Funding is the biggest challenge scientists and clinical investigators face when trying to find successful therapies to treat advanced bladder cancer, explained Donna Hansel, MD, PhD, of University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.
Funding is the biggest challenge scientists and clinical investigators face when trying to find successful therapies to treat advanced bladder cancer, explained Donna Hansel, MD, PhD, of University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.
Transcript
What has been the challenge with finding successful therapies to treat advanced bladder cancer?
I think one of the biggest challenges, historically, has always been funding for scientists and clinical investigators to better understand the disease. There has been phenomenal advocacy through groups like the bladder cancer advocacy network to help improve the funding paradigm through their own efforts and through lobbying of the [National Cancer Institute]. It’s certainly nowhere near enough to entice people to come and spend a lot of basic science effort in this field. I think it’s changing. And I think we are going to make great progress.
I think a second aspect, as far as identifying unique therapies and bladder cancer, really has to do with building a link between what we’re understanding more and more of related to genomic alterations and being able to tie that into mechanistically what’s happening at the protein and cell level. Ultimately, as we design drug targets, we’re really looking at the protein and while the genomic signature is so important in helping us understand upstream what’s happening, I think we can’t lose focus on understanding the cell biology that accompanies that.
High-Impact Trials at ACC.25 Signal Shift in Chronic Disease Treatment
April 4th 2025Experts highlight groundbreaking research presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25), which emphasized a shift toward more personalized, evidence-based treatment strategies.
Read More
Exploring Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Care Prior Authorization Decisions
October 24th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the author of a study published in the October 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® that explored prior authorization decisions in cancer care by race and ethnicity for commercially insured patients.
Listen
Comparing Breast Cancer Treatment Outcomes Between Fee-for-Service and Medicare Advantage
April 4th 2025This study examined postdiagnosis breast cancer treatment outcomes for Medicare Advantage vs fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare in Ohio and found no significant differences overall but disparities for Black patients with FFS Medicare.
Read More
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
How Pharmacy Deserts, Biosimilars, and Market Trends Are Shaping Managed Care
April 2nd 2025Rising biosimilar adoption, shifting market dynamics, and escalating supply chain vulnerabilities are driving change in managed care, creating both challenges and opportunities for stakeholders, as explored by speakers at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s annual meeting.
Read More
Using AI-Driven Strategies to Optimize Specialty Drug Costs, Manage Polypharmacy
April 2nd 2025As health care costs continue to rise, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions are emerging as a powerful tool for managing specialty drug spending and polypharmacy risks, as showcased in recent research presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2025 conference.
Read More