title: Burden of illness and research investments in translational sciences for pharmaceuticals in metastatic cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore whether investments in translational sciences for six metastatic cancers follow idiosyncratic returns to those investments rather than levels of burden of illness (BI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Associate the number of translational clinical trials in the USA involving oncolytic drugs approved during 2008-2013 and the level (in 2008) and changes (2002-2008 and 2008-2014) in cancer-specific years of life lost.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Investments in trials were positively associated only with contemporary changes in BI (2008-2014). The relationship was stronger for government-sponsored comparative-effectiveness trials than for industry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Translational research investments follow anticipated changes to BI levels. Systematic quantification of these expected returns from specific investments can help guide investment decisions in translational health sciences and generate productive dialogue across stakeholders.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program, Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Wei-Jhih
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Justin C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research & Policy Program, Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.|Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Anirban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basu
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States
keywords: burden-of-illness; comparative effectiveness research; metastatic cancer; pharmaceuticals; translational research investments