How the EU HTA Regulation is Changing Lung Cancer Treatment Assessment in Europe
Since the EU Health Technology Assessment (HTA) regulation came into force, the way lung cancer treatments are evaluated across Europe has fundamentally changed. For lung cancer organisations, this matters.
The EU HTA regulation legally requires lived experience to be incorporated throughout the lung cancer treatment assessment process. Not as an afterthought, but as a formal, required input. This is a significant step forward for lung cancer policy in Europe.
How the EU HTA regulation affects lung cancer treatment decisions
The EU HTA regulation introduces two main processes where input from those with lived experience can be provided.
The first is Joint Clinical Assessments (JCAs). These gather evidence on the real-world impact of living with lung cancer: what it is truly like, what treatments are available, and how well they work. A coordination group compiles this evidence and submits a report that carries significant weight in lung cancer treatment decisions across EU Member States.
The second is Joint Scientific Consultations (JSCs). These happen earlier in the process, advising companies on their data before a lung cancer treatment is formally submitted for assessment. A representative with lived experience sits alongside other committee members to provide input.
Both processes are coordinated through the EU HTA Stakeholder Network, which includes people with lived experience, clinicians, developers, and payers.
What Lung Cancer Europe is doing on EU HTA policy
Lung Cancer Europe is actively involved in two ways.
First, we are a member of the working group currently reviewing and simplifying the technical documentation used in both processes. Feedback from organisations and representatives has been consistent: the materials are complex and difficult to engage with. The working group is addressing this directly, with revised documents due to be finalised by summer 2026, followed by a pilot study to test clarity.
Second, we work with Cancer Patients Europe (CPE), the cancer organisation responsible for identifying and nominating representatives when requests come in, to put forward lung cancer representatives. When CPE receives a request, they contact us and we reach out to our national member organisations. Turnaround times are tight: there are just five weeks to identify candidates.
How lung cancer organisations can get involved in EU HTA
This is a real opportunity for the lung cancer community to influence EU health policy. There are a few practical steps lung cancer organisations can take right now.
Familiarise yourself with the EU HTA process. Resources are available through the European Patient Forum and Cancer Patients Europe, as well as training programmes including EUPATI and EUCAPA.
Talk to your members. Having a pool of potential representatives identified in advance makes all the difference when a request comes in with a five-week window.
Get in touch. If your organisation would like to get more involved in EU HTA policy for lung cancer, contact Chiara Antoniani, Project Manager for EU HTA, at chiara.antoniani@lungcancereurope.eu.
Read the full policy briefing for a complete overview of how the EU HTA regulation works, the role of Joint Clinical Assessments and Joint Scientific Consultations in lung cancer treatment assessment, and what Lung Cancer Europe is doing to support member engagement.