Interviews

Patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma from lower socioeconomic groups face worse quality of life, even in countries with universal health care, according to Francesco Sparano, MSc, of the Italian-based GIMEMA Foundation.

Long-term CARTITUDE-1 data show ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) may offer lasting remission and survival in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to Sundar Jagannath, MBBS, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Richard Lafayette, MD, FACP, explains why a REMS program is not required for the endothelin A receptor antagonist and how patients may need to adjust should final ALIGN trial data fail to show a clinical benefit of atrasentan.

Explore how the Specialty Medical Home model transforms care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by integrating mental health support and addressing stigma.

Eric Lander, MD, discussed the difficulty that clinicians and pharmacists face in getting insurance coverage for category 2B treatments in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, which could affect how patients are treated for cancer.

In this interview, Richard J. Nowak, MD, MS, principal investigator of the MINT trial of inebilizumab for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), discusses the trial’s key findings, including significant improvements in patient- and physician-assessed outcomes, as well as longer-term implications and future areas of investigation.

The Beat AML Master Trial found high remission rates and promising safety with triplet therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to Ashley Yocum, PhD.

Lorna Warwick, CEO of the Lymphoma Coalition, highlights findings underscoring the vital role of clinician communication in managing adverse effects and supporting patient confidence in lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) care.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing changes occur nearly every year, making consistent updates to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines important for clinicians to make decisions on the use of these methods of testing, says Eric Lander, MD.

Sanjay Ramakrishnan, MD, senior lecturer, University of Western Australia, breaks down how to communicate the value of dupilumab using patient-centered language and sports metaphors to patients.

In a Cleveland Clinic cohort, patients who stopped treatment for obesity had smaller weight losses to start, making these gains easier to maintain, explained Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD.

In this interview with TRUST-I and TRUST-II trial investigator, Jorge J. Nieva, MD, USC Keck School of Medicine, he walks through the design of the trials, the results that supported the FDA approval, and taletrectinib’s potential to redefine first-line therapy.

Patients can benefit both financially and clinically by enrolling in ongoing clinical trials, said Eric Lander, MD.

The recent FDA approval of lenacapavir is encouraging in its promise of long-term HIV prevention but might not be available for the vast majority of people in the US.

The approval of lenacapavir, a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), marks significant progress in preventing HIV, making it vital for the treatment to be available and accessible to those most vulnerable, explains Colleen Kelley, MD, MPH, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

Delays, denials, and endless paperwork—prior authorization isn’t just a headache for providers; it’s a barrier for patients who need timely care, explains Colin Banas, MD, MHA, chief medical officer with DrFirst.

Discontinuing the weight loss treatment before hitting the recommended maintenance dose contributes to low-value care despite provider follow-up and efforts to manage side effects, says Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD, Cleveland Clinic.

The approval of lenacapavir for use as pre-exposure prophylaxis is a significant step in reducing the incidence of HIV across the globe, including in areas where the PURPOSE trials were conducted.

Making clinical trials easier to find for clinicians and making protocols for entering clinical trials more lenient can help to improve access to clinical trials on a national and local level, explains Eric Lander, MD, of Minnesota Oncology.

Surbhi Sidana, MD, MBBS, director of the Myeloma Disease Focused Group at Stanford University, provides a reintroduction to CARTITUDE-4 and insight on how this phase 3 investigation builds on previous findings of CAR T vs standard-of-care findings in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM)

The recent approval of lenacapavir could change the way that clinicians approach both treating and preventing HIV in those at risk, as long as the treatment can get into their hands.

Pharmacists are being asked to not only manage medications and side effects but also be fiscally responsible for the whole institution and its trickle-down effect on costs, said David Awad, PharmD, BCOP, of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

The recent approval of garadacimab can help to treat patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) along with sebetralstat, which is awaiting FDA approval, explains Timothy Craig, DO, Penn State Health.

Merrill H. Stewart, MD, Ochsner Health, outlines the financial, logistical, and reimbursement barriers slowing the adoption of cardiac stress testing, but growing recognition of its long-term value could drive wider use.

CEPHEUS trial lead investigator Saad Z. Usmani, MD, MBA, FACP, FASCO, explains how the trial both builds on current knowledge of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and how transplant-ineligible status may affect therapeutic decision-making.

Andrew Evens, DO, MBA, MSc, deputy director for clinical services and chief physician officer, Rutgers Cancer Institute, introduces New Jersey's new state-of-the-art facilities at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center.

Real-world cost barriers and insurance denials contribute to early discontinuation of injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, reducing their effectiveness for weight loss, explains Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD, Cleveland Clinic.

Noah Greenspan, DPT, PT, CCS, EMT-B, cardiopulmonary physical therapist and director of the Pulmonary Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in New York City, reflects on how the reality of COVID-19 infection proved far more complex than initially thought.

At the 30th European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress, hematology experts highlight breakthroughs in treatment, the importance of patient voices, and challenges in making innovations accessible worldwide.

The role that artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology can play in care delivery is growing, said Coral Omene, MD, PhD, of Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health.