Latest Conference Articles

Legislation regarding the promotion of healthcare economic information is outdated and does not reflect the changes that have occurred since the FDA Modernization Act (FDAMA) was passed in 1997, contended speakers at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s 2016 Nexus, held in National Harbor, Maryland, October 3-6.

Perennial favorite, Aimee Tharaldson, PharmD, senior clinical consultant of emerging therapeutics at Express Scripts, opened the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2016 Nexus, October 3, 2016, in National Harbor, Maryland, with a discussion of specialty pharmaceutical drugs in the pipeline.

The 4-part lecture, “Practical Application of Novel Targeted Strategies in Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis” covered the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), new insights into the pathophysiology in AD, considerations for change in the treatment of AD, and the latest developments in treatment.

Positive data from two Phase 3 clinical trials that show Dupixent (dupilumab) is effective in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis was announced at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress in Vienna, Austria.

Demonstrating the efficacy of antiretroviral therapies and other treatments in preventing the spread of HIV, Thomas Quinn, MD, showed that there is hope for decreasing HIV transmissions across the world. He cautioned, however, that HIV/AIDS still remains a global pandemic, and more work must be done to accelerate the rate of decrease in HIV infections.

For a long time, researchers were unsure if atopic dermatitis was primarily a barrier disease or an immune-driven disease, but dupilumab has provided a more clear-cut answer, said Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York.

Timothy M. Johnson, MD, spoke enthusiastically about the possibilities of sentinel lymph node biopsy in his lecture at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress in Vienna, Austria. His presentation, called “Melanoma Sentinel Node Biopsy: Past, Present and Future in the New Era of Systemic Therapies,” covered guidelines for the procedure as well as new possibilities for melanoma patients.

Thursday at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress in Vienna, Austria, 2 presentations focused on the effects of crisaborole topical ointment, 2%, in treating atopic dermatitis.

Patients with melanoma have more promising options than ever with the advent of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, said Mario Lacouture, MD, director of the Oncodermatology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His research aims to provide patients the best possible quality of life while taking these treatments, which can often have adverse effects.

Research has shown that care provided through teledermatology is comparable to that delivered in face-to-face appointments, and future dermatologists are being taught to deliver care this way to improve patient access to expert dermatological care, said Nellie Konnikov, MD, professor and chief of dermatology at the Boston Department of Veterans Affairs.

Focus on behavioral interventions to prevent HIV transmission has been unsuccessful but the more recent intervention of using antiretroviral drugs has more promise, said Thomas C. Quinn, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health.

A recent clinical trial found that SD-101, a new proprietary topical allantoin cream, can help treat epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The study is a breakthrough in EB treatment and research as treatment options for this rare and painful rare connective tissue disorder are limited.

Mohs surgery is generally the gold standard for rare and more aggressive tumors because the surgeon can ensure the roots of the tumor are gone, but the technique keeps the hole small, said Ally-Khan B. Somani, MD, PhD, at the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress.

Plenary lecturer Stephen I. Katz, MD, PhD, director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and adjunct investigator in the Dermatology Branch of the National Cancer Institute opened the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress in Vienna, Austria, with a discussion on past and future advances in dermatology.

Reimbursement issues surrounding Mohs surgery are getting worse, which provides a challenge for surgeons who would perform the procedure, explained Aleksandar L. Krunic, MD, PhD, during the 25th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress.

While there has been some recent progress, bias pervades healthcare when it comes to obesity treatment. This gives patients less access to care than they receive for other chronic conditions, even though obesity causes some of those conditions.

More than 3500 sites offer diabetes self-management education, and speakers at the annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators discussed how this system could be engaged to bring the Diabetes Prevention Program to all 50 states.

Despite recent progress by advocates, children with type 1 diabetes still face discrimination at school. A panel at the meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators spelled out what laws apply, what plans schools must have, and how certified diabetes educators can help allay fears and misunderstanding.

An administrator and a dietitian presented their blueprint for shared appointments, which they said offer patients both individual attention and group support.

The transition to a value-based payment system may ultimately reward diabetes educators, but right now these professionals see challenges on the front lines.

Payers are making investments in care coordination to halt the overuse of services and medication. Certified diabetes educators (CDEs) are ideal candidates for this role, since so much of high healthcare spending is due to chronic disease.

A study found that certified diabetes educators embedded in a primary practice, while consulting with an endocrinologist, were able to dramatically improve A1C in a short time by overcoming clinical inertia.

Getting diabetes self-management education within reach of the target audience means putting trainers into primary care practices. A program from the University of Washington shows how to transport lessons from an academic center into local clinics.

The importance of care coordination and the role of diabetes educators in the primary care practice is a theme of the 2016 meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, taking place in San Diego, California.

Using an algorithm to recommend insulin dosing, both in and out of the hospital, was shown to improve glycemic control and aid population health management.

The diabetes advocacy community has long sought Medicare coverage for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, but the technology has been deemed "precautionary." Abstracts presented at last week's ADA Scientific Sessions could help build a case for updating FDA's clearance to use CGM for dosing, removing a hurdle to Medicare coverage.

The pair of studies evaluating the technology were presented at the American Diabetes Association and simultaneously published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.

Reseachers are studying whether drugs that have been approved for treating type 2 diabetes can be used in combination with insulin to avoid both variablity in blood glucose and weight gain.

A packed session greeted the highly anticipated results of the LEADER trial, which found that the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide has cardiovascular benefits in high-risk patients with diabetes.

Data from CDC consistently show that low-income, minority groups are at higher risk for diabetes, for genetic but especially for environmental reasons.