All Articles

Nivolumab monotherapy can be used as an effective bridge therapy to autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT) in many patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), researchers reported at ASH 2019. Read More ›

The impact of poverty and low socioeconomic status on health and survival among children may be even more debilitating than suspected, according to new data presented at ASH 2019. Even in clinical trials, which are designed to provide consistent treatment across groups, socioeconomic status was associated with “substantial” differences in survival, researchers were surprised to find out. Read More ›

With drug-pricing legislations currently before the House and the Senate, the issue of demonstrating value in high-cost drug therapies has become the front and center of the healthcare conversation. Moderator Roger Longman, MA, Co-Founder and Chairman, Real Endpoints LLC, a reimbursement-focused analytics and advisory firm, engaged an expert panel on the topic of value-based agreements during the 2019 AVBCC Summit. Read More ›

At the 2019 AVBCC Summit, a panel of payers, moderated by Mike Kolodziej, MD, Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer, ADVI Health, discussed strategies for improving the delivery of value-based cancer care, along with changes on the horizon as payers and providers strive to maximize access to high-quality oncology drugs. Read More ›

It is estimated that 350 million people worldwide use biologics on a regular basis to treat their medical conditions. These therapies are incredibly innovative and have expanded the arsenal of effective treatment options for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. However, the high costs of these therapies, although understandable, can create access issues for patients. That is why biosimilars are so important. Read More ›

On January 23, 2020, the FDA approved tazemetostat (Tazverik; Epizyme), a methyltransferase inhibitor, for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients aged ≥16 years with metastatic or locally advanced epithelioid sarcoma who are not eligible for complete resection. The FDA granted tazemetostat accelerated approval and designated it as an orphan drug. Read More ›

On January 9, 2020, the FDA approved avapritinib (Ayvakit; Blueprint Medicines), a kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) harboring a platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) exon 18 mutation, including PDGFRA D842V mutations. The FDA designated avapritinib as a breakthrough therapy and an orphan drug. Avapritinib was also granted Fast Track designation. Read More ›

On January 8, 2020, the FDA approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda; Merck) for the treatment of patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy. Keytruda has received previous FDA approval as a single agent or in combination with other agents for the treatment of many types of cancers. Read More ›

According to results from a retrospective analysis of nearly 12,000 patients with cancer, increased social support may function as an analgesic and help to mitigate pain. Read More ›

Reducing pain without increasing opioids is feasible in patients with advanced cancer, according to results presented at the 2019 ASCO Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium. In a retrospective analysis of 300 patients with advanced cancer receiving inpatient palliative care services, researchers found that nearly half of patients who achieved clinically improved pain did so without an increase in oral morphine equivalent daily dose. Read More ›