Dr. Michelle E. Melisko, Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, explains how drug shortages are affecting patients with breast cancer and the potential impact to cost and outcomes.
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Dr. Melisko discusses the paclitaxel (Brand name: Taxol) shortages that have impacted the ability to start patients with clinical trials. Physiscians are being asked to prescribe alternative drugs and only use Taxol when absolutely necessary. A recommended alternate to Taxol is another albumin-bound paclitaxel; however, it is costly. Doxil () has been a more serious shortage since the middle of August. Patients were able to switch to Adriamycin (which has more toxicity and side affects. However, Dr. Melisko does not feel it will necessarily impact the long-term prognosis because there are other drugs to be given. It is stressful for the patients and physicians to not be able to rely on using a specific drug.
Hope on the Horizon for Underserved Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Joseph Mikhael, MD
August 12th 2025Explore the disparities in multiple myeloma treatment and how new initiatives aim to improve clinical trial participation among underrepresented patients during a conversation with Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation.
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Early Detection Strategies for Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatology: Janet Pope, MD, MPH
August 11th 2025Janet Pope, MD, MPH, discusses screening and diagnostic approaches for interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other connective tissue diseases.
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AI Meets Medicare: Inside CMS’s WISeR Model With Sanjay Doddamani, MD, MBA, Part 2
August 5th 2025In this second part of his interview with The American Journal of Managed Care®, Sanjay Doddamani, MD, MBA, a former senior advisor to CMMI and founder and CEO of Guidehealth, continues a dialogue on the future of value-based care and the promise—and limits—of AI-enabled innovation, reflecting on challenges like rising Medicare costs and patients’ growing financial burdens.
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