Breakthrough Cancer Treatment Highlights Specialty Pharmacy Week in Review

Top stories of the week on Specialty Pharmacy Times from May 11 to May 15.

Alcohol Use Disorder Stronger Predictor of Mortality than Hepatitis C Infection

Study finds chronic hepatitis C has a limited impact on mortality unless the patient has other severe comorbidities.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Alcohol-Use-Disorder-Stronger-Predictor-of-Mortality-than-Hepatitis-C-Infection

Combination of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Shows Promise in Prostate Cancer

Treating immune-suppressing cells allows for destruction of tumors.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Combination-of-Chemotherapy-and-Immunotherapy-Shows-Promise-in-Prostate-Cancer

Big Win for Pharmacist Provider Status in Washington State

Legislation affects the Every Category of Health Care Providers law requiring commercial health plans to include every category of provider within a participating provider network.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Big-Win-for-Pharmacist-Provider-Status-in-Washington-State

Statin Use Strongly Linked to Diabetes in Healthy Adults

Taking statins associated with greater likelihood of developing diabetes with complications.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Statin-Use-Strongly-Linked-to-Diabetes-in-Healthy-Adults

New Combination Strategy Shows Promise in Glioblastoma Treatment

Targeting gene mutations causes stress that damages cancer cell DNA.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/New-Combination-Strategy-Shows-Promise-in-Glioblastoma-Treatment

Discovery May Speed Up Targeted Cancer Therapy

Mass spectrometry reveals all proteins that repair damaged cancer DNA.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Discovery-May-Speed-Up-Targeted-Cancer-Therapy

Various Factors Cause Hot Flashes in Prostate Cancer Patients

Age and weight found to play a role in side effects.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Various-Factors-Cause-Hot-Flashes-in-Prostate-Cancer-Patients

Hepatitis C Drug Combination Shows Strong Efficacy With or Without Cirrhosis

Direct-acting-antiviral drugs daclatasvir, asunaprevir, and beclabuvir showed high rates of sustained virologic response after 12 weeks.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Hepatitis-C-Drug-Combination-Shows-Strong-Efficacy-With-or-Without-Cirrhosis

Silicon Microparticles Dramatically Boost Efficacy of Breast Cancer Vaccines

Particles protected antigen from premature destruction and prompted the immune system to attack cancer cells.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Silicon-Microparticles-Dramatically-Boost-Efficacy-of-Breast-Cancer-Vaccines

Interferon-Free Therapy Shows High Cure Rates in Hepatitis C Patients with Cirrhosis

Investigational 3-drug combination cleared the virus in 93% of treatment-naïve patients.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Interferon-Free-Therapy-Shows-High-Cure-Rates-in-Hepatitis-C-Patients-with-Cirrhosis

Quick Approval of High Cost Cancer Drugs Don’t Benefit Patients

Study warns that drug reviewers don’t look at long term survival of patients.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Quick-Approval-of-High-Cost-Cancer-Drugs-Dont-Benefit-Patients

Generic Transplant Drugs as Effective as Brand Name Treatment

Promising results from generic formulation of drug used post-transplant to reduce the risk of organ rejection.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/Generic-Transplant-Drugs-as-Effective-as-Brand-Name-Treatment

The Impact from the Economic Burden of Cancer on Survivorship

Excess medical expenses, employment disability, and a drop in production at work common in cancer survivors.

http://www.specialtypharmacytimes.com/news/The-Impact-from-the-Economic-Burden-of-Cancer-on-Survivorship