Laura Joszt, MA

With stringent criteria, randomized controlled trials are the cornerstone of cancer intervention research, but the result is they do not represent the majority of patients, which leads to a gap between the efficacy seen in trials and the effectiveness in the real-world setting.

During a recent Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event, speakers discussed the use of immunotherapy and targeted therapy to treat melanoma and managing the toxicities of these treatments.

The phase 2 KRYSTAL-7 trial evaluated adagrasib plus pembrolizumab in patients with KRAS-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high PD-L1 expression. The results demonstrated “encouraging preliminary activity.”

Results of the monarchE study showed patients with hormone receptor–positive (HR+), HER2-negative (HER2–) high-risk, early breast cancer had greater benefit after 5 years when receiving adjuvant abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy vs endocrine therapy alone.

During ESMO Congress 2023, sessions will focus on hot topics in therapeutic areas, such as the use of immunotherapies in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, as well as nontherapeutic topics, such as the needs of caregivers and advances in technology.

The results for a proposed aflibercept (Eylea) biosimilar and an accepted ranibizumab (Lucentis) biosimilar were presented at Euretina Congress 2023.

To ensure patients are getting timely access to their treatments, there needs to be better collaboration between payers and providers, said Christine Pfaff, RPh, senior regional director of operations, American Oncology Network.

The anti–PD-1 agent pembrolizumab was granted a new indication to treat patients with resectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as a neoadjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and continued as adjuvant treatment after surgery.

Biosimilars are becoming more common as more launch on the market in the United States, but patient and provider education can help speed uptake of these products, explained Bincy Abraham, MD, Houston Methodist – Weill Cornell.

Knowledge of the different treatment options available and the eligibility criteria for each will help identify the right treatment for patients with hepatobiliary cancer.

Posters presented at the EADV Congress highlighted that despite similar efficacy, patient perception can affect satisfaction with the switch from the reference adalimumab to a biosimilar.

Speakers at an Institute for Value-Based Medicine event with Vanderbilt University Medical Center highlighted the novel therapies and techniques being used to improve outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer.

Providers have to know how to manage patients who are hesitant to switch to a biosimilar and payers who have specific preferences about which biosimilar to use.

In just the last 2 years there have been updates in classification, risk assessment, and response criteria in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but additional efforts are needed to improve these, and there remains a need for better therapies.

In a few short years, biosimilars have driven down total cost of care in oncology through providing competition for expensive drugs, explained Christine Pfaff, RPh, senior regional director of operations, American Oncology Network (AON).

Among adults 40 years and older with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) compared with a general population without COPD.

A survey of gastroenterologists, dermatologists, and rheumatologists found Amjevita had the most recognition, followed by Cyltezo, the only interchangeable biosimilar on the US market.

In part 2 of this 2-part podcast, a panel of experts discusses challenges with biosimilar uptake, interchangeability studies, patient and provider education.

One-fourth of patients who switched to an infliximab biosimilar retransitioned back to the originator, but they were more likely to subsequently discontinue treatment due to an unwanted response after switching back.

While regional variations were identified in rates of breast reconstruction, complications, and cost for patients with breast cancer, these differences did not seem to be associated with any implicit bias.

The AHEAD Model will operate for 11 years and aim to shift health care to community-based settings.

Drug spending for products facing generic or biosimilar competition decreased during the same time period.

The Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) generated its second highest annual savings since the program began more than a decade ago.

Biosimilars can improve access to treatment for patients who might not have been able to access biologics previously, explained Laura Wingate, executive vice president, Education, Support, & Advocacy, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

In part 1 of this 2-part podcast, a panel of experts discusses the clinical manifestations of inflammatory diseases and the potential for biosimilars to treat these diseases.

The FDA has approved the first biosimilar to treat multiple sclerosis, Sandoz's injection treatment natalizumab-sztn (Tyruko).

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo is approved for use in pregnant individuals to prevent RSV in infants up to 6 months of age.

The revisions to the ACO REACH model are expected to add predictability and stability while advancing health equity.

Greater attention needs to be on educating patients who are switching from a reference product they are successful on to a biosimilar than a patient who is starting a treatment with a biosimilar at the beginning of their disease journey, explained Laura Wingate, executive vice president, Education, Support, & Advocacy, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

The program, which scales an accountable care organization (ACO) model across all major payers in Vermont, reduced Medicare spending and hospitalizations while improving patient care.