Oncology

With cancer ranking third among disease states in specialty spending, there is a growing emphasis on programs that focus on cost management and patient adherence to complex medication regimens.

Scientists are using monoclonal antibodies to help the body fight off tumors in the same way that the body fights off infections. Monoclonal antibodies that target the interaction of programmed-death receptor-1 (PD-1) on T cells and its ligand (PD-L1) on tumor cells. Merck's MK-3475 prevents the interaction of PD-1 and PD-L1, thereby inhibiting a mechanism by which some tumors avoid immune detection.

The American Journal of Managed Care presents exclusive videos from the 2013 Patient-Centered Oncology Care: Real-World Perspectives conference.