News

Advances in MS disease management have included the emergence of monoclonal antibodies as effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS. FDA-approved treatments include Tysabri (natalizumab), Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), and Kesimpta (ofatumumab).

ONC201 (dordaviprone) displayed “well tolerated and durable and clinically meaningful efficacy in Histone 3 (H3) K27M mutant-diffuse midline glioma DMG.”

CivicaScript, a generic medication manufacturer, is modeling itself as public utility. It launched its first product, abiraterone 250 mg tablets, late last year and is gearing up to make its own low-cost insulin.

A new study points to disparities for patients in respiratory failure, which can have dire consequences. The lead researchers talk about the implications.

FDA has expanded the indication for Biktarvy for those with resistant HIV, granted full approval to Rybrevant and approved Simlandi, the third interchangeable Humira biosimilar. The regulatory agency has also set action dates for sxatilimab in graft-versus-host disease, tislelizumab in stomach cancer and a second indication for Epkinly.

The company has confirmed that group representing itself as ALPHV/Blackcat, a ransomware-as-service criminal group known to cybersecurity experts, is behind the cyberattack on the pharmacy claims processor owned by UnitedHealth.

In this second part of a video series, AMCP CEO Susan Cantrell addressed the impact of high prescription drug prices on underserved communities, highlighting disparities in access caused by the pandemic's effects on minority populations. On the industry blame debate, she urged collaborative solutions, mentioning AMCP's engagement with diverse stakeholders to find comprehensive, patient-centric solutions and advocate for policy changes like the MVP Act to address rising costs and access challenges.

The results of this week’s poll about the recent Change Healthcare Cyberattack.

A total of 37 payers and providers have now signed on.

Results of the evaluations will inform recommendations to payers and providers about whether and how to adopt these technologies.

One of the nation’s largest not for profit Medicare Advantage plans, SCAN Health Plan, is the first to use the feature.

Adolescent uptake levels of PrEP are low among adolescents ages 16-24 years old.

How health plans and self-insured employers coped with the huge number of prescriptions for weight loss. It started with off-label Ozempic (semaglutide) and now there’s FDA-approved Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide).

Some changes sparked debate among groups.

The deliberate disconnection of Change Healthcare to ring fence a cyberattack entered its seventh day today. Prescribers are finding ways to get pharmacy claims processed, and UnitedHealth Group says disruption to the dispensing of prescriptions has been minimal. But independent pharmacies want more information and protection from financial consequences from pharmacy benefit managers.

Biktarvy can now be used to treat people with HIV who have a known or suspected M184V/I mutation, a common form of treatment resistance.

High costs and prior authorization impact beneficiaries’ ability to access care. Some said they had to wait more than a month to see a doctor.

Participation in the program will not be a prerequisite for GLP-1 prescriptions.

Share your view about the Change Healthcare cyberattack.

Researchers say the open-label extension of their study suggests the response to Xolair (omalizumab) will be a durable, but an accompanying editorial says that “protection will most likely disappear” after treatment is stopped.

Duke researchers tested a program that involves hair stylists in raising awareness, possible uptake of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Black women, a group that is disproportionately affected by new HIV infections.

The FDA has removed the approval of Pepaxto in multiple myeloma. The agency approved Amtagvi, the first TIL therapy for a solid tumor, as well a new biweekly dosing of Tecvayli for multiple myeloma. The agency has set actions for several products, including a first-in-class lung cancer therapy, a bispecific antibody for advanced multiple myeloma, and another for Dupixent for COPD

In this month’s episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite, Briana Contreras, an editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, got to chatting with Sanjula Jain, Ph.D., chief research officer at Trilliant Health.

The information systems of Change Healthcare, a recently acquired subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, were disconnected on Wednesday.

The results of this week’s poll about Medicaid work requirements.

A study suggests that a novel CAR T-cell therapy could be a curative treatment for some patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, with 25% of responders still in remission after 6 years.