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What We're Reading: Calif. Drug Price Lawsuit Tossed; Testing ARBs for Cancer Link; Hope for Nonaddictive Painkiller
A judge tossed a lawsuit brought by pharmaceutical companies to block a California law requiring advance notice of big price increases; the FDA is testing all angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) over a discovered impurity that is linked to cancer; research in monkeys has suggested that an experimental painkiller is effective at easing pain without being addictive.
Judge Tosses Lawsuit to Block California Drug Pricing Law
A lawsuit brought by pharmaceutical companies to block a California law that requires notice before big drug price increases has been dismissed by a judge, according to the Associated Press. The law requires pharmaceutical companies to provide 60 days’ notice before raising the national wholesale price above a certain threshold. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has 30 days to refile after the judge determined it failed to show that the court had jurisdiction to hear the case.
FDA Investigates Link Between Heart Drug and Cancer
The FDA is testing angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) over a substance linked to cancer. According to STAT, the impurity in the drugs, known as NDMA, is an organic chemical and a possible carcinogen. The FDA believes the impurity occurred during the manufacturing process and is testing all products in the ARB class. In a worst-case scenario, the agency estimated that if 8000 people took the highest-dose pill with NDMA daily for 4 years, there would be 1 additional case of cancer beyond the average cancer rate. Most patients received less exposure than this worst-case scenario.
Hope for Nonaddictive Painkiller Test in Monkeys
Research in monkeys has suggested that an experimental painkiller is effective while also being less addictive than opioids. HealthDay reported that the AT-121 provides the same pain relief as an opioid but at a much lower dose. The compound blocked abuse potential, similar to how buprenorphine does for heroin. In addition, the monkeys did not exhibit withdrawal symptoms after they stopped using AT-121 after 3 days. The success in monkeys suggests that the findings could be replicated in humans, but it is not guaranteed.
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.
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Obesity at Cancer Diagnosis Linked to Worse Survival Outcomes in Pediatric Patients
January 13th 2025Pediatric patients considered obese at cancer diagnosis are linked to significantly worse survival outcomes, especially those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and central nervous system tumors.
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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.
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FDA Approves Tislelizumab-jsgr as First-Line Therapy for HER2– Gastric Cancers
January 2nd 2025Tislelizumab-jsgr (Tevimbra) was approved in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative (HER–) gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (G/GEJ) in adults whose tumors express PD-L1.
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