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Specialty drug category grows with new approvals
Specialty pharmaceutical research and development spending is expected to increase with the focus on "biobetters", biosimilars, and novel therapies.
Specialty pharmaceutical research and development spending is expected to increase with the focus on "biobetters" (eg, new dosage forms, better frequencies, targeted therapies), biosimilars, and novel therapies, according to a presentation at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 2011 Educational Conference, in Atlanta.
Specialty therapy classes such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), have grown from 4 (2004) to 9 agents; multiple sclerosis (MS) from 4 (2004) to 8 agents; renal cell carcinoma from 0 (2004) to 6 agents; and hereditary angioedema from 0 (2004) to 4 agents.
"FDA has been approving larger numbers of specialty medications," according to Aimee Tharaldson, PharmD, senior clinical consultant of Emerging Therapeutics at Express Scripts, a pharmacy benefit manager in Bloomington, Minn. "In 2010, they approved twice as many specialty medications as traditional [14 versus 7]. So far this year, they have approved 15 specialty medications; 5 more may be approved before the end of the year. Based on the current pipeline, 2012 will be a significant year for specialty approvals."
Current leading classes are still inflammatory conditions, MS, and oncology. Oral anti-inflammatory biologics will compete with anti-TNF agents. More "biobetters" and agents for refractory gout may be available. Pipeline oral anti-inflammatory agents include apremilast (psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis) and the new Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib (RA, psoriasis). Pipeline oral MS drugs include dimethyl fumarate/BG-12, teriflunomide, and laquinimod, as well as injectable alemtuzumab. The HCV pipeline is robust with more than 20 products, including more oral protease inhibitors, and oral polymerase inhibitors, as well as direct acting antivirals. New for CF is an oral agent VX-770, or ivacaftor (Kalydeco), which may be the first agent approved to treat the underlying disease.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
