News

In COVID-19 news, Merck receives UK authorization for oral antiviral, its first approval, and the FDA rejects EUA for COVID-19 respiratory failure therapy. In cancer news, the FDA has approved a novel therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia and extended the review of Janssen’s CAR T therapy for multiple Myeloma. The agency also approved a therapy for age-related blurry vision.

The bad news: Health insurance is one of the lowest-rated industries when it comes to consumer satisfaction. And the good: New customer support platforms could give insurers a chance to boost member engagement and brand loyalty.

By giving Semglee, the interchangeable biosimilar for Lantus, a preferred spot on its formulary, the Prime Therapeutics says it is setting the stage for other interchangeables coming down the pike, including the one for Humira.

Biosimilars can save states billions of dollars annually, according to a new report from a libertarian think tank in California.

The antidepressant fluvoxamine reduced the need for hospitalization in high-risk patients, according to a new study.

Investor funding for digital healthcare ventures during the first three quarters of 2021 has already far outpaced last year’s levels, surpassing $20 billion for the first time

In this episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast, Senior Editor of MHE, Peter Wehrwein, and Associate Editor, Briana Contreras, spoke with President and CEO of CareOregon, Eric Hunter, for another episode of the Meet the Board podcast series. Hunter, who has been on MHE’s Editorial Advisory Board for over a year now, shared how his career in healthcare kick-started, what managed care has become over time, how Medicaid is organized in Oregon and more.

Having CMS negotiate drug prices is a policy favored by President Joe Biden and many Democrats, and it is a prominent feature of H.R. 3, also known as the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act.

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.

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.

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

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.