Clinical

Although providers might turn to PCSK9 inhibitors to treat patients at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or familial hypercholesterolemia for whom statins do not work, the initial denial rate for this therapy can be very high.

Based on the results of the phase 2 ZUMA-1 trial in patients with refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Kite Pharma has submitted for, and received, a priority review for its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell treatment, axicabtagene ciloleucel.

Gene therapies have tremendous potential. They are a short treatment that could have lifelong effects. However, the very expensive therapies have a lot of unknowns and raise a number of ethical and practicality questions.

The drug is now indicated for adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient solid tumors that lack suitable alternative treatments or that have progressed on treatment.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports that black Medicare enrollees are less likely to receive colonoscopy from more highly-rated physicians, which could increase their risk for interval colorectal cancer.

Comprehensive genetic testing using multigene testing panels for prostate cancer can arm genetic counselors with the information they need to guide precision therapy, even in men with early stage disease but a strong family history of the disease.