Diabetes

Key drug approvals; alcohol cancer link.

Articles on type 2 diabetes management, colon cancer screenings, and anti-rheumatic drug approvals topped the list.

Although patients and physicians both recognize the need to discuss obesity, the lack of resources, time, and expertise often prevents physicians for offering care and patients from asking for it, explained Todd Hobbs, MD, Novo Nordisk’s vice president and chief medical officer.

A new sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 medication to treat type 2 diabetes is joining the field: the FDA approved ertugliflozin (Steglatro) from Merck and Pfizer as a single therapy and in combination with Merck’s sitagliptin (Januvia), a DPP-4 inhibitor, or with metformin.

In 2017, The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) covered conferences on a range of topics: oncology, diabetes, managed care, and much more. however, the most-read coverage from conferences that AJMC® attended mostly focused on cardiology trial results, particularly the cardiovascular results of diabetes medications.

Trial results have shown that alirocumab (Praluent) is safe and effective across patient populations, said Jay Edelberg, MD, PhD, vice president and head of Cardiovascular Development and Cardiovascular Affairs at Sanofi.

An interview with one of the authors of a large observational study that has seen findings consistent with recent cardiovascular outcomes trials in SGLT2 inhibitors.

A least one US payer, CareMore, has a program to combat loneliness in seniors to prevent chronic disease and other health problems.

Currently, clinical guidelines offer little guidance on deintensifying care, which is critical for balancing overuse and underuse of services.

What the CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science thinks about the current controversy.

The top 5 most-read news stories included clinical content, such as an FDA approval, and policy news, such as Medicare reimbursement coverage.

Evidence is more robust on kidney function but not sufficient to make drug decisions, one expert said. A whole separate trial, called CREDENCE, is examining renal function in patients taking canagliflozin.

On the plus side, a partnership with the American Medical Association appears to have contributed to a rise in provider referrals to lifestyle modification programs.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

Implementation of the Quality Blue Primary Care program in Louisiana was associated with a shift in primary care delivery and reductions in overall cost.

Medicare is alleging laboratories improperly billed the government for improper tests; time is running out for children receiving healthcare from CHIP; the AMA extends its diabetes prevention model to Maryland and other states.

This week, the top managed care news included coverage from the 59th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition; recommendations on the use of diabetes drugs with cardiovascular indications; and a new study found that despite changes in insurance plans to give consumers more clout, unnecessary medical spending remains a problem.

A chief medical officer for a major payer outlines the challenges making sure that certain high-cost therapies are directed to the patients who need them.

An analysis of behaviors, community environment, policy, clinical care, and outcomes data has found a disturbing trend in mortality in the United States, with premature deaths, drug deaths, and cardiovascular deaths all increasing.

From the Editor in Chief

The payment reform movement has changed the thinking about what can be done for patients with diabetes and heart failure, for the good of patients.

CMS can take steps to raise awareness, including a specific quality measure, to ensure that testing occurs prior to nontraumatic amputation.

The cost of insulin has been a major policy issue in recent years. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said the approval of a new choice in insulin was a sign of his commitment to giving patients lower-cost options.

A presentation at the fall live meeting of the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition® focused on the clinical and economic consequences of not meeting glycemic goals in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association update has recommendations that affect liraglutide, canagliflozin, and empagliflozin.

AJMC provides a look at some of the updates coming out of the FDA this week, from new guidance on digital health oversight to multiple new drug approvals.

Semaglutide, Novo Nordisk’s once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes (T2D), received FDA approval Tuesday, after beating its rival in a head-to-head trial and coming to the approval process with proof of cardiovascular benefits already in hand.

On December 5, 2017, FDA approved Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Todd Hobbs, MD, Novo Nordisk’s vice president and chief medical officer, spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care® just ahead of FDA’s action.

Sanofi’s newest insulin met its primary objective in a large head-to-head trial that compared it with its chief competitor.