News

Among the best-read healthcare trend and PBM-related stories are ICER’s report on unsupported prices, fake drugs containing meth, an anti-tau drug that shows promise in Alzheimer’s, oncology docs say prior auth hurts patients, and satisfaction with PBMs declines.

Biosimilars started to gain a firm foothold in the market this year and could take off in 2023 with the advent of Humira biosimilars. Our articles about biosimilars were some of the most viewed of the year.

A one-stop-shop for 2022 cover stories.

This year's most-read cancer news included researchers finding a possible liver cancer immunotherapy, cancer patients facing many negative impacts from COVID-19 and more.

Conference season was a busy one this year with many stories to come out each one MHE covered. The most-read conference stories from our audience began with Atopic Dermatitis treatment at AMCP to discussion series with PBM leader Alan Lotvin of CVS Caremark.

In a busy week for FDA approvals, the agency cleared several first in class therapies: a treatment for HIV-1 and for follicular lymphoma. Other approvals include: Tymlos for osteoporosis in men; Vraylar for major depressive disorder; Cytalux to identify lung cancer during surgery. In COVID-19 news, the agency approved Actemra for hospitalized patients. The FDA has also accepted a sBLA for Padcev, Keytruda combo for urothelial cancer.

COVID-19 remained to be a hot topic among readers of MHE as it is still affecting thousands, weekly. Articles about COVID-19 that were most-read by our audience resulted with the effects of Paxlovid at the top to the the BA.5 variant.

Healthcare will continue its evolution toward value-based reimbursement models in 2023 as provider organizations, commercial payers and government programs seek more ways to improve health outcomes while reducing costs.

Amendola Communications collected 10 predictions for developments in healthcare in 2023 from leaders in the field.

Steven W. Pipe provided an overview of the gene therapy for hemophilia in this Managed Healthcare Executive K-cast.

Medical debt can send people into “a spiral of economic disadvantage,” including a lack of stability and security in personal life, housing and work.

We can identify and engage the right people. But to make a real difference in any community, a managed care organization, government agency or healthcare system needs to have a robust list/dataset of its population so the tools, processes and individuals that come after can do the work to identify and engage members with the highest needs.

In COVID-19 news, the FDA granted fast track designation to COVID-19-flu vaccine combo. The FDA has approved the first gene therapy for bladder cancer, an 8th biosimilar referencing Humira, granted accelerated approval for KRAS-mutated lung cancer therapy, and approved Iyuzeh to reduce intraocular pressure. The agency also extended review of Lynparza/abiraterone combination for prostate cancer. In addition, two companies have submitted applications: Soligenix for a novel therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and AbbVie for Linzess in children and adolescents.

Another component of the government’s Transparency in Coverage mandate and No Surprises Act legislation for health insurance plans will go into effect on January 1, 2023 for price transparency.

Baker discusses specialty drugs and their discounting in this segment of his interview with Peter Wehrwein, managing editor of Managed Healthcare Executive.®

In this week's episode, Briana Contreras, an editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Chuck Salvo managing director of ToneyKorf Partners. The pair touched on topics involving mergers between healthcare organizations, the question whether CEO's are being replaced and the importance of a board in a healthcare organization.

Kareem Karara, Pharm.D., BCPS, CCHP, spoke about unbranded biologics, which are identical the branded products. They are coming on the market amid a growing number of biosimilars.

Most (91%) of the patients were seen by gastroenterologists. Those seen by allergists were more likely to have comorbid atopic conditions, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.

The acquisition provides Biocon Biologics with eight commercial biosimilars, and is part of Viatris’ efforts to pay down debt related to phase 1 research and the company’s acquisition of two ophthalmology businesses.

Dr. Syra Madad of the NYC hospital system and an Infectious Disease Epidemiologist at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs responded to Dr. Anthony Fauci's, director of NIAID, statement made in late November that the U.S. is “certainly” still in the middle of a Covid-19 pandemic.

In COVID-19 news, the FDA has expanded the updated bivalent vaccines EUA to children. The FDA has requested athe removal of Pepaxto indication for multiple myeloma. Regulators have also accepted several applications for: Biogen’s Actemra biosimilar, Pfizer’s RSV vaccine, a resubmitted BLA for Fabry disease. Two companies — Janssen’s and Alnylam — have submitted new applications.

Patients with severe asthma with or without coexisting chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps (CRSwNP) experienced continued improvements in exacerbations and lung function in an extension study.

As soon as next year, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans are expected to exceed 50% of the entire Medicare eligible population. For the first time ever, the majority of Medicare beneficiaries will receive health benefits delivered by a private health plan, rather than through traditional, fee-for-service Medicare.

In this week's episode of "Tuning In to the C-Suite" podcast Briana Contreras, editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Ted Quinn CEO and founder of Activate Care.

Magellan Rx's businesses includes a 1.7-million member PBM. The deal is struck amid a long-time trend toward consolidation in the pharmacy benefit management industry.

Seven of the 10 top selling drugs with high price increases lack the clinical evidence to justify those increases.

Patients with eosinophilic esophagitis experience a range of symptoms that can vary by age, which may contribute to younger patients experiencing a delay in diagnosis, according to a poster presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.

Magellan Rx's businesses includes a 1.7-million member PBM. The deal is struck amid a long-time trend toward consolidation in the pharmacy benefit management industry.

Payers face the logistical challenge of coordinating a network of new, non-medical services to ensure members are referred to the right provider at the right time.

This week, the FDA made two approvals, the first-ever microbiota product and a second indication for Brexafemme, and issued a CRL for a therapy for brain metastasis from neuroblastoma. The regulatory agency also granted priority review for a Duchenne gene therapy, and accepted three applications: for a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma therapy, for an antibiotic for drug-resistant infections and Evkeeza for children with rare high cholesterol. Additionally, Genentech has withdrawn Tecentriq’s indication for bladder cancer and Aldeyra has submitted an NDA for the novel dry eye therapy reproxalap.