Oncology

As new specialty products have begun to dominate the developmental pipeline, specialty pharmacy has entered the mainstream of the supply chain to the point where we can arguably refer to much of the channel as “traditional specialty.”

Two separate studies highlighted how high drug costs and requirements for prior authorization can hinder access to cancer treatment and affect outcomes.

Oncologists suggest that substituting nab-paclitaxel instead of paclitaxel prior to surgery may lead to reduced risk of disease recurrence for certain women with breast cancer.

Building on the current understanding of spihingosine 1-phosphate levels in regulating T cell function, researchers found that the inhibition of the lipid can lead to more effective uses of immunotherapy in cancer therapy.

Top news of the day from across the health care landscape.

On February 14, 2018, the FDA approved apalutamide (Erleada) by Janssen Biotech Inc for the treatment of nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (NM-CRPC).

Novel treatment approach combines a new immunotherapy with stem cell transplantation.

Older women with breast cancer who have a concurrent mental health condition are more likely to use opioids and have worse survival outcomes.

The effect of oral androgen signaling inhibitor therapies on patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease may increase the risk of death.

An in-house specialty pharmacy can provide significant financial gain for health systems by preventing revenue from being diverted to outside pharmacies.

The findings showed a potential immune biomarker that may help predict patient response to standard-of-care treatment sorafenib for advanced liver cancer.

The newly approved therapy is equivalent to AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals’ Faslodex injection, 250mg/5mL.

A recent study demonstrates the clinical benefit from the use of direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus in patients with a history of liver cancer.

Cancers of the lung, breast, prostate, and colon are most common in adults aged 85 years and older.

A phase 3 study evaluated the safety and efficacy of oral paclitaxel versus intravenous paclitaxel monotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Aspirin therapy found to improve liver function test results and survival after transarterial embolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Top news of the week from Specialty Pharmacy Times.

Officials with the FDA have granted approval to entrectinib (Rozlytrek, Genentech) for 2 different cancer indications.

HIV-related immunosuppression may contribute to an elevated risk of cancer-related morbidity in elderly patients with the disease.

An analysis of a quality improvement project at an oncology specialty pharmacy showed that pharmacist interventions can reduce financial toxicity for patients.

Artificial intelligence able to recognize patterns in gene sequences and molecular data from breast cancer, which oncologists are now evaluating in clinical trials.

Investigators believe that urine sampling can be used to diagnose and treat bladder cancer.

Top news of the day from across the health care landscape.

Physicians’ Education Resource® (PER®), a worldwide leading resource for continuing medical education (CME), named public health expert and former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Scott Gottlieb, M.D., as the keynote speaker for the 37th Annual Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium Innovative Cancer Therapy for Tomorrow.®

By searching for hyperactive cell signals in primary effusion lymphoma, researchers were able to find a pathway that can be blocked to limit tumor growth.

Top news of the day from across the health care landscape.

Top news of the day from across the health care landscape.

Top news of the day from across the health care landscape.

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) plus chemotherapy met the primary endpoint of pathological complete response in patients with triple-negative breast cancer in a phase 3 study.

The findings represent the first positive phase 2b study of a personalized cancer vaccine in patients with high-risk melanoma.