The Biden administration might implement changes on how it would fund private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans; by the end of 2022, drug shortages increased by almost 30%; the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is expected to bring major changes to the US health system.
Experts Call for a More Patient-Focused Approach to Prior Authorization
March 23rd 2023On the first full day of conference activity at AMCP 2023, a morning session examined prior authorization (PA) through a lens of refining the current process and the potential role of clinical trial data in PA criteria.
Study Finds Vaccine Effectiveness Lowers as Time Increases From Last Dose
March 22nd 2023Protection against COVID-19 and vaccine effectiveness increased after receiving 1 or 2 booster doses compared with a primary series alone, but vaccine effectiveness generally declined as the time since last dose increased.
The US organ transplant system might face an overhaul in a proposal to be announced on Wednesday after years of criticism; the FDA may decide whether to approve additional COVID-19 booster vaccinations for vulnerable populations; a new study finds the same, small breast cancer risk in multiple forms of hormonal birth control.
Pediatric Patients See Benefit in Short-, Long-term Treatment for AD
March 22nd 2023Data from the LIBERTY AD PRESCHOOL trial, and its ongoing open-label extension analysis show that dupilumab is safe and clinically effective, and can lead to statistically significant symptom improvement among patients aged 6 months to 17 years who have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD).
Axi-Cel Improves Overall Survival vs Standard-of-Care Initial Treatment for R/R LBCL
A prespecified overall survival analysis of the phase 3 ZUMA-7 trial found that axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) led to better outcomes vs the historical standard of care for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL).
COA to Celebrate 20 Years of Advocacy at Annual Conference
Topics to be addressed at the annual conference, which will bring more than 1900 attendees to Kissimmee, Florida, include the Enhancing Oncology Model, efforts to regulate pharmacy benefit managers, and 340B reform.
Dangerous Drug-Resistant Yeast Infection Rising Across the US, CDC Says
March 20th 2023Candida auris was first reported in the United States in 2016; the highly contagious fungal infection has been labeled an “urgent threat” by the CDC, and its spread may have aided by underresourced public health systems.