Panelists discuss how diagnostic challenges in immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy lead to delayed identification, missed treatment windows, and increased risk of irreversible kidney damage due to the requirement for invasive biopsy, nonspecific symptoms, and variable disease presentation.
Experts discuss the evidence supporting the National Lipid Association’s (NLA) recommendation for universal lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) measurement and evaluate how compelling this evidence is from a clinical perspective.
A panelist discusses how real-world evidence from a large cohort study (n = 31521) presented at AAD 2025 reveals notable differences in treatment patterns, discontinuation rates, persistence, and adherence among psoriasis patients treated with different biologics including tildrakizumab, risankizumab, guselkumab, and ustekinumab, with implications for clinical decision-making based on early versus late disease onset and prior biologic exposure.
Panelists discuss how patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy typically present with microscopic or gross hematuria, often during upper respiratory infections, along with variable proteinuria and sometimes hypertension or decreased kidney function.
Experts discuss how guideline recommendations influence formulary decisions regarding preventive measures like lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) testing, exploring the varying recommendations from organizations such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Heart Association, and the National Lipid Association (NLA), and how these align with recent guidance from Europe and Canada.
Panelists discuss how hesitancy in prescribing amyloid-targeting therapies stems from multiple factors including concerns about ARIA adverse effects, modest clinical efficacy data, high treatment costs and limited insurance coverage, logistical challenges of regular infusions and monitoring, infrastructure requirements for specialized imaging, uncertainty about long-term benefits, and the need for careful patient selection within appropriate disease stages.
Experts discuss how to evaluate and communicate the return on investment for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) coverage to overcome cost-related barriers, explore strategies other payers could adopt based on the success of Metro Nashville Public Schools' initiative to provide CGM devices without prior authorization, and examine the impact of removing prior authorization requirements on appropriate patient selection and utilization, along with which aspects of this model could be adopted by other employers and the resources needed to implement similar programs.
Panelists discuss how significant gaps in current uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) therapies include insufficient nonantibiotic preventive strategies, limited options for multidrug-resistant pathogens, inadequate personalized treatment approaches, minimal focus on biofilm disruption, lack of rapid point-of-care diagnostics to guide targeted therapy, poor understanding of the urinary microbiome’s role in infection susceptibility, and insufficient research into immunomodulatory interventions that could address the underlying mechanisms of recurrence and resistance development.
Panelists discuss how ideal candidates for amyloid-targeting therapy typically present with biomarker-confirmed early-stage Alzheimer disease, demonstrate positive amyloid PET scans or CSF biomarkers, exhibit mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, lack contraindications such as significant cerebrovascular disease or anticoagulant use, have adequate support systems for monitoring and managing potential adverse effects, and would benefit from comprehensive pretreatment evaluations including brain MRI and APOE genotyping.
Experts discuss the disparities observed in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) access and utilization with Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) now stratifying 22 measures by race and ethnicity, and how these insights can inform strategies to improve health equity, along with successful strategies implemented to improve CGM access and technology literacy in underserved communities.
Panelists discuss how fluoroquinolones are generally reserved for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) only when first-line options are contraindicated or pathogen resistance is confirmed, with treatment duration ranging from single-dose fosfomycin to 3 to 5 days for most antibiotics and 7 to 10 days for nitrofurantoin, noting shorter regimens typically achieve 85% to 95% adherence rates compared with 60% to 75% for longer courses, significantly affecting treatment success, particularly when patient factors such as adverse effects, dosing complexity, and lifestyle disruptions are considered.
Panelists discuss how immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy diagnosis requires kidney biopsy with immunofluorescence showing dominant or codominant IgA deposits in the mesangium, often accompanied by C3 and sometimes IgG or IgM.
Experts discuss an example illustrating the association between lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) levels and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and explore how this example can inform our understanding of Lp(a) and ASCVD risk on a population level.
A panelist discusses how real-world evidence from a large cohort study (n = 31521) presented at AAD 2025 reveals notable differences in treatment patterns, discontinuation rates, persistence, and adherence among psoriasis patients treated with different biologics including tildrakizumab, risankizumab, guselkumab, and ustekinumab, with implications for clinical decision-making based on early versus late disease onset and prior biologic exposure.
Experts discuss the genetic determinants of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) levels, providing evidence supporting this conclusion. They also explore how the hereditary nature of Lp(a) can drive awareness of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and aortic stenosis risk, potentially influencing screening protocols.
Panelists discuss how immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy develops through a complex 4-hit cascade involving aberrant IgA1 glycosylation, anti-glycan antibody formation, immune complex deposition, and inflammatory kidney damage.
Experts discuss innovations and advancements in bispecific antibodies that could transform their use in the next 5 years.
Experts discuss how bispecifics might be incorporated earlier in the lines of treatment for certain cancers, the steps that can be taken to improve access to bispecific therapies in underserved or rural community settings, and how partnerships among academic centers, manufacturers, and community practices can help accelerate the adoption of bispecific antibodies.
Experts discuss the most promising applications of bispecifics in solid tumors and other emerging therapeutic areas.
Experts discuss how payer and reimbursement considerations affect access to bispecific therapies in different practice settings.
Experts discuss how institutions can address the resource and bandwidth challenges that come with administering complex therapies like bispecifics.
Panelists discuss how standard-of-care antibiotics for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) show varying efficacy, with nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin demonstrating superior response rates (85%-95%) compared with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (70%-80% due to increasing resistance) and first-generation cephalosporins (80%-90%), and how cost-effectiveness depends on local resistance patterns, patient adherence to dosing schedules, medication costs and insurance coverage, treatment duration, recurrence rates, comorbidities, and potential adverse effects requiring additional interventions.
Panelists discuss how clinicians should interpret Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score changes by correlating numerical shifts with meaningful real-world outcomes, considering both the statistical significance and clinical meaningfulness of changes, recognizing that even modest improvements may represent significant functional preservation for patients, and contextualizing these changes within individual patient circumstances, disease trajectory, and impact on quality of life.
Experts discuss the role of technology, such as electronic health record (EHR) integration, in improving the operationalization of bispecific antibodies.
Experts discuss how current coverage policies and prior authorization requirements affect continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) access and adoption rates, and how coverage barriers impact the ability to provide timely CGM access, particularly for patients who could benefit most.
Panelists discuss how amyloid-targeting therapies for Alzheimer disease represent a breakthrough drug class that works by binding to and removing beta-amyloid plaques through various mechanisms, demonstrating modest cognitive decline reduction in clinical trials while presenting safety considerations including amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), infusion reactions, and the need for careful patient selection and monitoring protocols.
Experts discuss why it is critical to have standardized protocols in place for managing cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in patients receiving bispecific antibodies, outlining the key components of an effective CRS management protocol as well as best practices for transitions of care between settings when administering and managing bispecifics.
Panelists discuss how uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are typically managed with empiric short-course antibiotics based on local resistance patterns while identifying significant gaps in the outdated 2010 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines, including insufficient guidance on emerging resistance trends, limited recommendations for alternative therapies, inadequate consideration of patient-specific factors, absence of antimicrobial stewardship protocols, and minimal direction on prevention strategies for recurrent infections.
Experts discuss the most significant barriers to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) implementation encountered in their respective roles and how these barriers vary across different patient populations and care settings.
Experts discuss proactive steps health care teams, including pharmacists, can take to minimize delays and overcome payer-related barriers when prescribing third-line therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and how collaboration between health care teams, payers, and manufacturers can be improved to reduce care delays.
