Cameron Santoro is an associate editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), AJMC.com, and The Center for Biosimilars®.
Can Biomarkers Help Pinpoint the Right Treatment for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria?
Identifying specific biomarkers and clinical characteristics is crucial for predicting a patient's response to both existing and emerging treatments for chronic spontaneous urticaria, thereby moving toward a more personalized approach to care.
Multidisciplinary Approaches to Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Review of Respiratory Therapies
The treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is moving toward a personalized, multidisciplinary approach that combines surgical options with a growing number of nonsurgical alternatives, to better address the unique needs of each child.
Exploring the Potential of Machine Learning in Optimizing Respiratory Failure Treatment
Machine learning holds promise for optimizing treatment strategies and potentially improving outcomes in respiratory failure but future research and development are necessary to fully realize its potential in clinical practice.
Advancing Equitable Access to Targeted and Immuno-Oncology Therapies in SCLC: Angel Qin, MD
Recent clinical trials like ADRIATIC and IMforte are shaping the future of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treatment, explained Angel Qin, MD. She also emphasized the growing role of immunotherapy in adjuvant and maintenance therapies.
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Linked to Higher Patient Burden, Worse Quality of Life
Chronic spontaneous urticaria places a heavier burden on patients than atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, leading to a worse quality of life and higher health care costs, underscoring the critical need for better treatments.
Comparative Efficacy of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Drugs Examined in Absence of Head-to-Head Trials
The efficacy and safety of both approved and investigational drugs for moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa offer valuable evidence to guide clinical decision-making in a field where head-to-head trials are largely absent.
Chronic Respiratory Diseases Linked to Other Noncommunicable Diseases in Vulnerable Countries
Despite their devastating global impact, chronic respiratory diseases remain a hidden threat in low- and middle-income countries, often going undiagnosed in adults who are already battling other noncommunicable diseases.
5 Things Everyone Should Know for National Immunization Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month highlights the importance of lifelong vaccination to prevent diseases, a practice that has averted millions of deaths, proven to be a cost-effective public health strategy, and offers crucial protection even to individuals who are immunocompromised.
LLMs Show Promise, but Challenges Remain in Improving Inefficient Clinical Trial Screening
Large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 may offer a solution to the costly and inefficient process of manual clinical trial screening, which is often hindered by the inability of structured electronic health record data to capture all necessary criteria.
Trump Directs Pharma Companies on Cutting Drug Prices Under Most-Favored-Nation Order
President Donald Trump has sent letters to pharmaceutical companies, aiming to compel them to lower drug prices in the US to match the lowest prices offered in other developed nations, a move that could significantly reduce costs and disrupt the current system of pharmacy benefit managers.
Legal Navigation Services Key to Addressing Disparities in Cancer Care
A significant number of patients with cancer, caregivers, and health care professionals face significant disparities in legal issues, with the most common needs revolving around health insurance, finances, employment, and disability insurance.
Earlier Food Introduction Dramatically Reduces Peanut, Egg, Milk Allergy Rates in Infants
When updated food allergy prevention guidelines were directly provided to families, they led to earlier allergen introduction in infants and significantly reduced the prevalence of IgE-mediated peanut, egg, and cow's milk allergies.
Patients With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Seek Better Treatment Beyond Current Options
Patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria experience inadequate symptom control and significant emotional burdens despite various treatment approaches, highlighting an urgent need for more effective and sustained therapies to improve their quality of life.
Teledermatology and AI's Impact on Patient Access and Diagnostics: Hadar Avihai Lev-Tov, MD
Hadar Avihai Lev-Tov, MD, asserts that advancements in teledermatology and artificial intelligence (AI)–powered diagnostic tools are crucial for improving health care efficiency and patient access within managed care.
AllergyAware E-Learning Training Program Boosts Anaphylaxis Preparedness in School Staff
The AllergyAware e-learning course effectively trained school personnel on anaphylaxis management, significantly improving their knowledge and confidence in using epinephrine auto-injectors, despite some technical and pacing issues reported by users.
Streamlining Breast Cancer Therapy Access for Better Patient Outcomes: Rebecca Chacko, MD
Rebecca Chacko, MD, discusses key breast cancer care challenges, including treatment access delays and the importance of open patient communication, as highlighted at the Detroit Institute for Value-Based Medicine session on unmet needs.
RSV's Impact on Heart Health Emphasizes Broader Risks, Vaccination Importance for Older Adults
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant, often overlooked, risk for serious cardiovascular complications in older adults, underscoring the need for vaccination in this population regardless of their preexisting health conditions.
Specialty Drug Costs Drive Medicare Part D Dermatology Expenditures
The rapidly increasing prescriptions for expensive specialty medications, rather than their price growth, are the primary driver of escalating dermatology Medicare Part D expenditures, necessitating policies that balance innovation, access, and affordability.
Addressing Racial Disparities in Minority Mental Health and Finding Support in 2025
National Minority Mental Health Month emphasizes the persistent mental health disparities among US racial and ethnic minorities, stemming from lower access to services, lack of culturally competent providers, discrimination, and medical mistrust, underscoring the need for dedicated resources and community action.
New Blueprint Guides Patient-Centered Research for More Equitable Health Care
The new Blueprint for Patient-Centered Value Research offers a roadmap for embedding patient voices throughout every stage of the research journey to foster more equitable, transparent, and responsive health care systems.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps and Asthma: Understanding the Connection and Treatment Gaps
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps increases the likelihood of developing coexisting conditions, such as asthma, underscoring the need for more effective, comprehensive treatments.
Personalizing Urticaria Treatment Through the Evolving Role of Biomarkers and Biopsies
Current guidelines suggest limiting diagnostic testing for chronic spontaneous urticaria when no clear cause is suspected, though biomarkers and biopsies are emerging as tools to predict treatment response and personalize care.
Sequencing CAR T and Bispecifics for Multiple Myeloma: Tyler Sandahl, PharmD
Tyler Sandahl, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist at Mayo Clinic, explains that sequencing novel multiple myeloma therapies with CAR T-cell therapy is generally prioritized first for eligible patients, while bispecific antibodies are reserved for later lines or for patients unable to tolerate CAR T.
Driving Value via Outcomes-Based Pricing and EHR Interoperability: Tyler Sandahl, PharmD
Tyler Sandahl, PharmD, a clinical pharmacist at Mayo Clinic, discussed the complexities of alternative payment models for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell and bispecific therapies and the need for improved data sharing in cancer care.