What is a treatment sequencing model?

A treatment sequencing model attempts to incorporate data from different clinical or real world studies in order to understand how different treatment sequencing strategies may impact patient outcomes in specific populations. This is particularly important to understand in therapeutic settings in which there are multiple options and no clear consensus on the right order of medications to use. Treatment sequencing models can help inform decisionmaking in these settings by incorporating data from clinical trials or real world studies while attempting to reduce biases associated with comparisons when no direct comparison (randomized controlled trial or other head-to-head study) exists.

Treatment sequencing models can be challenging to create as they are almost inherently trying to shine light on appropriate treatment strategies in spaces where data gaps exist. They can, however, help give a systematically driven evaluation of what different treatment decisions may mean for outcomes which may outperform intuition in some scenarios.

Pharma companies, typically HEOR teams, may work on treatment sequencing models to better understand how their drugs fit in the broader landscape and to communicate with external stakeholders on what different treatment strategies may mean in terms of clinical and economic outcomes.