Clinical

What we're reading, January 29, 2016: newly approved hepatitis C cure will increase competition; California will vote on a proposition to control the cost of prescription drugs; and a special report details drug shortages and rationing decisions.

The FDA has created the Drug Trial Snapshot, which provides details on the demographic profiles of participants in clinical trials of approved drugs.

A review by an independent Data Monitoring Committee found that nivolumab improved overall survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, compared with the control arm.

A study presented during a health outcomes session at the American Society of Hematology meeting evaluated the difference in overall survival in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated in academic versus nonacademic hospitals.

Results presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology found that many patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia may not have access to or receive appropriate care, in part due to their insurance coverage.

Results from a patient-reported outcomes measure of symptoms and symptom burden, experienced by patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, were presented at the 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has found that smoking before and after diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with increased mortality from breast cancer as well as other conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

What we're reading, January 27, 2016: Donald Trump joins Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in calling for Medicare being given the ability to negotiate drug prices; $70 million approved for new patient-centered research projects; and the Zika virus likely to spread to the United States.

Researchers created a new tool that can measure patient satisfaction with comprehensive pharmacy programs.

The Biologics License Application for the tumor necrosis factor alpha blocker, ABP 501, was submitted following results from a phase 3 study in 500 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Personalized medicine has been the mantra in healthcare for quite some time, but finding health plans with blanket coverage policies for diagnostic testing is a struggle.

An educational session on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Hematology at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, discussed the importance of embracing the patient perspective in healthcare delivery.

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, experts discussed quality measurement, public performance reporting, and pay-for-performance and it's impact on healthcare in the United States.

Thirteen hematologists on the American Society of Hematology(ASH)'s Choosing Wisely Task Force chose the top 5 of 380 recommendations listed by 70 other societies for presentation at ASH.

What we're reading, January 25, 2016: Cigna faces sanctions from CMS; a Massachusetts senator blocks the nomination of Robert Califf, MD, for FDA commissioner; and hospitals and health systems are mostly unprepared for precision medicine.

As Americans as asked to pay a greater portion of their healthcare expenditures, new insurance design models are being implemented, such as value-based insurance design, to combat issues like nonadherence.

Patient-reported symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may contribute information that can be used to infer future exacerbations and related costs.

A look at the latest news in healthcare, including a study that identifies an increased risk of diabetes in cancer survivors, 2 FDA approvals, Senator Bernie Sanders released a plan for universal healthcare coverage in the US, and the economics of aging.

A program for homebound patients reduces spending and improves care in high-risk older Medicare beneficiaries.

Presenting patients with a one-page handout of information on additional interventions and data on the low value of a service did little to dissuade patients choosing to use a low-value service.

Carfilzomib has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with dexamethasone or lenalidomide, in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have previously received 1 to 3 lines of therapy.

An individualized comprehensive care package for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients reduces 90-day mortality.

Robert W. Dubois, MD, PhD, of National Pharmaceutical Council, will discuss care pathways, how they are created, their implementation in US healthcare, and more, on January 28, 1-2 pm ET, during a tweetchat.

At a joint session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, primary clinical reviewers from the FDA discussed the safety and efficacy issues of 3 very recently approved drugs for multiple myeloma, along with 2 clinicians who have extensive experience with these drugs in the real-world setting.

A session on the first day of the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held December 5-8, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, clinicians discussed the promise and challenges of using newly approved hematology/oncology agents.