ISPOR 2026: HEOR Policy & Pharma Pricing in Focus

Key Takeaways

• ISPOR 2026 will focus on health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) at the forefront of policy, access, and value in pharmaceuticals.
• Plenary sessions will address critical issues such as U.S. pharmaceutical policy, the costs of cancer care, and the impact of drug policy on innovation.
• Pre-conference short courses will cover real-world data (RWD) applications and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in HEOR.
• A poster presentation will explore the use of social media listening in cardiology, utilizing the Pomelo questionnaire.

The ISPOR 2026 International Conference, themed “HEOR at the Forefront of Policy, Access, and Value,” will take place May 17-20, 2026, in Philadelphia, PA. This event will bring together approximately 5,000 attendees to discuss the latest trends and challenges in health economics and outcomes research, with a particular emphasis on pharmaceutical policy and drug pricing.

ISPOR 2026 serves as a crucial platform for stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, including researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals, to exchange ideas and insights on how to optimize healthcare outcomes and ensure access to valuable treatments. The conference will feature a range of plenary sessions, short courses, and poster presentations, providing a comprehensive overview of the current HEOR landscape.

ISPOR 2026 Conference Details

The ISPOR 2026 International Conference is scheduled for May 17-20, 2026, in Philadelphia, PA. The conference theme is “HEOR at the Forefront of Policy, Access, and Value,” and it is expected to draw around 5,000 attendees. Pre-conference short courses will be held on May 17, 2026, offering in-depth training on various HEOR topics.

IntelligenceRegulatory Impact▾

FDA are the agencies to watch. Regulatory relevance reads medium for cardiology. Teams should track submission types, designations, and guidance shifts that could move approval timelines.

Plenary Session Highlights

• Monday, May 18: US Pharmaceutical Policy: Leading or Following? This session will feature Courtney Piron (Novartis), Liz Fowler, PhD, JD (Johns Hopkins), and Inma Hernandez, PhD (UC San Diego) and will focus on US drug pricing issues, including the Inflation Reduction Act and Medicare negotiations.
• Tuesday, May 19: The True Cost of Cancer: Aligning Innovation, Access, and Affordability. Speakers including Dawn Hershman, MD, MS (Columbia), Stacie Dusetzina, PhD (Vanderbilt), and Bobby Green, MD (ThymeCare) will discuss cancer care costs, efficiency, and patient value.
• Wednesday, May 20: Innovation Under Pressure: How Will US Drug Policy Reshape Innovation, Evidence, and Access Globally? This plenary will include Lotte Steuten, MSc, PhD (Office of Health Economics), Darius Lakdawalla, PhD (USC), and Jens Grueger, PhD (BCG) and will address the impact of policy on innovation resilience.

IntelligenceCompetitive Intelligence▾

Competitive pressure is low. Watch which sponsors move first. Benchmark pipeline positioning, differentiation, and partnership scouting against the signals in this story.

Short Course Preview

• May 17: Leveraging Real-World Data Throughout the Medical Devices and Diagnostics Product Lifecycle. Key faculty include Belinda A. Mohr, PhD; Arthi Chandran, MPH, MS, DrPH; and Bijan Borah, MSc, PhD. The course will cover RWD/RWE in regulatory/HTA decisions, study design, and challenges related to medical devices.
• May 17: Using RWE to Inform the Value and Affordability Assessment of Cell and Gene Therapies. This course will focus on RWE applications for cell and gene therapy value assessment.
• September 6 (Asia Pacific Summit): Applied Generative AI for HEOR: Introduction.
• September 6 (Asia Pacific Summit): Practical Applications of Large Language Models for RWE/HEOR.

IntelligenceMarket Signals▾

Commercial pull is medium and investment relevance low. Expect implications for cardiology pricing, access, and launch sequencing.

Cardiology-Related Content

ISPOR 2026 will feature a poster presentation on social media listening methodology using the Pomelo questionnaire, with applications in cardiology. Additionally, Evalueserve will present a poster (EPH 76) on the “Epidemiology and Future Burden of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) Among Adults in the United States: A Systematic…”

IntelligenceStrategic Takeaways▾

ISPOR 2026 will focus on health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) at the forefront of policy, access, and value in pharmaceuticals. Plenary sessions will address critical issues such as U.S. pharmaceutical policy, the costs of cancer care, and the impact of drug policy on innovation. Pre-conference short courses will cover real-world data (RWD) applications and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in HEOR.

Market & Investor Implications

The discussions and insights from ISPOR 2026 are likely to influence pharmaceutical pricing strategies, market access decisions, and investment priorities. Understanding the evolving landscape of HEOR and pharmaceutical policy is crucial for companies looking to navigate the complexities of the healthcare market.

IntelligenceEvidence Quality▾

Claims are grounded in the cited primary and secondary sources, with editorial review applied before publication.

What to Watch Next

As ISPOR 2026 approaches, keep an eye out for the release of the full conference program, including abstracts and additional poster presentations. These will provide more detailed insights into the latest research and developments in HEOR.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the main focus of ISPOR 2026?

   ISPOR 2026 focuses on health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) at the forefront of policy, access, and value in the pharmaceutical industry.

2. Where and when will ISPOR 2026 take place?

   The conference will be held May 17-20, 2026, in Philadelphia, PA.

3. What topics will be covered in the plenary sessions?

   Plenary sessions will cover U.S. pharmaceutical policy, the costs of cancer care, and the impact of drug policy on innovation.

4. Are there any short courses related to real-world data?

   Yes, pre-conference short courses will cover real-world data (RWD) applications and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in HEOR.

5. Is there any content related to cardiology?

   Yes, a poster presentation will explore the use of social media listening in cardiology, utilizing the Pomelo questionnaire, and Evalueserve will present a poster on transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).

References

1. ISPOR Conferences & Education Calendar
2. ISPOR Event: Leveraging Real-World Data Throughout the Medical Devices and Diagnostics Product Lifecycle
3. ISPOR Event: Primer on a 6-Step Approach to Budget Impact Analysis
4. 2026 Methods Summit
5. ISPOR Event: Using RWE to Inform the Value and Affordability Assessment of Cell and Gene Therapies
6. ISPOR 2026 Plenaries and Speakers Announced
7. ISPOR Event: Practical Applications of Large Language Models for Real-World Evidence Generation and HEOR
8. ISPOR Event: Causal Inference and Causal Diagrams in Big, Real-World Observational Data and Pragmatic Trials
9. ISPOR Event: Budget Impact Analysis in Practice
10. ISPOR Event: Applied Generative AI for HEOR: Introduction

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