June 2012

The FDA has approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc's Kalydeco (ivacaftor) tablets for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in patients who are 6 years and older.

Bristol-Myers Squibb's Sprycel (dasatinib) tablets were approved by the FDA for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase.

Competition is heating up in the specialty marketplace as investment capital is drawn in and the pharmaceutical industry shifts from traditional brand-name drugs to specialty drugs over the next few years.

Cardinal Health has expanded its services with an end-to-end solution for specialty oncology drug management covered under the medical and pharmacy benefits.

The challenges of new oral chemotherapy treatments lead to a renewed focus on high-touch patient care and the expanded role of the specialty pharmacist.

A holistic, focused approach to patients ensures that pharmacy needs are met and optimal treatment results are achieved. The close coordination of the entire health care team for individual therapeutic care is the goal.

Complex distribution challenges for manufacturers of specialty drugs require life science and cold chain experts to provide a faster, better way of distributing these life-saving medications.

Specialty pharmacies are becoming more involved in programs that focus on the management of oral oncolytics. The role of health care workers, including pharmacists, physicians, and nurses, is being defined as this therapeutic class grows.

Technology solutions are commonly deployed to support key work flow operations and the increasing demands of reporting requirements. Here's the first installment of a 2-part article that examines important technological considerations in the specialty pharmacy work flow.

Incentives in the 2010 health care law have encouraged consolidation in the health care marketplace toward a more cost-conscious managed health care market.

Specialized nursing home care organizations have emerged to provide and coordinate clinical care that is specific to brand-new therapies and help communicate the value of these new drugs.

It's all about communication when transitioning new business contracts, and that process will require careful oversight, successful data exchange, and a flexible approach.

This expert analysis and rich historical perspective on AMP offers valuable insights into the new AMP Proposed Rule and how it affects specialty pharmacy.

As industry invests billions into self-administered oncolytics, specialty pharmacy steps in. This special issue focuses on the cutting-edge, real-world practices and successes of specialty pharmacy in oncology.

Taking a comprehensive look at the ever-changing and always challenging oncology scene, we present a variety of topics and voices to understand this complex world and the significant impact of specialty pharmacists.