Mike Hennessy Sr, chairman & founder

Scientific innovations and medical advancements are leading to promising new treatments for many types of cancer, as the challenges for patients and pharmacists continue to evolve.

We’re focusing on hematologic cancer news this month, while also keeping coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the forefront of oncology pharmacy. Because of the ongoing pandemic and the propensity for potential high-risk complications for patients with cancer, COVID-19 remains an important topic in cancer care.

Editor in Chief Dan Steiber, RPh, leads the issue on page 6 with a discussion on the role of hematology-oncology pharmacists. In his editor’s note, Steiber addresses the day-to-day function of hematology-oncology pharmacists, as well as the education they provide to patients and caregivers and the role they serve in drug research.

In our cover story on page 60, Jerry A. Barbee Jr, PharmD, BCPS, CPh; Glenn Schulman, PharmD, MS, BCPS, BCACP, BCGP, BCIDP; and PharmD candidates Chance G. Partlow and Caitlin M. Sacco write about the management of hematologic cancer therapies with a reduction of COVID-19 risk to patients. The authors consider strategies for minimizing the risk of viral exposure in patients who are undergoing treatment for various types of lymphomas, leukemias, and myelomas. They also weigh treatment options for patients who have a diagnosis of both cancer and COVID-19.

In the Patient Consultation section on page 64, author Jill Drury, PharmD, discusses the benefits of brown bag sessions and presents a new hypothetical case study. A patient comes to the pharmacy for COVID-19 vaccination and shares with a pharmacist some troubling symptoms as well as his medication profile.

The multiple myeloma pipeline is the subject of an article on page 16 by Keith Wellman, PharmD, BCPS, MBA. Wellman discusses potential new and innovative therapies that are garnering optimism. Among the investigational drugs are chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, and other treatment options.

Multiple myeloma is also the subject of a recent 

® Peer Exchange series. Experts discussed the current landscape and the management of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, including the latest data and potential treatment strategies on the horizon, during this video series. The highlight of the discussion is featured in this issue of 

Although we are highlighting hematology-oncology pharmacy this month, the issue also includes news on colorectal, breast, lung, and other cancers.

Articles

We’re focusing on hematologic cancer news this month, while also keeping coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the forefront of oncology pharmacy. 

Treating Hematologic Cancers With Evolving Therapies, Health Challenges

AS the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to present challenges and flu season arrives, specialty pharmacy is pushing forward. The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) is among many professional organizations that have met the unique circumstances of 2020 head-on with adaptation and innovation.

The annual NASP conference has become a can’t-miss event for specialty stakeholders to stay abreast of rapid developments in the field, offering opportunities to meet with key opinion leaders. Although NASP was unable to hold this year’s meeting in person with specialty pharmacy professionals, the association gathered its membership in a unique digital space instead.

NASP 2020 Annual Meeting & Expo Virtual Experience

 offered a new dynamic: 5 days of educational sessions, networking opportunities, posters, an online exhibit hall, and other elements, all addressing the needs of specialty pharmacy while adapting to limitations set by the pandemic. In this issue of 

™, we present a comprehensive recap of NASP’s virtual annual meeting, held September 14 to 18, 2020.

One of the keynote speakers, NFL legend Jim Kelly, delivered a poignant, timely message to meeting attendees about the value of perseverance. He spoke about tough challenges he has faced, including his son’s rare disease and death. These difficulties taught him resilience and prepared him for a battle with squamous cell carcinoma. Kelly's story is on page 26.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also brought increased attention to telehealth services and their importance in serving patients unable to visit a pharmacy or other care providers. We address key telehealth issues for concerned pharmacists, such as ongoing prescriber verification challenges and the need for a universal patient identifier, on page 9.

In another NASP meeting session, expert panelists shared on-the-job lessons they’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite obstacles and some weaknesses revealed by the pandemic, these experts also see opportunity for lasting changes that may be beneficial to specialty pharmacy. An article on page 18 highlights the insights from this session.

In addition to issues related to the pandemic, the NASP meeting featured an overview of the specialty pharmacy pipeline, state-of-care sessions for different conditions, an update on 340B drug pricing, continuing education topics for various disease states and medications, and many other discussions of interest to pharmacists.

You can stay on top of the latest developments in specialty pharmacy on our daily news website at www.PharmacyTimes.com. Follow us on social media channels and through our e-newsletters (sign up at pharmacytimes.org/signup) to assure your pharmacy is prepared to prosper in these challenging times.

The annual NASP conference has become a can’t-miss event for specialty stakeholders to stay abreast of rapid developments in the field, offering opportunities to meet with key opinion leaders.

Specialty Pharmacy Updates at Your Fingertips With Virtual NASP Meeting

AS THE MOST ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, pharmacists are in the midst of the most significant health care crisis in generations.

With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pharmacists throughout the world are called not just to dispense medications but also, importantly, to be a source of critical information and support for the public.

Pharmacists provide patient care in all practice settings, including ambulatory clinics, community health centers, community pharmacies, hospice settings, hospitals, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, physicians’ offices, specialty pharmacies, and the uniformed services. Several states give pharmacists the authority and training to conduct influenza and strep testing. Additionally, more than 360,000 pharmacists have been trained and certified to administer vaccines.

Pharmacists could become even more involved by being allowed to administer the COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test once it is developed and distributed. There will be a huge demand for COVID-19 vaccinations, and trained and certified pharmacists would be a natural fit for the list of approved providers and should be appropriately compensated.

Pharmacy boards are permitting pharmacist discretion, using professional judgment, in providing patient access to refills of critical medications. Additionally, many states are encouraging home and mail delivery for patients who have been instructed to stay at home.

In this issue, we discuss the numerous ways in which the pandemic affects pharmacists, including telemedicine, professional development, and the need for greater transparency by generic drug manufacturers. In addition, our cover feature provides updates in sunscreen, products that will be essential as the weather warms up and normal life starts to resume.

® hosted the webinar titled “The Value of the Pharmacist in Treating COVID-19.” This well-attended discussion, led by 

® Editor-in- Chief Troy Trygstad, PharmD, PhD, MBA, covered pharmacists’ significant role in treating the outbreak, home delivery, and increased demand for services, including drive-through. Visit pharmacytimes.com/webinars-webcasts/the-value-of-the-pharmacist- in-treating-covid-19 to join experts as they talk about the vital role of pharmacists during the pandemic.

Also be sure to check out our website’s Pharmacy Heroes resource center, which provides clinical articles and news; conference and meeting coverage; and links to condition-specific resources, videos, and other content related to pharmacists and their role in fighting COVID-19.

Please stay healthy and well as you perform your heroic work on behalf of patients.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, pharmacists throughout the world are called not just to dispense medications but also, importantly, to be a source of critical information and support for the public.