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.
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.
Using Telemedicine for Respiratory Infections May Lead to More Care Later
The study, on the quality of on-demand video telemedicine services, found that patients using telemedicine for respiratory infections were more likely to receive follow-up care, causing higher health care spending.
COVID-19 Pandemic Provides Glimpse Into Potential Cause of Kawasaki Disease in Children
Given the high prevalence of Kawasaki disease during the pandemic, Japanese investigators determined that droplet or contact transmission of pathogens is likely not a major route causing the development of the disease.
Review on Blended Self-management Shows Mixed Results on Relieving COPD Burden
A meta-analysis, where many studies ranged in evidence quality, revealed mixed results on the effectiveness of blended self-management interventions in chronic lung conditions, establishing a need for more research.
Study Finds Depression, Anxiety to Be More Common in COPD Than Other Chronic Comorbidities
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were found to be more likely to take medications for depression or anxiety than for other common comorbidities associated with the disease, investigators concluded.
Korean Quality Assessment Program Found to Be Effective at Improving COPD Care
A quality assessment program conducted in the Republic of Korea may be effective in improving disease management and prognosis for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the effects may be temporary.
Low-Carb Diet May Help Achieve Type 2 Diabetes Remission, Study Finds
A review found that a low-carbohydrate diet may lead patients with type 2 diabetes to experience disease remission, potentially providing new insight into how clinicians can help patients better manage their disease, investigators concluded.
Study Finds That Physicians’ Financial Conflicts of Interest May Influence Black Lung Diagnosis
Researchers found that physicians may have a financial conflict of interest when examining a chest x-ray for black lung disease, suggesting that sweeping changes are needed to avoid biases and improve transparency.
Short-term Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide May Increase Risk of Death From Respiratory Disease
Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an air pollutant generated from automobiles, may increase risk of mortality, even if the exposure amount is well below regulatory limits, investigators concluded.