Hematology

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Brady Stein, MD, MHSc, of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, on what polycythemia vera (PV) is and why it was important to understand mortality and causes of death among patients with PV.

Pharmacy Times® interviewed Christopher Moxham of Fulcrum Therapeutics, on what sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemias are caused by, and how hemoglobin gamma can prevent or reduce disease-related pathophysiology in these disorders.

In recent years, digital health devices have offered pathways for patients to record and send data, which may ultimately encourage the patient to be more interactive in their disease management.

Five oral presentations will include data on the use of gilteritinib, either as monotherapy or in combination, across the spectrum of patients with acute myeloid leukemia with a positive FLT3 mutation.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, several promising drugs are expected to hit the market in late 2020 and early 2021.

Beta-blockers could be used as a potential treatment for COVID-19, according to a study by Italian and Australian researchers.

In the digital age, exponential technologies are converging and transforming how we engage in health care.

Although cancer deaths with the highest death rates per capita accounted for the greatest number of years lost, the study authors said cancers that typically occur in younger populations had a disproportionate share of the burden.

It can be administered as a fixed-dose formulation over approximately 3 to 5 minutes, which is significantly less time than the intravenous (IV) formulation.

The study was done in an effort to help quickly develop pharmaceutical treatments for COVID-19 by repurposing existing drugs known to effectively treat other viral diseases, according to the study authors.

Results of a recent study confirmed that patients already taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) should not discontinue taking them due to COVID-19 infection.

FDA grants fast track designation to the BTK inhibitor rilzabrutinib for the treatment of patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

For patients with COVID-19, the combination of the disease and preexisting atrial arrhythmias may create a pathologic synergy that significantly increases the risk for major adverse cardiac events and death.

The research team described how approximately 12 minutes of acute cardiopulmonary exercise affected more than 80% of circulating metabolites, including pathways linked to a wide range of favorable health outcomes, thus identifying potential mechanisms that could contribute to a better understanding of the cardiometabolic benefits of exercise.

A review of the biologics license application for lisocabtagene maraleucel in the treatment of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma following at least 2 previous therapies has been delayed.

The researchers examined the health records of more than 1100 adults, who had an average age of 45 years, were 52% female, and who are participants in the ongoing Childhood Determinants of Adult Health study.

Individuals who regularly consume chili peppers may live longer and may have a significantly reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or cancer

Centhaquine was found to improve survival in those with hypovolemic shock.

A CDC report reveals that approximately 9% of teens between the ages of 15 and 19 received an opioid prescription in 2018.

In a study published in Physics of Fluids, modeling conducted in June 2020 showed strains of COVID-19 on surfaces—such as metal, leather, and plastic—were killed in as little as 30 seconds of treatment with argon-fed, cold atmospheric plasma.

Higher fitness levels reduced the risk of developing atrial fibrillation by up to 50% in a study of Black male veterans.

Statin use in certain patients may lead to increased muscle pain so severe it can affect adherence.

Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the FDA to expand the use of rivaroxaban in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Patients recently diagnosed with cancer are significantly more likely to quit smoking and remain tobacco-free if they receive frequent phone counseling over an extended period of time.

The study found patients who received radiation 34 days or fewer before their infusion with CART-B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) cells did not have worse rates of severe cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity, which are 2 common adverse effects of the cellular therapy.

Researchers from 2 independent studies have found that SARS-CoV-2 may be more capable of infecting human cells due to the virus’ spike protein recognizing and binding to neuropilin-1.

Angiotensin receptor II blockers are often prescribed to control hypertension or for heart failure, kidney failure, or following a heart attack.

Earlier studies have suggested that statins can potentially benefit some forms of cancer and dementia, meaning investigators could design drugs based on these beneficial effects.

Data show that children with cancer who are experiencing neighborhood poverty and rely on public health insurance have an increased risk of death with stem cell treatment.

Pharmacists assist their colleagues in drug preparation, ensure that patients understand treatment expectations, manage adverse effects, and provide monitoring and follow-up to improve quality of life and patient outcomes.