Oncology

Ohio is the latest state to experience a rough transition to managed care in its Medicaid program, according to weekend reports. Delayed payments and service disruptions to fragile patients are among the complaints. Kentucky had a similar bumpy start when it changed to Medicaid managed care in 2011, and Kansas has had many problems recently.

Opdivo (nivolumab), which was approved in Japan in July 2014, is being globally developed for evaluation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), head and neck cancer, glioblastoma, as well as NHL.

The NDA submitted by Pfizer requests approval of palbociclib as a first-line therapy in combination with letrozole for ER+, HER2- advanced breast cancer.

The new BiTE antibody technology developed by the company can simultaneously engage 2 different targets, which can help recruit T-cells to malignant cells, and will be evaluated in ALL patients.

The approval follows 2 clinical trials evaluating the regimen in 1720 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

The approval extends the use of bortezomib beyond relapsed and refractory patients.

The identification of specific RNA molecules in the urine of individuals with prostate cancer raises hope for a non-invasive test for the disease.

Having decided to restrict the distribution of 3 of its top-selling oncology medications, Avastin, Rituxan, and Herceptin only through specialty pharmacies, Genentech is witnessing protests in various forms from healthcare centers.

The collaboration between med fusion and GenomOncology promises improved outcomes in personalized cancer trials.

A Taiwan study found a significantly reduced risk of cancer among RA patients on biologics.

Results of a large study performed across cancer centers in Germany, published online October 6, 2014 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, show that 32% of people with cancer experienced some form of clinically relevant mental health challenge, such as anxiety, depressive and adjustment disorders.

Peter B. Bach, MD, MAPP, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, writes in the Journal of the American Medical Association that cancer drugs could be charged different prices by indication, since the value for patients varies. His article appeared days before an appearance on 60 Minutes to discuss the high price of cancer drugs.

Combining nivolumab, an immuno-oncology molecule, with 1 of 3 targeted agents from Novartis is expected to improve patient response in NSCLC.