Articles related to HEALTHCARE ACCESS

Bridging the Gap: Twinning Programs Improve Pediatric Cancer Survival Rates Across Borders In a world where a few miles can determine the fate of a child with cancer, twinning programs are making a significant difference. These initiatives, which pair hospitals across borders, are helping to bridge the survival gap in pediatric acute leukemia between high-income and lower-income countries. Key Points: “There’s no pediatric centers in many of the mountain west states. If your kid gets cancer in Wyoming, you gotta go to Utah or Colorado or Mayo in Minnesota. But here, there’s really nice evidence that providing the right protocols, training, staff, and more, we could do this in more places and improve outcomes without developing a new drug.” Gwen Nichols, chief medical officer of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Oncologists and cancer drug shortages are creating a crisis, with patient care at risk and legal liabilities looming. In the face of critical cancer drug shortages, oncologists grapple with suboptimal patient care and possible legal liabilities. The issue worsens due to insufficient guidelines for alternative treatment options. A contributing factor is the weak financial incentive for drug manufacturers to produce unprofitable generic drugs, compared to branded ones. Consequently, there’s greater dependence on foreign factories, leading to supply chain hitches and quality control issues. Barbara McAneny, MD, CEO of New Mexico Cancer Center, foresees drug shortages persisting, particularly affecting low-cost treatments. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) reports shortages of vital oncology drugs like methotrexate, cisplatin, carboplatin, and fluorouracil, crucial for treating various common cancers. Furthermore, the lack of guidelines on alternative treatments exacerbates oncologists’ concerns about patient outcomes and legal liabilities. This absence of direction leaves physicians making crucial decisions single-handedly. In response, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has formed an advisory group to develop clinical guidance during these drug shortages. Immediate recommendations include reprioritizing nonessential use of scarce antineoplastic drugs, increasing interval cycles, reducing doses when clinically acceptable, and selecting evidence-based alternatives. Dr. Jeff Patton, CEO […]

Dr. Vanita Noronha from the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai emphasizes the need for rethinking drug dosing approaches for modern therapies like nivolumab, an immunotherapy. Ongoing and planned trials in India are exploring cost-effective alternative dosing regimens due to the prohibitive cost of standard-dose therapies. Dr. Vanita Noronha from the Tata Memorial Centre highlighted the role of factors such as pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, receptor affinity, and drug elimination in determining drug dosing during a Q&A session with Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology. The traditional dosing approach does not apply to modern therapies like nivolumab, an immunotherapy that binds to the PD-1 protein. According to Dr. Noronha, the drug reaches receptor saturation at a low dose, and hence increasing dosage does not increase receptor binding. For nivolumab to be effective, 70-75% of the PD-1 receptor needs to be occupied, which occurs at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg, only a tenth of the usually administered dose of 3 mg/kg. Dr. Noronha further described a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2023 on low-dose nivolumab in head and neck cancer. The study, conducted with Indian patients who cannot afford standard dosing, used a regimen of oral metronomic chemotherapy along with […]

Pfizer and Thermo Fisher Scientific have partnered to expand access to next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based testing for lung and breast cancer patients in over 30 countries across Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The collaboration aims to address the limited availability of advanced genomic testing in these regions. Local access to NGS testing can provide faster analysis of associated genes, enabling healthcare providers to select the most appropriate therapy for individual patients. Thermo Fisher will identify local laboratories that will use their NGS technology and ensure they meet industry standards, while Pfizer will explore ways to make NGS testing affordable and raise awareness among healthcare providers. The companies plan to expand geographically and extend testing to other types of cancer. The global burden of cancer is expected to rise significantly, with breast and lung cancer being the leading types responsible for millions of deaths worldwide. To improve treatment outcomes, the collaboration seeks to deliver precision insights to underserved patients through rapid NGS testing conducted in decentralized labs closer to where patients are treated. The program aims to provide tailored care for cancer patients worldwide, acknowledging that individualized approaches based on precise disease characteristics are often required. By adopting next-generation […]

The United States is currently experiencing a shortage of Adderall, a medication used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD)/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The FDA, in frequent communication with manufacturers, has not provided a clear timeline for when the shortage will be resolved. The shortage is attributed to various factors. The demand for Adderall has increased significantly, with a 10% rise in prescriptions filled in 2021 compared to the previous year. The US Drug Enforcement Agency’s efforts to combat prescription drug misuse have also played a role in limiting production. Furthermore, the pandemic led to the emergence of telemedicine startups, making it easier for individuals to obtain Adderall prescriptions, sometimes inaccurately. While waiting for the supply to be restored, healthcare professionals can consider alternative therapies such as dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate, and dextroamphetamine.

Single-tablet regimen (STR) coverage under qualified health plans (QHPs) varies widely across the US. Although bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) coverage has grown over time, many QHPs in priority jurisdictions for the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) have coinsurance requirements. Delay in QHP coverage and benefit design may hinder access to new antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens.