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What We’re Reading: CAR T Therapy Warning; Child Flu Cases; Alzheimer Blood Test
Pharmaceutical companies required to update prescribing information for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies; Texas dashboard reports a 40% increase in pediatric flu cases; a blood test shows high accuracy for Alzheimer disease biomarkers.
Boxed Warning for CAR T-Cell Cancer Therapies
The FDA has directed pharmaceutical companies, such as Gilead Sciences, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis, to incorporate a boxed warning in the prescribing information for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell cancer therapies, according to Reuters. This decision follows reports of patients developing T-cell malignancies, including lymphoma and leukemia, after receiving CAR T treatments. While Novartis has confirmed the update for its CAR T-cell therapy tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah), other pharmaceutical companies are evaluating next steps for their respective therapies amid concerns raised by the FDA regarding the risks of T-cell malignancy associated with these cancer treatments.
Surge in Flu Cases Among Texas Children Amid Low Vaccination Rates
The Texas Department of State Health Services has introduced a new dashboard providing real time and historical data on respiratory virus cases, focusing on the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19, according to CBS News. For instance, the Children's Health system in North Texas has experienced a concerning 40% rise in flu cases among children in clinics, doctor's offices, and emergency departments. The CDC reported that only 46.9% of children have received their flu vaccine this season, a figure significantly below the normal rate. While the Children's Health data show that COVID-19 and RSV cases in children are on the decline, health officials are closely monitoring the situation.
Blood Test Shows Promise in Early Detection of Alzheimer Disease
A groundbreaking study suggests that testing blood for the protein phosphorylated tau (p-tau) could provide a highly accurate screening method for Alzheimer disease, even before symptoms manifest, according to CNN. The research focused on the biomarker p-tau217, demonstrating up to 96% accuracy in identifying elevated beta amyloid levels and up to 97% accuracy in detecting tau, crucial indicators of Alzheimer disease pathology. The blood test, known as the ALZpath pTau217 assay, may offer a cost-effective and accessible alternative to current diagnostic methods, providing an opportunity for early intervention and personalized patient management.
Tackling Health Inequality: The Power of Education and Experience
April 30th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our final episode of this limited series and our conversation with Janine Jelks-Seale, MSPPM, director of health equity at UPMC Health Plan.
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Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Bimekizumab Shows Promising 52-Week Safety and Efficacy in Psoriatic Arthritis
May 3rd 2024Promising results presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2024 annual meeting support the safety and efficacy of bimekizumab treatment in patients with active psoriatic arthritis who had previously shown inadequate response or intolerance to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.
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