– Although it is often thought that the data volume in healthcare is enormous, it isn’t. However, the data is diverse, and a large part of it is in free text format, which makes data processing difficult. For example, one distribution center of the leading Finnish delivery and fulfillment companies, Posti, produces as much data in four days as laboratories of the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland (Varha) does in ten years, says Arho Virkki, Analytics Director of the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland (Varha). Virkki held a presentation at Medaffcon’s EMMA client event.
Due to the diversity of healthcare data, standardizing methods are needed to facilitate real-world (RWE) research and data-driven decision-making. One method is the OMOP data model (Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership). The OMOP data model is a relational model that collects data in a patient-centric manner.
The use of (Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership) OMOP is increasing
The Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) organization drives the utilization of the OMOP data model. This model standardizes healthcare data and enables uniform processing of data from different sources and regions. In addition to OMOP, other similar data models for leveraging healthcare information exist.
– Many European organizations use OMOP, and its use is increasing. Therefore, I would say that it is the best bet to make right now, says Arho Virkki, Analytics Director of the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland (Varha).
According to Virkki, whether OMOP will become the dominant model for productivity studies in Finnish hospitals is unclear.
– At least we should be inspired by OMOP. We may consider whether to build our own domestic model for productivity studies. On the other hand, if the welfare counties manage to transfer a lot of their data to the OMOP model, it is entirely possible that the OMOP data model could also be used in productivity studies.
Today, the benefits of OMOP are realized in international research that utilizes data from numerous hospitals across Europe. Combining diverse data would be impossible without a standardized data model.
The wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland (Varha) is involved in the European Medicines Agency’s Data Analysis and Real World Interrogation Network (Darwin). The network conducted a drug utilization study on valproate using the OMOP data model for EMA. In this study, the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland’s (Varha) biostatistician converted the welfare area’s data into the OMOP model and checked, among other things, the success of data bridging and the functionality of the analysis code.
– We gained a lot of good experience from using the OMOP model. Extracting and translating data into OMOP is not entirely straightforward. However, a common data model is a prerequisite for international research, says Virkki.
How does the OMOP (The Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership) Common Data Model (CDM) facilitate using health data?
Medaffcon Oy provides research and expert services for the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare. The EMMA event organized by Medaffcon discussed developing pharmaceutical evaluation activities, as well as utilizing healthcare registry data and innovative new opportunities. The EMMA-event was held on April 10, 2024, where Arho Virkki, Analytics Director of the wellbeing services county of Southwest Finland (Varha), spoke about using the OMOP data model.
The prognosis for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) has improved as treatments have advanced, but the disease remains incurable. The prevalence of the disease is increasing in Finland as the population gets older. This is evident from a recently published nationwide retrospective study based on real-world evidence (RWE).
The adoption of new diabetes medications in Finland was active between 2012 and 2019, according to an RWE (Real World Evidence) study published in May 2024. The study was conducted by Medaffcon in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Sanofi.
In the coming years, breakthroughs in neurological and psychiatric drug research are expected to change treatment practices and significantly improve patients’ quality of life. Medaffcon is contributing to this development by conducting, for example, RWE studies (Real World Evidence).
Biostatistician
Data Analysis Lead
MSc (Tech.)
+358 44 314 1597
iiro.toppila@medaffcon.fi
Iiro joined Medaffcon in March 2017 as a Biostatistician. For the preceding four years, he has worked as a research assistant in an academic study group, analyzing clinical and genetic patient data. Iiro holds a Master of Science degree in Technology in Bioinformation Technology.
Iiro’s strengths include his strong expertise in statistics and data-analysis, hands-on experience in working with sensitive patient data, and strong interdisciplinary communication skills with experts from various fields. In the field, he is particularly interested in the large data amounts made available with the revolution of technology and how the information received such data can potentially be utilized to draw concrete conclusions, both in order to understand the nature of diseases and to advance the goals of the pharmaceutical industry and patient treatment.
“Machine learning and AI-based solutions will have a major impact on the healthcare sector now and in the future. However, effectively utilizing the already collected and available health-data will have a higher importance in order to improve health-care”.
Sr. Scientific Advisor
RWE Lead
PhD
+358 50 345 2393
mariann.lassenius@medaffcon.fi
Mariann joined Medaffcon’s team in 2016 after finishing her PhD. The transition to real world evidence (RWE) research was a natural continuum to her previous research career. Through RWE studies, she has had the privilege to gain a broad insight into working with different stakeholders within the healthcare field. The vast proportion of her days goes towards interacting with clients, planning and performing RWE studies, and supporting Medaffcon’s RWE team. Subjects that keep her work interesting are the vast variability of customers and projects, problem-solving, and interacting with people.
“The number of RWE studies has increased since stakeholders within the healthcare industry have an increasing demand for knowledge-based decision making tools that need to be fulfilled. The future, therefore, has an ever-increasing emphasis on RWE”.
Principal Consultant
Market Access Lead
MSc (Economics)
+358 40 139 4001
jarmo.hahl@medaffcon.fi
Jarmo joined Medaffcon as a partner and CEO in 2010, having previously worked in various expert and management positions in pharma companies for eight years. Jarmo has a degree in economics and before entering the pharmaceutical industry, he held an office at the Turku School of Economics and also worked as a research fellow at Turku University Hospital.
Jarmo has strong expertise in new health technology innovations and how the demands and expectations of authorities, markets and customers are matched. He also brings to Medaffcon extensive experience in health economics and its applications in research and commercialization, as well as a broad understanding of the ever-changing operating environment.
“From an access point of view, the Finnish health technology market is constantly becoming more demanding and therefore also more attractive from my point of view. On the other hand, increasing demands to demonstrate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of healthcare are broadening the scope and opportunities for Medaffcon to be involved in the development of healthcare as a whole”.
Sales Lead
eMBA
+358 50 305 5963
tomi.vahevaara@medaffcon.fi
Tomi Vahevaara started working at Medaffcon in January 2017 as a Sales Director. He has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for over 35 years. Therefore, he has gained wide-ranging experience in international expert and managerial positions within the innovative pharmaceutical industry. Before joining Medaffcon, Tomi worked for ten years as the Managing Director of Eli Lilly for Finland, the Baltic States, and Poland.
Tomi has solid and wide-ranging expertise in different positions in the pharmaceutical field and is well connected in the entire health industry network. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Finnish Mutual Insurance Company for Pharmaceutical Injury Indemnities and as a Board Member in the Finnish Co-operative for Pharmaceutical Injury Indemnities. Tomi is particularly interested in the significant economic and investment opportunities for Finland and those companies working in the Finnish health industry.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Lead
+358 50 585 8615
milla.kalliokoski@medaffcon.fi
Milla joined Medaffcon September in 2023 as the Marketing Manager. She is responsible for overseeing Medaffcon’s marketing activities, including brand management, digital marketing, go-to-market activities with international sales, events, and also involded in different customer projects.
Milla has extensive experience in launching various brands, such as a global Hublet ICT Saas Business, a new human resource brand under Otiga Finland, and numerous product launches in the consumer goods and cosmetic industries. She has worked with global and Finnish brands and growth companies in marketing, communications, and digitalization positions across different industries, including ICT, Health Tech/Health and Wellness Business, Human Resources, and Consumer Goods/Cosmetics. In the last five years, she has held positions as Head of Marketing/Communications positions.
She completed her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 2008, specializing in entrepreneurship, leadership, and marketing. Additionally, she studied economics at the University of Vaasa, focusing on managing a growth company. She is particularly interested in the opportunities that artificial intelligence brings to the development of business and constantly develops herself through these areas.