Center on Health Equity & Access

Clinical

Health Care Cost

Health Care Delivery

Insurance

Policy

Technology

Value-Based Care

News

All News

Press Releases

Product Approvals and Launches

Video

All Video Types

AJMC TV

Guidelines

Insights

OnLocation

Payer Perspectives

Peer Exchange

Post Conference Perspectives

Stakeholder Summit

Podcasts

Journals

All Journals

The American Journal of Managed Care

Population Health, Equity & Outcomes

Evidence-Based Oncology

About Supplements and Featured Publications

Supplements and Featured Publications Issues

Submit a Manuscript

Conferences

Conference Coverage

Conference Listing

Events

Institute for Value-Based Medicine

Patient-Centered Oncology Care

Resources

Interactive Tools

Formulary Central

Clinical Spotlight

Microsites

About AJMC

AJMC Staff

Anniversary

Seema Sonnad Award

Strategic Alliance Partners

Subscribe

Articles

Alopecia profoundly disrupts identity, emotional wellbeing, and social life, with many people struggling due to stigma, concealment pressures, and unmet psychological support needs.

Exploring Identity, Appearance Experiences Among Patients With Alopecia

Oral semaglutide (Wegovy; Novo Nordisk) expands GLP-1 weight-loss options, but pharmacy budgets and health care cost pressures persist.

5 Things to Know About the Oral GLP-1 Era

Mary Caffrey is the Executive Editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (

®). She joined AJMC® in 2013 and is the primary staff editor for 

the multistakeholder publication that reaches 22,000+ oncology providers, policy makers and formulary decision makers. She is also part of the team that oversees speaker recruitment and panel preparations for 

®'s premier annual oncology meeting, Patient-Centered Oncology Care®. For more than a decade, Mary has covered ASCO, ASH, ACC and other leading scientific meetings for 

Mary has a BA in communications and philosophy from Loyola University New Orleans. You can connect with Mary on 

A study from Sweden, the largest of its kind, challenges the standard 24-month milestone as the key point when early relapse is a concern.

Even After 6 Years, Disease Progression Impacts Survival in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Study links elevated serum haptoglobin to chronic spontaneous urticaria activity, suggesting it predicts treatment response and complete disease control.

Potential Predictor of Treatment Response in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Identified

The American Journal of Managed Care provides insights into the latest news and research in managed care across multimedia platforms.

About

Contact

Editorial Boards

Advertise

Do Not Sell My Information

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

AJMC - Managed Care News, Research, and Expert Insights

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

Specialty Area

Biosimilars

Cardiorenalmetabolic

Dermatology

Gastroenterology

Hematology

Hepatology

Immunology

Infectious Disease

Mental Health

Neurology

Obesity

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Pulmonology

Rare Disease

Respiratory

Rheumatology

Women's Health

Spotlight

Free In-Person Regional Events Focused on Oncology and Population Health

Topics

Digital Health

Formulary

Gene Therapy

Health Care Administration

Population Health

All Coverage

Event Coverage

Interviews

AJMC Journals

Author Forms

Authors

Nominate a Rising Leader

1rem

Compendium

Allergy

Aquestive Therapeutics receives a complete response letter for dibutepinephrine (Anaphylm), a sublingual epinephrine therapy.

FDA Flags Administration Concerns for Aquestive's Noninvasive Epinephrine Film

Participants in the pilot program had high baseline knowledge about their chronic spontaneous urticaria, but the same was not always true of their physicians.

CSU Educational Pilot Shows Drug Access a Major Hurdle

Patients with allergic rhinitis face prolonged symptoms and inadequate treatment, highlighting a need for better awareness and access to allergen immunotherapy.

Highlighting Gaps in Allergic Rhinitis Care, Allergen Immunotherapy Access

CSU significantly impacts family quality of life, revealing the need for comprehensive care and support for both patients and their caregivers.

Assessing the Global Impact of CSU on Family and Caregivers

Gary Falcetano, PA-C, AE-C

Gary Falcetano, PA-C, AE-C, US Scientific Affairs Manager for Allergy at Thermo Fisher Scientific, discussed the relationship between seasonal allergies and mental health, particularly spring-onset seasonal affective disorder (SAD).


Falcetano explained that while SAD is typically associated with winter, there is also a less common but significant spring-onset SAD. He emphasized the need to better understand how allergic diseases, which affect hundreds of millions globally, impact not just obvious target organs but also the brain.

This transcript was lightly edited for clarity; captions were auto-generated.

Considering the prevalence of spring pollen, how might the immunological response to allergens contribute to or even trigger symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in susceptible individuals?

We don't typically think of seasonal affective disorder being a spring or a summer type disorder. We equate it with winter, decreased light, those type of issues, but there is actually [spring onset of SAD]. It's a little less frequently occurring than the winter-onset SAD, but it's certainly an issue.

I think some of the theories as to why it affects us in the summer and spring, probably the main theory is centered around the body's biological clock disruption, especially when we change times, and we have differences in light/dark periods.

Of course, we just talked about the effects of inflammation on the brain. I think when we look at springtime as being the time of year that’s one of the most difficult seasons for people with environmental allergies, it would not be unreasonable to attribute some of that spring-onset SAD or seasonal affective disorder, at least in part, to the spring allergy season.


What research gaps or clinical initiatives do you believe are most critical to further elucidate and address the complex interplay between allergic disease and mental health?

I think we really need to understand this whole concept a lot better. For diseases in general, and especially allergic disease in particular, they affect hundreds of millions of patients worldwide. From a research perspective, I think we need to expand our understanding of how they affect not just the target organs that are obvious, the skin, the upper and lower airways, but also, as we've discussed today, the brain.


Ideally, a greater collaboration and initiatives between neurobiology, psychiatry, immunology, research colleagues would really add to our understanding of how these inflammatory disorders affect our general well-being and mental health.


On the clinical side of things, I think it's incumbent for all clinicians who see patients presenting with allergy like symptoms to make the correct diagnosis, to address the physical symptoms, with not just medications, but also preventative measures like identifying those culprit allergens, addressing them through environmental medication strategies, and then again, along with appropriate pharmacologic interventions.

Then, clinicians really need to consider the well-being, the emotional well-being of these patients, maintain a high index of suspicion, and potentially screen for concomitant mental health conditions as well.

Videos

Gary Falcetano, PA-C, AE-C, explains that spring allergies can contribute to spring-onset seasonal affective disorder, emphasizing the need for more research collaboration and for clinicians to address both physical and mental health in patients with allergies. 

Exploring the Interplay of Spring Allergies, Inflammation, and Mental Health: Gary Falcetano, PA-C, AE-C

Patient Education, Provider Education, and Overall Final Thoughts

In this discussion, panelists offer their final thoughts.

Navigating New Frontiers: Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Treatment  

Video content above is prompted by the following question:

Where do you see certain prescriptions fitting into treatment algorithms for patients living with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU)?

a. Given the data you’ve seen to date, how would you advise managed

Another Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, rilzabrutinib, is also under investigation for patients living with CSU. What stage of development is this molecule in and what has the data demonstrated?

How do you see treatment algorithms changing in the future with the introduction of newer classes of therapies?

a. With potential new treatment options on the horizon, how do you think payers should anticipate covering CSU in the next few years?

In this discussion, panelists explore the potential role of new Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment landscape for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), evaluating their stages of development and expected impact on treatment algorithms, while also considering future changes in coverage and payer strategies with the emergence of new therapies.

Navigating New Frontiers: Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Treatment

A panel of experts discuss the clinical trials of dupilumab, the resultant data, and the response of the FDA when approval was requested. 

The Evaluation of Dupilumab In Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Treatment 

Dupilumab has been evaluated in phase 3 clinical trials in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). What did the data show and what was the FDA’s response to the requested approval?

There is a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor under investigation in CSU. How does the BTK pathway differ from others that are targeted by CSU therapies?

a. BTK inhibitors are currently utilized in other disease states. What are the important clinical considerations with BTK inhibitors that clinicians should know?

b. How would the introduction of an oral therapy for CSU influence your treatment decisions?

A panel of experts discuss the key updates needed in CSU guidelines, as they have not been updated since 2014.

Key Updates Needed in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Guidelines

The chronic spontaneous urticaria guidelines have not been updated since 2014. What key updates are needed in the newest version of the guidelines?

Panelists discuss how 30%-50% of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria remain symptomatic despite treatment, examining the impact of treatment burdens, the limitations of targeting the IgE pathway, and the need for new therapies addressing the IgG pathway.

Addressing Persistent Symptoms in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Beyond IgE-Targeted Treatments

Video content above is prompted by the following:

A significant percentage (30%-50%) of patients are still symptomatic with chronic spontaneous urticaria while on certain recommended doses. What do you believe accounts for this high number of patients who are not responding adequately?

Patients have to come in for first 3 doses because this a biologic. Is this preferred? Is there a burden on these patients?

Said prescription targets the IgE pathway, but a significant percentage of patients have IgG antibodies as part of their disease pathophysiology. What do you do in your patients who do not respond to this prescription?

Why is it imperative to develop new treatments that target the IgG pathway?


Approaches to Switching Between Antihistamines and Other Medications When Treating Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria  

Video content above is prompted by the following question(s):

A panel of experts discuss using systemic corticosteroids in CSU treatment.

Video Series

The Use of Systemic Corticosteroids In Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Treatment

A significant number of patients with CSU do not respond adequately to antihistamines. What is your approach to switching between (or adding on) antihistamines and when do you switch to another class of medications?

How does antihistamine switching and treatment selection correlate with timing of disease episodes?

If patients aren’t responding well to antihistamines, which therapies do you use next? When do you consider using biologics? What considerations do you take into account and what ultimately is driving that decision?

A panel of experts discuss switching between different antihistimines and other medications when treating CSU patients. 

Therapies Typically Used in the Firstline For Patients With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria  

Which therapies, including antihistamines and cyclosporine, do you typically use in the first-line for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU)?

Stanley Goldstein, MD, discusses which therapies are typically used initially for CSU patients.

Healthcare Specialties Involved in Managing Patients With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria  

Which healthcare specialties are involved in managing patients with CSU, and how can multidisciplinary care be optimized?

What are the comorbidities that are most seen in patients with CSU, and how do these affect your management plan?

A panel of experts discuss the healthcare specialties that become involved in treating patients with CSU. 

Allergy

Latest News