Skylar is an associate editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and The Center for Biosimilars®, and joined AJMC® in 2020. She is responsible for covering all aspects of the ever-changing global biosimilar industry and produces content that is accessible and informative for all health care stakeholders.
She has a BA in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University. You can connect with Skylar on LinkedIn.
Balancing Cutting-Edge Therapies With Cost in Multiple Myeloma Treatment
Matias Sanchez, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago, discussed recent advancements in multiple myeloma treatment, including the potential of cell therapies and bispecific antibodies.
From Data to Dialogue: Transforming Oncology With Real-World Evidence
Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, from the University of Illinois Chicago, highlights the critical role of real-world data in shaping reimbursement models for oncology therapies and emphasizes the growing importance of patient-centered care through shared decision-making, precision medicine, and patient-reported outcomes.
Transforming Multiple Myeloma Care With Education and Advanced Therapies
Matias Sanchez, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Illinois Chicago, emphasizes the importance of patient education and caregiver involvement in managing complex therapies and advises oncologists to confidently integrate advanced treatments.
Revolutionizing NSCLC Care With Circulating Tumor DNA and MRD Assays
Divya Gupta, MD, assistant professor at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, discussed the potential of using circulating tumor DNA and minimal residual disease (MRD) assays for personalized treatment in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while emphasizing the unmet need for effective second-line therapies for patients without driver mutations.
Optimizing the Role of Oncology Pharmacists in Outpatient Care for Advanced Therapies
Oncology pharmacists play a vital role in managing complex outpatient therapies by assessing patient suitability, educating patients, and implementing protocols to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Understanding Cognitive Aging: Insights From 25-Year Study
A 25-year study of the Lothian Birth Cohorts found that childhood intelligence, lifestyle factors, and brain white matter health significantly impact cognitive aging and longevity, highlighting the importance of consent, ethics, and biological sample collection in ongoing research.
FDA Q&A: Addressing Biosimilar Safety, AI in Drug Development, and Supply Chain Challenges
In a Q&A, an FDA spokesperson discusses efforts to reduce misinformation about biosimilars through education, the agency’s collaboration with global regulators to streamline development, and its work to address drug shortages while emphasizing safety, efficacy, and public trust.
Exploring the Complexities of Biosimilars and Interchangeability
A panel of industry experts discussed the complexities of biosimilars and interchangeability, emphasizing the challenges in adoption, the need for regulatory and legislative solutions, and the importance of education to combat misinformation.
Navigating Racial Disparities in Psoriatic Arthritis: Insights From Patient-Reported Outcomes
Individuals with self-reported moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis (PsA) face a higher disease burden, particularly among Black participants, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the interplay between PsA severity and racial and ethnic disparities.
Achieving the Goals of Value-Based Care for Multiple Sclerosis
Value-based agreements come with risks and benefits, but a health system’s existing facilities and initiatives can help support the goals associated with them, JT Lew, PharmD, MBA, a managed care pharmacist at MultiCare Health System, explained.
New FTC Lawsuit Against PBMs Has Broad Implications for Pharmaceuticals, Ted Okon Says
Ted Okon, MBA, executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance, spoke with The American Journal of Managed Care® about how the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) lawsuit against pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) could affect the future of pharmaceuticals and oncology.
FTC Takes Legal Action Against 3 Largest PBMs Over Insulin Costs
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a legal complaint accusing the 3 largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the US—Caremark, Express Scripts, and Optum Rx—of inflating insulin costs for patients, prompting renewed calls for PBM reform.
FDA Approves Amivantamab for EGFR-Positive NSCLC With Exon 19 Deletion, Exon 21 L858R Substitution
The FDA approval of amivantamab-vmjw (Rybrevant) in combination with chemotherapy is the first targeted treatment to cut disease progression risk for EGFR-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Positive KEYNOTE-522 Overall Survival Results in TNBC
The first overall survival analysis of the KEYNOTE-522 trial showed positive outcomes with neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab monotherapy vs neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Rethinking the Role of PBMs in Health Care Reform
Policy changes, such as banning spread pricing and promoting transparency, are necessary to realign the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) market and ensure that health care resources benefit patients and providers rather than being diverted by middlemen, according to panelists at the Community Oncology Alliance Payer Exchange Summit.
Scaling Value-Based Care: Addressing Systemic Issues With Innovative Payer-Provider Collaboration
The need for improved collaboration between payers and providers is key to successfully implementing value-based care initiatives that address patient needs, ensure measurable outcomes, and overcome challenges, according to panelists at the Community Oncology Alliance Payer Exchange Summit.
Finding Common Ground: Addressing PBM Issues and ERISA Tensions
A panel discussion at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Payer Exchange Summit highlighted the tension between state regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preemption, emphasizing the need for reforms to balance employer uniformity with addressing PBM practices.
Stakeholder Engagement With State, Local Officials Is Key to Driving Policy Change
Panelists at the Community Oncology Alliance Payer Exchange Summit 2024 agreed that overcoming health care challenges will depend heavily on collaboration and active engagement from multiple stakeholders in the policy and regulatory process.
Dr Sophia Humphreys Discusses GPO Impact on IDN, Hospital Product Decisions
Sophia Humphreys, PharmD, director of formulary management at Sutter Health, discusses how group purchasing organizations (GPOs) influence integrated delivery networks (IDNs) and hospitals in making formulary decisions, including the adoption of biosimilars.
Dr Steve Pickette: How AI Can Revolutionize Formulary Management
Steve Pickette, PharmD, BCPS, explains that artificial intelligence (AI)–driven formulary analysis can significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of drug selection processes by rapidly compiling and analyzing evidence.
Dr JT Lew Explores the Barriers to MS Medication Access
JT Lew, PharmD, MBA, highlights that the primary challenges for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in accessing prescribed medications include dealing with the shock of the diagnosis, navigating complex health plan benefits and out-of-pocket costs, and experiencing delays due to insurance barriers.
Biosimilar Updates: Celltrion, Costco Partnership; Amgen Sues Samsung Bioepis; Denosumab Results
Celltrion's adalimumab-aaty biosimilar is now accessible for all Costco members, while Amgen sues Samsung Bioepis over the latter’s denosumab biosimilar candidate, and GlycoNex progresses its denosumab biosimilar SPD8 to phase 3 trials.