Mary Caffrey is the Executive Editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®). She joined AJMC® in 2013 and is the primary staff editor for Evidence-Based Oncology, the multistakeholder publication that reaches 22,000+ oncology providers, policy makers and formulary decision makers. She is also part of the team that oversees speaker recruitment and panel preparations for AJMC®'s premier annual oncology meeting, Patient-Centered Oncology Care®. For more than a decade, Mary has covered ASCO, ASH, ACC and other leading scientific meetings for AJMC readers.
Mary has a BA in communications and philosophy from Loyola University New Orleans. You can connect with Mary on LinkedIn.
Early SGLT2 Trial in Type 1 Diabetes Shows Higher Incidence of DKA
There has been interest in learning whether the SGLT2 inhibitor class could benefit those with type 1 diabetes who have been unable to achieve good glycemic control on insulin alone. The thought is that this class could help smooth out daily peaks and valleys in blood glucose levels.
Jury Rules Amgen's Patents Valid in PCSK9 Battle
Regeneron and Sanofi vowed to appeal the ruling; analysts said that process could take at least a year. While Amgen has asked for a permanent injunction, some see payment of royalties to Amgen as a more likely outcome if Regeneron is ultimately not successful.
Claims Study Shows Canagliflozin Produced Better A1C Results Than DPP-4 Competitor
Researchers found patients taking canagliflozin had more improvement in A1C levels than those taking DPP-4 inhibitors, and those taking canagliflozin were more likely to achieve key thresholds recognized by Medicare and other payers.
CMS Releases Data on Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Some States Stand Out
Patterns of meeting the minimum number of minutes to qualify for higher reimbursement rates were seen in 4 states: Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Indiana. CMS said it will refer this matter to auditors for review.
More than Half of California's Adults Have Diabetes, Prediabetes, UCLA Study Finds
The study revealed large disparities in prediabetes levels among young adults by race and ethnicity, underscoring the challenge for public officials in finding solutions to poor access to healthy food and safe places for children to play.
Cancer Deaths Drop, With Liver Cancer the Exception
The report found higher death rates from liver cancer among the age group most at risk for hepatitis C virus, those born between 1945 and 1965. But increased rates of diabetes, obesity, and alcohol use are to blame for rising liver cancer deaths as well.
Results - and Lessons - From the Abandoned LIGHT Study
It's no surprise that researchers were unable to come to firm conclusions about the cardiovascular safety of Contrave based on partial results. An accompanying editorial in JAMA finds that a repeat of the LIGHT saga could force FDA to demand full safety data before approval.
In Creating Tiered Networks, How Much Transparency Is Fair?
As the fallout over Horizon BCBS of New Jersey's OMNIA tiered health plan continues, the legislature weighs the question: how much transparency will protect consumers and safety-net providers while ensuring a vibrant market that drives down costs?
5-Year Study Finds Liraglutide Reduced Risk of Major CV Events
The LEADER trial is the latest in a recent wave of cardiovascular outcomes trials now required by FDA for diabetes and obesity therapies. Full results will be reported in June at the meeting of the American Diabetes Association.
NJ's Attorney General Ends Probe of OMNIA on Eve of Hearing
The acting attorney general, elevated on Monday, issued a letter later Friday saying he found no problem with the way Horizon's OMNIA Health Alliance was implemented. The move comes days before a hearing on legislation regarding tiered networks, to be chaired by one of the lawmakers who asked for the probe.
How Are Obesity and Cancer Linked? Study Examines How Fatty Diet Triggers Stem Cells
The study, published in the journal Nature, found that mice fed a high-fat diet had more stem cells that behaved differently outside their natural environment, showing signs that would be associated with tumor growth.
Trump Calls for Letting Americans Deduct Health Premiums, Import Drugs
The Republican frontrunner's plan did not say how some of its proposals would be paid for in the federal budget, and parts of it were at odds were previous statements in support of requiring coverage for pre-existing conditions.
In Mississippi, Telehealth Makes a Measurable Difference in Diabetes Care
The Diabetes Telehealth Network has a goal of enrolling 200 patients and providing remote care for 18 months. Results from the first 100 patients show not a single readmission; the project found 18 cases of diabetic retinopathy that would have otherwise been missed.