with digital therapeutics and digital health stakeholders to maximize patient access and affordability. To learn more about how Avalere can assist you, connect with us.

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Avalere Welcomes Industry Veteran Ashley Flint to Policy Team

Lisa Murphy — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 20:17:08 +0000

Avalere announces that Ashley Flint has joined the firm as a principal focused on drug policy. Ashley will advise life sciences clients on the impact of federal and state policy changes, with a focus on Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implementation, drug pricing, Medicare Part D, and the 340B program.

Ashley says, “Successfully navigating challenges and opportunities in the US policy environment is now a critical business function for the life sciences industry to ensure its ability to continue bringing new therapies to patients. I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join the talented team at Avalere to help our clients navigate these shifting paradigms with robust analytics and creative policy solutions to inform business strategies.”

Before joining Avalere, Ashley served as director of US policy & analytics at AbbVie, where she led a team responsible for analyzing proposed federal and state policies related to above-brand market access issues and developing policy positions and strategies that advanced business priorities. Previously, she was a senior director for policy & research at PhRMA where she served as the Part D policy lead. She was also an associate at HCM Strategists, providing policy support to hospital and patient advocacy groups.

“The life sciences industry is facing so many important changes due to the IRA, including Part D redesign and Medicare negotiation,” says Miryam Frieder, co-director of Avalere’s Policy Practice. “Ashley knows what keeps our clients up at night because she’s been in their position. In addition to her industry perspective, she brings a rigorous analytic lens to the business implications of these IRA-related changes and the development of business strategies to help clients weather these changes.”

Ashley holds an MPP in health policy from The George Washington University and a BA in political science and psychology from Emory University.

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Establishing Value in an Uncertain and Dynamic Landscape

cturner — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:51:15 +0000

Recent US and global policy developments (i.e., Joint Clinical Assessment, Inflation Reduction Act, FDA Data Requirements), evolving stakeholder expectations, and enhanced focus on sustained access have intensified manufacturer requirements for demonstrating value. Against this landscape, life science companies need to evolve their value demonstration strategies to be successful in this dynamic environment.

At ISPOR 2024 in Atlanta, Avalere Health presented the session, “No Longer Business as Usual: Establishing Value in an Uncertain and Dynamic Landscape,” which delved into methods for creating a coherent value strategy amidst this changing policy landscape. The article, published by The Evidence Base, provides a deep dive into the information shared during this session, including challenges and actionable strategies for life sciences companies.

To read the full article, visit The Evidence Base.

To learn more about how Avalere can assist you, connect with us.

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Sarah Alwardt Brings Data and Technology to the Forefront in Dual Role as President of Avalere and U.S. Policy, Access, Value and Evidence at Avalere Health

Leah Keller — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 14:30:12 +0000

Avalere, part of Avalere Health, announces Sarah Alwardt, PhD, as its new President.

As President, Alwardt leads the U.S. Policy, Access, Value and Evidence capability at Avalere’s parent company, Avalere Health. In taking on the dual roles, she will further integrate Avalere’s deep expertise in federal and state policy, market access and reimbursement, evidence and strategy, and due diligence into Avalere Health’s global services across the product lifecycle.

Alwardt will work closely with Avalere Health’s President of Global Policy, Access, Value and Evidence, Tim Wright, with both leaders reporting into Amar Urhekar, Chief Operating Officer of Avalere Health. Together they will provide unrivaled global expertise in North America, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, driving innovative integrated solutions for clients around the world.

The Avalere team plays an integral role in providing a 360-degree view of the healthcare landscape to all capabilities across Avalere Health — Policy, Access, Value, and Evidence; Medical; Consulting; Marketing; and Digital Experience Technology. Working collaboratively throughout the organization, Avalere ensures all teams can provide clients unparalleled insight into the evolving legislative and market access landscapes. These insights are fueled by access to a wealth of datasets, including extensive open and closed claims data across payer markets, clinical data and data on the social determinants of health, formulary and benefit design, digital devices and patient programs.

“Our clients are facing challenges from the Inflation Reduction Act, increasing demands for evidence generation, and continuing efforts to ensure patients have a voice in their own healthcare,” said Amar Urhekar, Chief Operating Officer of Avalere Health. “It is vital for our clients to remain at the forefront of these trends. Sarah is a highly accomplished leader who will expertly guide our teams in providing creative solutions for clients to influence, prepare for and rapidly respond to the changing market.”

Prior to her role as President, Alwardt led Avalere’s Evidence and Strategy practice, where she galvanized key players across the care continuum to transform healthcare and give patients a voice. She has more than 20 years of experience in leadership, strategy and operations for biopharmaceutical industries, with expertise in real-world data and advanced analytics for maximizing product value and performance.

Before joining Avalere, Alwardt launched and grew Ontada, McKesson’s oncology research business that provides evidence-development strategies. Under her leadership, Ontada produced more than 200 scientific publications and submitted multiple regulatory filings. Prior to McKesson, she spent 10 years at Humana, where she held leadership roles in research, program and process development.

“In the face of healthcare’s most complex challenges, our clients need a partner who can deliver practical, actionable solutions. Our deep subject-matter expertise and data-driven insights help stakeholders navigate the impact of these challenges on their business and on the patient experience,” says Alwardt. “I’m thrilled to lead our U.S. Policy, Access, Value and Evidence team into the future as a trusted partner for clients across the healthcare spectrum.”

About Avalere and Avalere Health

A healthcare consulting firm for more than 20 years, Avalere partners with leading life sciences companies, health plans, providers, and investors to bring innovative, data-driven solutions to today’s most complex healthcare challenges. Follow Avalere on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Avalere is part of Avalere Health, a purposefully built commercialization partner for the biopharmaceutical, medical technology, and wellness industries. Its 1,500+ experts combine their knowledge and expertise across our core disciplines—Consulting; Medical; Policy, Access, Value, and Evidence; Marketing; and Digital Experience and Technology—to create the connections that make better health happen. Visit www.avalerehealth.com and follow Avalere Health on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Contact Information

US contact:

Lisa Murphy: lmurphy@avalere.com

Global contact:

Natasha Cowan: natasha.cowan@avalerehealth.com

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New Roles for Avalere Senior Leadership

avalere_wp — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 19:03:51 +0000

Laura Housman will provide leadership for Avalere’s Evidence & Strategy practice as senior vice president and practice director. As a managing director in the same practice, Laura applied her background in evidence generation, commercialization, and strategy to research and analyze projects spanning the full spectrum of healthcare sectors and stakeholders. Before joining Avalere, Laura held a variety of impactful leadership positions over the past 25 years across the healthcare ecosystem and in academia, including at Novartis, where she led a team in access and health outcomes in support of molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies.

Lance Grady will step into a new role as executive vice president, Life Sciences Strategy & Growth. For the past 3.5 years, Lance has led the Market Access practice, devising commercialization strategies focused on product launch, pricing, value, access, and reimbursement. Lance has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, including 12 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb in various leadership roles in US Market Access, Policy, and Commercialization. In this new position, Lance will lead strategy and growth with Life Sciences for Avalere and in connection with broader teams at Fishawack Health.

Omar Hafez will assume leadership of the Avalere US Market Access team as senior vice president and Market Access practice director. Omar was a managing director in the same practice for 3 years, where he advised a range of clients on issues including supply chain, drug pricing, launch strategy, and oncology market analytics and planning. He brings deep expertise in strategy, operations, commercialization, and analytics across core client segments. Prior to joining Avalere, Omar enjoyed a successful career at McKesson, guiding a sizable business and building on his reputation as a leader of high-performing teams and expert in end-to-end strategic market-access consultancy.

For inquiries, please reach out to media@avalere.com.

About Avalere

Avalere is a part of Fishawack Health, a purposefully built commercialization partner for the biopharmaceutical, medical technology, and wellness industries. Its 1,500+ experts combine their knowledge and expertise across our core disciplines—medical; marketing; digital experience and technology; policy; value, evidence, and access; and consulting—to create the connections that make better health happen. Visit us at www.fishawack.com.

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Avalere Announces Departure of President Elizabeth Carpenter, Appointment of Interim President Sarah Alwardt

avalere_wp — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 20:12:38 +0000

Avalere announces the departure of Elizabeth Carpenter, president of Avalere and head of Fishawack Health’s Policy, Access, Value, and Evidence (PAVE) capability in the United States. In her 10 years at Avalere, Elizabeth deftly led the firm’s consulting, sales, and operational teams through a period of substantial growth for the firm and significant changes in the healthcare landscape. She will join PhRMA as executive vice president of Policy and Research.

Sarah Alwardt, PhD, Senior Vice President, will serve as interim president of Avalere and head of PAVE US as the company launches an internal and external search.

Sarah currently leads Avalere’s Evidence & Strategy practice, where she identifies and convenes key players across the care continuum to transform healthcare and give patients a voice. Sarah has over 20 years of experience in leadership, strategy, and operations for biopharmaceutical industries, with expertise in real-world data and advanced analytics related to maximizing product value and performance.

As interim president, Sarah will work closely with the leadership teams of Avalere and its broader organization, Fishawack Health, to ensure that the firm continues to develop practical solutions for clients that are driven by robust data and deep healthcare expertise. For questions or inquiries, please contact media@avalere.com.

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