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.
Secukinumab Shown to Improve Enthesitis in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis taking secukinumab saw improvements in enthesitis, and some achieved complete resolution, suggesting the drug could be a viable option for patients intolerant of or unresponsive to other enthesitis-improving medications.
Study Identifies Treatable Traits Associated With Declining Lung Function, QOL in COPD
Treatable traits associated with the decline in lung function and quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were detected in a longitudinal study, highlighting targets that physicians can address to better individualize COPD management.
Sex and Age Differences Found in Virus-Related ED Visits, Hospitalization in COPD
Variances between sex and age were found among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a viral infection who visited the emergency department (ED) visit or were hospitalized, highlighting the role that these factors play.
Physical Frailty Impacts Over 40% of Patients With COPD and Respiratory Failure
Physical frailty affects a large proportion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic respiratory failure and current tools for detection may be inadequate, according to a recent report.
High-Concentration Adalimumab Biosimilar Yields Positive 1-Year Data
Celltrion Healthcare’s high-concentration adalimumab biosimilar demonstrated comparable safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity profiles to the reference product for up to a year, providing further evidence supporting use of the product.
ATS 2021 Abstracts Identify Factors Influencing Hospitalization Risks for COPD
Abstracts from the ATS 2021 International Conference addressed patient decision-making frameworks for seeking care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and tactics used to assist hospitals in implementing readmission reduction plans.
What Factors Can Help Improve the Effectiveness of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD?
Abstracts from the ATS 2021 International Conference provided some insight into tactics that could improve the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation programs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Oncology Roundup: Long-term Risks for Survivors, COVID-19 Accommodation Longevity, and More
Some recent oncology news includes research into factors impacting the well-being of childhood cancer survivors; whether COVID-19 accommodations will last post-pandemic; and a possible new therapy for patients with polycythemia vera.
Review Highlights Sociodemographic Disparities in Cancer Risk Factors and Prevention Measures
A literature review sheds light on cancer risk factors and suboptimal screening levels that persist in the United States among certain racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, despite a steady decline in cancer deaths and smoking prevalence.
Characteristics of COPD Vary Among Different Demographics and Smoking Statuses
Posters presented at the ATS 2021 International Conference noted some ways clinical characteristics associated with patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) differ based on different demographics and smoking status.
Switches to Adalimumab Biosimilars Yielded Similar Outcomes to the Reference Product in IBD
After switching to 1 of 2 adalimumab biosimilars, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experienced comparable clinical outcomes to the reference product after 6 months, according to a recent study.
Tailoring COPD Management Strategies May Require Additional Pulmonary Function Testing
In a review, investigators concluded that physicians should use pulmonary function tests in addition to standard spirometry evaluations to better ensure that patients are appropriately being diagnosed and treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Real-world Evidence Supports Conditional Use of IV Formula in Hospitalized Infants With MSUD
Hospitalized infants with the rare metabolic disorder maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), who are intolerant to oral or enteral administration of branched-chain amino acid-free formula, may benefit from an intravenous formulation.
Lack of Information on Cancer Type in Attribution Algorithms Yields Variations, Inaccurate Results
Attribution algorithms for patients with newly diagnosed cancer should account for cancer type and stage, among other characteristics, to ensure that attribution measurements are accurately calculated, investigators concluded.
Alvotech Heats Up Patent Dispute Conflict by Suing AbbVie Over Humira Biosimilar
Under the lawsuit, Alvotech alleges that AbbVie is unlawfully taking advantage of patent laws and claims courts to prevent biosimilar competition rivaling its blockbuster drug, Humira, from entering the US market.
Model Using Wearable Tech, Smartphone App Able to Predict AECOPD
The model that incorporated environmental and lifestyle data collected from a fitness tracker and a smartphone app was successful at predicting acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) 7 days in advance.
Study Identifies Key Factors Affecting Patient Willingness to Use eHealth Tools in COPD
Specific factors, such as experience with technology and health literacy, were key drivers of whether a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) would benefit or be likely to use eHealth tools to improve self-management skills, investigators concluded.
Real-world Data From Multiple Sources May Be Needed to Conduct Biosimilar Comparison Studies
Administrative claims data in oncology often lack sufficient information to conduct postmarketing comparison studies of biosimilars with their reference product, suggesting that other sources are needed to answer critical research questions.
Adjusting Endurance Walk Test for COPD Could Improve Accuracy, Study Says
Factors related to pulmonary and physical activity could serve as predictors for how long patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can tolerate during an endurance walk test, potentially leading to more accurate analyses on the effectiveness of interventions.
Study Clarifies Relationship Establishing a Biomarker for Physical Activity in COPD
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) may be a useful biomarker for predicting physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which could help physicians better determine disease prognosis, investigators concluded.
Analysis Buttresses Idea That Inhaled Corticosteroids in COPD Guard Against Lung Cancer
Authors of a global meta-analysis concluded that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who are generally at a higher risk for lung cancer, may gain some protection from inhaled corticosteroids.
How Patient Preferences Can Inform Program Designs for Pulmonary Rehabilitation
A recent study concluded that designers of pulmonary rehabilitation programs should consider patients’ preferences on what components they feel are the most important to ensure that the programs are successful and effective.
Researchers Review Practice Guidelines for Biologics in Psoriasis
Guidelines on the use of biologic drugs in patients with psoriasis were mostly seen as having medium-to-high quality; however, investigators said that more work needs to be done to ensure applicability to clinical practice.