AJMC Staff

FDA significantly restricts the use of 2 COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments ineffective against the Omicron variant; an expert panel advises the Israeli government to offer a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to adults; there was a substantial increase in visits for mental health and substance abuse among physicians with no prior history during the pandemic.

Sara A. Hurvitz, MD, of UCLA Health spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) about advanced hormone receptor–positive (HR+), HER2-negative breast cancer and the emergence of CDK4/6 inhibitors with endocrine therapy as the “gold standard” for first-line treatment.

The CDC is working to change its definition of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19; a study finds that men who tested positive for COVID-19 showed a short-term decline in fertility; a nonprofit group of scientists seeks to optimize the clinical trial process and reduce cost.

Featuring abstracts from the Association of Community Cancer Centers, US Oncology, City of Hope, and Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute.

Unvaccinated older adults are 49 times more likely to be hospitalized after contracting COVID-19; nursing homes are experiencing a major staffing crisis; major Alzheimer groups plan to meet with federal officials and lawmakers to protest the CMS drug proposal.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

Drug makers sign on to help produce Merck’s COVID-19 pill for developing countries; research shows promise for organ transplants from genetically modified pigs; blood sample collection tubes added to FDA list of shortages.

The Biden administration will distribute 400 million nonsurgical N95 masks; a study aims to develop a questionnaire to enable gay and bisexual men to donate blood; counterfeit versions of Gilead HIV treatments were discovered in 9 states.

Natural killer cell therapy CYNK-101 was granted fast track designation by the FDA to treat HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma in combination with standard chemotherapy, trastuzumab, and pembrolizumab.

Israeli study finds the added antibody protection from a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose is not enough to prevent Omicron infection; Texas abortion law remains in effect after appeals court ruling; insurer spending for the unproven COVID-19 drug ivermectin was estimated at $2.5 million for a week last summer.

Cloth masks are not as effective at curbing the spread of COVID-19 as surgical masks; Martin Shkreli is banned from the pharmaceutical industry; as infections increase, more COVID-19 variants are likely.

The eosinophilic esophagitis responded to treatment or resolved after the peanut oral immunotherapy stopped.

Senate panel votes to advance Robert Califf, MD, as the new head of the FDA; rising global temperatures spell increased health challenges; Omicron cases may be peaking in some Northeast cities.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine booster can be safely administered alongside a pneumonia vaccine; 3.5 million cancer deaths were prevented in recent decades, but disparities persist; the FDA warns of dental problems linked to a drug to treat opioid use disorder.

The FDA emphasized the need to focus on hospital functions and other essential services; a proposed single-payer health care bill passes the California Assembly; a report found that 80% of patients and 90% of providers trust their pharmacists.

The first FDA-approved acne drug with a first-in-class mechanism of action in nearly 40 years launched in the United States in November 2021 after being approved in August 2020.

President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for large businesses was met with skepticism from the conservative-majority Supreme Court; COVID-19 hospitalization rates are rising for young children not yet eligible for vaccination; exercise is shown to lower risk of dementia even in those already presenting with symptoms.

The findings showing that older patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) had poor adherence to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was presented last month during the American Society of Hematology Meeting & Exposition.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) can predict which patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) will relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

Researchers raise questions on rapid tests' accuracy early in COVID-19 infection; data show dementia prevalence could triple by 2050; COVID-19 vaccines could lead to minor, temporary changes in menstruation cycles.

In a career spanning 45 years, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, MD, has seen the number of cancer therapies increase from 8-10 for all of oncology to more than 400. Here, he discusses the importance of overall survival in breast cancer as seen in the MONALEESA-2 trial.

The CDC recommends children aged 12 years and up to receive COVID-19 vaccine boosters; nearly 2 million children develop asthma as a result of breathing in an air pollutant; nurses unions sue the Biden administration for withdrawing COVID-19 worker protections.

The Biden administration doubled its order of Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral drug; California is now the first state to require health insurance plans to cover at-home STI tests; the Supreme Court will hear in-person arguments Friday to decide whether to block federal vaccine mandates.

US cases of COVID-19 surge to record levels; FDA expands eligibility for Pfizer/BioNTech booster doses to children ages 12 to 15 years old; Israeli study finds fourth shot of COVID-19 vaccine effective and safe.

Ray Bailey, BPharm, RPh, senior vice president of Pharmacy Services for Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Pharmacy Services operations, spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) just after the conclusion of the 63rd American Society of Hematology Meeting & Exposition, which took place December 11-14, 2021.

Anthony Fauci, MD, said the CDC is considering changes to its guidance requiring a negative COVID-19 test after 5-day quarantine; bipartisan legislation banning surprise medical billing goes into effect; booster vaccine programs may be limiting global vaccine supply for low- and middle-income countries.

ACCC created a survey to better understand multidisciplinary cancer providers’ experiences with bispecific antibodies, with a focus on experiences with blinatumomab. Results of the survey were presented in an abstract during the 2021 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition.

The FDA this week approved cabotegravir (Apretude), the first and only long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis option to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1.