Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA, CPEL

Panelists discuss how stakeholders can prepare for the upcoming interchangeability designation of more biosimilars later this year, debating whether interchangeability status or formulary-level changes are more impactful and identifying necessary systemic shifts required to ensure both patients and health systems realize meaningful cost savings when transitioning from reference products to biosimilars.

Panelists discuss how major PBMs' (pharmacy benefit managers) decisions to prefer biosimilars over reference biologics provide valuable insights into successful adoption strategies, specifically examining CVS Caremark's removal of reference biologic adalimumab from national commercial template formularies, which resulted in 97% of prescriptions being filled with preferred biosimilars, and analyzing the key implementation factors driving this remarkable conversion rate.

Panelists discuss how ALK inhibitors compare in terms of tolerability and best practices for managing associated toxicities.

Panelists discuss how currently available ALK inhibitors compare in terms of efficacy, durability of response, and central nervous system (CNS) penetration for metastatic non–small cell lung cancer treatment.

Panelists discuss how biosimilar manufacturers offer both high-wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) and low-WAC product versions to navigate complex reimbursement landscapes, sharing their experiences with low-WAC options on formularies, defining private label agreements as strategies to improve biosimilar access across different patient populations, and examining the rationale behind PBMs' (pharmacy benefit managers) implementation of these agreements, including their specific components and benefits.

Panelists discuss how the significant price increases in reference biologics over the past decade have created market opportunities for biosimilars while exploring barriers to their adoption, potential solutions for enhancing uptake, and successful institutional strategies for increasing biosimilar utilization.

Panelists discuss how clinical trial outcomes like CROWN and eXalt3 reflect real-world patient experiences and how these collective data have changed perspectives on frontline therapies for ALK+ non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Panelists discuss how matching-adjusted indirect comparisons (MAIC) of ALK inhibitors and the FDA approval of ensartinib in December 2024 influence frontline treatment selection for ALK+ non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Panelists discuss how the 5-year CROWN trial data for lorlatinib have shaped the treatment paradigm for ALK+ metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly regarding long-term survival, durability of response, and management of brain metastases.

Panelists discuss how they will explore optimizing care for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (ALK+ NSCLC) through treatment selection, sequencing strategies, and interpretation of emerging clinical data.

Panelists discuss challenges oncologists face in managing treatment-naive patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), including balancing efficacy with adverse effect profiles, and highlight strategies such as multidisciplinary collaboration and access to updated treatment guidelines to address these issues while also expressing eagerness for future advancements in Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors and the need for further research to refine treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.

Panelists discuss proactive measures that health care teams can implement to manage adverse events associated with Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, such as early monitoring, dose adjustments, and supportive care, while emphasizing the importance of patient education to improve adherence and ensure positive treatment outcomes.

Panelists discuss how they engage patients in shared decision-making by prioritizing open communication, discussing treatment options in the context of both clinical factors and patient preferences, and using strategies such as decision aids and detailed counseling to ensure that patient values and quality of life are fully integrated into the treatment planning process.

Panelists discuss how stakeholders can enhance biosimilar uptake through coordinated efforts in financial alignment, patient-centric pricing, professional education, simplified administrative processes, and collaborative data exchange.

Panelists discuss how clinical and patient-specific factors, such as comorbidities, age, and risk profiles, influence the selection of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors for treatment-naive patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) while also considering how these factors align or differ from patient preferences regarding treatment duration, adverse effect profiles, and lifestyle impact.

Panelists discuss how Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have transformed the treatment paradigm for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), especially in the frontline setting, by offering effective, targeted therapy that provides significant clinical benefits and improves overall survival compared with traditional chemotherapy.

Panelists discuss how health care professionals have varying confidence in biosimilars, driven by concerns about efficacy, safety, and interchangeability. Increased education, real-world evidence, professional engagement, transparent regulations, and comprehensive outcome data can help build trust in these alternative biologic treatments.

Panelists discuss how biosimilars are gaining traction through targeted education, cost-effectiveness analysis, and rigorous clinical validation, with providers increasingly integrating these alternatives by addressing knowledge barriers and demonstrating comparable therapeutic performance.

Panelists discuss exciting updates on Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors from the 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, highlighting emerging data that may refine their use in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), particularly in optimizing treatment duration and sequencing to improve patient outcomes.

Panelists discuss how patient-reported outcomes and real-world evidence influence clinical decision-making when selecting Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Panelists discuss how biosimilar adoption requires multifaceted organizational readiness, involving strategic infrastructure reconfiguration, comprehensive stakeholder education, rigorous clinical and economic evaluation frameworks, and adaptable operational processes to ensure seamless integration and optimization of health care delivery.

Panelists discuss how private label agreements facilitate biosimilar market entry by allowing manufacturers to collaborate on branding, distribution, and market access, ultimately expanding treatment options and potentially reducing health care costs.

Panelists share their final thoughts on bispecific therapies in B-cell lymphomas based on insights from the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition 2024.

Panelists discuss the treatment- and patient-specific factors considered when determining induction therapy for treatment-naive patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), including the decision between aggressive and less aggressive approaches, and how prior therapy exposure influences subsequent treatment sequencing for MCL.

Panelists discuss key gaps in communication between academic and community centers regarding the use of bispecifics and strategies to bridge them as well as best practices for ensuring a smooth transition of care when patients move between settings.

Panelists provide an overview of the current landscape of induction therapies for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), discussing the role of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors in this setting and the use of aggressive induction therapies.

Panelists discuss how employers optimize biosimilar uptake through strategic formulary design, financial incentives, and provider education, enabling health care systems to achieve substantial cost savings while maintaining high-quality patient care.

Panelists discuss how biosimilars have significantly reduced health care costs in the US, with health care systems experiencing significant savings across various therapeutic areas. These cost reductions improve treatment affordability and patient access, with potential cumulative savings in 2025.

Panelists discuss how therapy sequencing is approached for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with a focus on how prior therapy exposure influences the choice of subsequent treatments.

Panelists discuss the benefits of implementing bispecific therapy programs in the community setting as well as factors influencing the decision to administer these agents at an academic center vs a community setting.