Background: The debate on access to new drugs has focused on the time lag between applications for approval and granting of marketing authorisation. This delay was identified as the first barrier with respect to patient access to new drugs, encompassing the hurdles of safety, efficacy and...

With the inclusion of $US1.1 billion earmarked for comparative effectiveness research (CER) in the recently enacted stimulus package, the US government indicated it will play an important role in informing prescribing and reimbursement decisions. However, this sizable investment does beg four...