Insights From ISPOR 2025: R In Health Technology Assessment – Is It The Future?

ISPOR’s annual meeting in Montreal this May was packed with opportunities to explore the latest trends, insights, and research in HEOR and market access. In this series, our experts share their reflections and key learnings from the conference. Kicking things off, Hannah Gillies and Jaesh Naik, from the Petauri Evidence HEOR team, explore how R is being used in health technology assessment (HTA) modelling, and what it might take for R to become the new standard.

Economic Modelling for HTA

Economic models used for HTA are evolving, and the use of R in this space is gaining attention. Whilst Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) (formerly the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health) does not explicitly reject R in its guidance, it remains uncommon in submissions. Many HTA bodies around the world are waiting for the first R-based models to emerge as case studies before investing in upskilling.

Advantages of Modelling with R

A recent session at ISPOR Annual in Montreal discussed the advantages of modelling with R and argued that speed is a key benefit, particularly for country adaptations. When a last-minute request arises, such as removing a subgroup or treatment, R allows for quicker adjustments with fewer errors compared to Excel. R also facilitates faster and more streamlined updates when new trial datacuts become available. Additionally, parallel programming in R and Excel enables efficiencies in satisfying the needs of HTA, as outputs can be provided in the both formats without the need for duplicating work.

Despite R’s strengths, Excel has made significant strides in recent years. Dynamic arrays are a useful improvement, enabling Markov trace calculations, Dirichlet samples, and Monte Carlo simulations to be performed using a single formula, which improves efficiency and reduces reliance on Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

As the industry watches these developments, the question remains: Will R become the preferred tool for HTA modelling? Its potential is clear, but widespread adoption will depend on HTA body acceptance and demonstrated success.

For more thought leadership from our Petauri HEOR Team at ISPOR Annual, visit our ISPOR virtual booth.