Laura Sawyer, MSc

Laura specialises in health economic modelling and evidence synthesis. As Associate Director of Health Economics at Symmetron, she enjoys being involved in all aspects of the company. Laura has managed a wide variety of projects and is happiest diving into the details and tackling the technical and strategic challenges posed by complex problems.

Before joining Symmetron in 2012, Laura worked at the National Guideline Centre where she developed original decision models to inform NICE guidance. Her research, much of it published, covers a range of disease areas including psoriasis, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular diagnostics.

Laura received her MSc, with merit, in Health Policy, Planning and Financing, a degree offered jointly by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and London School of Economics. Laura originally graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas in 2006, achieving a BA in sociology and gender studies. Laura has served as a board member of the ISPOR South Africa chapter since 2016.

Publications

McInnes IB, Sawyer LM, Markus K, et al. Targeted systemic therapies for psoriatic arthritis: a systematic review and comparative synthesis of short-term articular, dermatological, enthesitis and dactylitis outcomes. RMD Open 2022; 8:e002074.

Raspin C, Shankar R, Barion F, Pollit V, Murphy J, Sawyer L, Danielson V. An economic evaluation of vagus nerve stimulation as an adjunctive treatment to anti-seizure medications for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy in England. Journal of Medical Economics. 2021;24(1):1037-1051.

Yasmeen N, Sawyer LM, Malottki K, Levin LA, Didriksen Apol E, Jemec GB. Targeted therapies for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of PASI response at 1 year. J Dermatolog Treat. 2020:1-15.

Wright E, Yasmeen N, Malottki K, Sawyer LM, Borg E, Schwenke C, Warren RB. Assessing the Quality and Coherence of Network Meta-Analyses of Biologics in Plaque Psoriasis: What Does All This Evidence Synthesis Tell Us? Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;11:181:220.

Sawyer LM, Witte KK, Reynolds MR, Mittal S, Grimsey Jones FW, Rosemas SC, Zeigler PD, Kaplon RE, Yaghi S. Cost-effectiveness of an insertable cardiac monitor to detect atrial fibrillation in patients with cryptogenic stroke. J Comp Eff Res. 2020;10(2):127-141.

Sawyer L, Gentilini A, Salih F, Langford B, Barion F, Murphy J. PMH19 Cost-Effectiveness of Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression in the United Kingdom. Value in Health. 2020;23:S587.

Balak DMW, Carrascosa JM, Gregoriou S, Calzavara-Pinton P, Bewley A, Antunes J, Nyeland ME, Viola MG, Sawyer LM, Becla L. Cost per PASI-75 responder of calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate cutaneous foam versus nonbiologic systemic therapies for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in seven European countries. J Dermatolog Treat. 2020;32(7):1-8.

Rinciog C, Sawyer L, Diamantopoulos A, et al. Cost-effectiveness of an insertable cardiac monitor in a high-risk population in the UK. Open Heart. 2019;6:e001037.

Sawyer LM, Cornic L, Levin LA, Gibbons C, Moller AH, Jemec GB. Long-term efficacy of novel therapies in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of PASI response. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018;33(2):355–366.

Sawyer L, Fotheringham I, Wright E, Yasmeen N, Gibbons C, Holmen Moller A. The comparative efficacy of brodalumab in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: a systematic literature review and network meta-analysis. J Dermatolog Treat. 2018;29(6):557-68.

Sawyer L, Fotheringham I, Wright E, Bermingham S, Gibbons C, Møller AH, et al. A Network Meta-Analysis to Evaluate The Efficacy of Brodalumab in the Treatment of Moderate-To-Severe Psoriasis. Value in Health. 2017;20(9):A801.

Sawyer L, Fotheringham I, Cornic L, Yasmeen N, Jemec G, Levin L, et al. Assessing the Longer-Term Efficacy of Biologic Therapies and Apremilast for Patients with Moderate-To-Severe Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Value in Health. 2017;20(9):A801.

Diamantopoulos A, Sawyer LM, Lip GY, Witte KK, Reynolds MR, Fauchier L, et al. Cost-effectiveness of an insertable cardiac monitor to detect atrial fibrillation in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Int J Stroke. 2016;11(3):302-12.

Bermingham SL, Hughes R, Fenu E, Sawyer LM, Boxall E, P TK, et al. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Alternative Antiviral Strategies for the Treatment of HBeAg-Positive and HBeAg-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B in the United Kingdom. Value Health. 2015;18(6):800-9.

Chang S, Sawyer L, Dejonckheere F, Grichova L, Diamantopoulos A. Tocilizumab in Methotrexate-Naive Rheumatoid Arthritis – A Cost-Utility Model for Slovakia. Value in Health. 2015;18(7):A648.

Sawyer LM, Wonderling D, Jackson K, Murphy R, Samarasekera EJ, Smith CH. Biological therapies for the treatment of severe psoriasis in patients with previous exposure to biological therapy: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Pharmacoeconomics. 2015;33(2):163-77.

Diamantopoulos A, Finckh A, Huizinga T, Sungher DK, Sawyer L, Neto D, et al. Tocilizumab in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a cost-effectiveness analysis in the UK. Pharmacoeconomics. 2014;32(8):775-87.

Harland D, Naisbett-Groet B, Chang S, Sungher DK, Sawyer L, Diamantopoulos A. Mabthera (Rituximab) for the Treatment of Severe Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Gpa) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (Mpa) – A Cost-Utility Model for the United Kingdom. Value in Health. 2014;17(7):A382.

Sawyer L, Chang S, Diamantopoulos A, Dejonckheere F. Efficacy Of Novel Dmards In Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Indirect Comparison. Value in Health. 2014;17(7):A374.

Sawyer L, Azorin JM, Chang S, Rinciog C, Guiraud-Diawara A, Marre C, et al. Cost-effectiveness of asenapine in the treatment of bipolar I disorder patients with mixed episodes. J Med Econ. 2014;17(7):508-19.

Samarasekera EJ, Sawyer L, Wonderling D, Tucker R, Smith CH. Topical therapies for the treatment of plaque psoriasis: systematic review and network meta-analyses. Br J Dermatol. 2013;168(5):954-67.

Chang S, Sawyer L, Dejonckheere F, van Suijlekom-Smit LW, Anink J, Diamantopoulos A. Tocilizumab in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis – A Cost-Utility Model for the United Kingdom. Value in Health. 2013;16(7):A564.

Sawyer L, Samarasekera EJ, Wonderling D, Smith CH. Topical therapies for the treatment of localized plaque psoriasis in primary care: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Br J Dermatol. 2013;168(5):1095-105.

Azorin JM, Sawyer L, Chang S, Rinciog C, Guiraud-Diawara A, Marre C, et al. Cost-Effectiveness of Asenapine in the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder I Patients with Mixed Episodes. Value in Health. 2013;16(7):A549.

Nunes VD, Sawyer L, Neilson J, Sarri G, Cross JH. Diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children: summary of updated NICE guidance. BMJ. 2012;344:e281.

Samarasekera E, Sawyer L, Parnham J, Smith CH, Guideline Development G. Assessment and management of psoriasis: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ. 2012;345:e6712.

Nunes VD, O’Flynn N, Evans J, Sawyer L, Guideline Development G. Management of bedwetting in children and young people: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ. 2010;341:c5399.

Presentations

Harland D, D. A., Chang S, Sawyer L. Mabthera for the treatment of severe ANCA-Associated vasculitis – A cost utility model for the United Kingdom. (Poster) 2014. ISPOR 17th Annual European Congress, Amsterdam Netherlands, 8-12 November.

Clinical guidelines

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Bedwetting in under 19s. Clinical guideline 111 2010 [updated 10 Dec 2018. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg111.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Chest pain of recent onset: assessment and diagnosis. Clinical guideline 95 2010 [updated 10 Dec 2018. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg95.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Epilepsies: diagnosis and management. Clinical guideline 137 2012 [updated 10 Dec 2018. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg137.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Psoriasis: assessment and management. Clinical guideline 153 2012 [updated 10 Dec 2018. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg153.