News

Drugs that the FDA has approved on its fast-track accelerated approval basis are making up an increasingly larger share of Medicaid spending on pharmaceuticals.

Results of study published in JAMA Oncology suggest that it is the period after chemotherapy when cancer patients are most vulnerable to experiencing a serious case of COVID-19.

The medical cannabis market is expected to register a compound annual growth rate of 18.4% crossing the value of $33.2 Billion by 2027.

Findings from a longitudinal study of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients show that mortality increased with fibrosis.

But groups such as Doctors Without Borders say the agreement with the Medicines Patent Pool excludes key manufacturing countries.

Industry-sponsored survey of physicians that take care of chronic liver disease patients found evidence that suggests that incidence of severe disease has increased.

An understanding of hemoglobin levels in patients with COPD could help guide disease management.

In COVID-19 news, FDA issues EUA for Pfizer vaccine for children. The FDA approved a therapy for macular edema and a novel pain treatment. And Novartis submits application for new indication for Kymriah.

Growth, competition and equity were among the topics discussed at the Asembia’s 2021 Specialty Pharmacy Summit in Las Vegas this week

3D printing of drugs at home. Simulated drug combinations. Treatments tailored to microbiomes. Deloitte’s George Van Antwerp spun some futuristic scenarios for pharmacy and healthcare at the Asembia specialty pharmacy meeting in Las Vegas.

Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) programs are designed to protect patients, but they can also make providers more confident about prescribing a drug, explained panelists at the Asembia specialty pharmacy meeting. And the FDA collaborates with drugmakers on the planning the particulars of the programs, said Steve Granzyk and Tiffany Abraham.

Ray Tancredi, divisional vice president of specialty pharmacy development and brand rx/vaccine purchasing at Walgreens, will be speaking at Asembia's 2021 Specialty Pharmacy Summit. In this video Tancredi talks about the drugs that are most significant in the pipeline and what to look for in approvals in the future.

Because families and patients may experience many difficult — and confusing — years prior to a definitive diagnosis of a rare disease, specialty pharmacies need to do everything in their power to make the treatment as navigable as possible, advised Nick Calla, J.D., and Dave Frobel of Orsini Specialty Pharmacy.

Michelle Booth, Pharm.D., of Magellan Rx Management, is speaking at this year's Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit. In this clip Booth speaks about trends in drug spend and the differences among the commercial, Medicare and Medicaid lines of business.

Jim Adams, chief information officer of AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, is a speaker at the 2021 Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit. In this clip Adams talks about the relationship between his organization and Walgreens, how telehealth can improve the health of specialty pharmacy patients and more.

Heather Bonome, Pharm.D., pharmacy director at URAC, a healthcare accreditation organization, is a speaker at the 2021 Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit. Bonome talks about a defining telehealth, the pandemic's effect on the use of telehealth in specialty pharmacy and whether URAC might add telehealth requirements to its accrediting standards for specialty pharmacies.

Dexamethasone is recommended by the NIH and the World Health Organization for treating COVID-19.

Panelist says insights into the needs of particular populations of patients can help.

Members of a panel discussion on market access at Asembia’s specialty pharmacy meeting shared advise and insights into how best win acceptance and improve uptake of new products.

George Van Antwerp, pharmacy and PBM leader of Deloitte, presents at the Asembia 2021 Specialty Pharmacy Summit and shares framework of specialty pharmacy.

Steve Peskin of Horizon BCBS of NJ, executive medical director of Population Health at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, shares forms of value-based contracting between payers and pharmaceutical companies.

Dana Erickson, a senior vice president, is moving into the top job at the Blues plan after Craig Samitt, M.D., unexpectedly resigned earlier this year.

Lance Grady, head of Market Access at Avalere Health, gives a preview of his presentation he gives at Asembia and discusses the significant changes made to specialty pharmacy because of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Pharma industry experts Adam Fein, Ph.D., and Doug Long, MBA, described the growth of specialty pharmacy and the competition for that part of the pharma market during the opening presentation today at the Asembia 2021 Specialty Pharmacy Summit in Las Vegas.

If payers have timely access to accurate network data, they can manage costs, improve engagement with providers and help members make healthcare choices.

Andrew Toy, M.S., president, chief technology officer and board member at Clover Health, is one of the emerging health leaders featured in the October 2021 issue of Managed Healthcare Executive. In this video he talks about the career achievement that has given him the greatest satisfaction and who has had the greatest influence in his life.

Toy is one of 13 up-and-coming health leaders featured in this annual Managed Healthcare Executive series.