During this webcast, a panel of experts in the field of ketamine therapy discuss the role of the pharmacist in this field and the future of ketamine and assisted therapies based on current medical research.

The panel included Peter Koshland, PharmD, BS, CEO of Koshland Pharm and a practicing pharmacist; Jonathan Sabbagh, CEO and co-founder of Journey Clinical; Kyle Lapidus, MD, PhD, CMO at Validose and medical director at Journey Clinical; Celia Morgan, PhD, head of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for addiction at Awakn Life Sciences; and Steve Levine, MD, vice president of patient access at COMPASS Pathways and chairman at Heading Health.

The expert panel discussed the following:

Ketamine’s current use and its approved treatment targets.

Potential treatment targets for ketamine currently under investigation.

The current role of the pharmacy/compounding pharmacy in ketamine therapy.

The role of the pharmacist in supporting other forms of ketamine therapy outside of the sublingual self-administration form.

Challenges pharmacies face regarding monitoring patient adherence, compliance, and use of ketamine as a treatment.

Current pharmacy practices relating to ketamine and their associated influence on the future practices for other psychedelic medicines currently under investigation, such as MDMA and psilocybin.

The potential future role of pharmacy in ketamine therapy and other psychedelic medicines.

Videos

A panel of experts in the field of ketamine therapy discuss the role of the pharmacist in this field and the future of ketamine and assisted therapies based on current medical research.

Webcast: The Role of the Pharmacy in Ketamine Therapy, Future of Ketamine Treatment

 interviewed Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, professor in the Department of Dermatology and the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, on her recent presentation at the Society of Hematologic Oncology Annual Meeting 2021 conference on the treatment of advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) in 2021.

During this discussion, Pinter-Brown addresses how the treatment of CTCL has changed in recent years and whether there have been any advancements of note.

Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, of UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, addresses how the treatment of advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma has changed in recent years and whether there have been any advancements of note.

How CTCL Treatment Strategies Have Changed, Advanced in Recent Years

Pharmacy Times recently spoke with Andrea Silber, MD, the associate director for clinical research at the Center for Community Engagement and Health Equity within Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center. In the interview, Silber said the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated disparities that already existed within oncology care, and she said the effects of these disparities on patients are very real and direct.

In addition, Silber said that although she's excited to see more data at the upcoming 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, it is not enough to research and write about the disparities. Tackling these issues will require direct, intentional action.

Andrea Silber, MD, said the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated disparities that already existed within oncology care, and she said the effects of these disparities on patients are very real and direct.

Tackling Disparities in Oncology Requires Action, As Well As Research

During this discussion, Pinter-Brown provides an overview of key trials that have been conducted in the CTCL space in recent years.

Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, of UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides an overview of key trials that have been conducted in the advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma space in recent years.

Overview of Recent Key Trials in the CTCL Space 

In part 2 of their discussion on COVID-19 vaccine mandates, experts Ned Milenkovich, PharmD, and Ron Lanton III, Esq., discussed how provider status could impact potential legal issues around COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

In the discussion, Lanton and Milenkovich discussed issues specific to grocery store pharmacies, how politicization is impacting the debate, and how individual states could mandate vaccines differently.

In part 2 of their discussion on COVID-19 vaccine mandates, experts Ned Milenkovich, PharmD, and Ron Lanton III, Esq., discussed how provider status could impact potential legal issues around COVID-19 vaccine mandates.



Provider Status Could Impact Legal Issues Around COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in Pharmacies

In 2016, the FDA approved  immune globulin subcutaneous (human), 20% solution (Cuvitru) for primary immunodeficiency (PI) in patients 2 years and older.

PI is a group of more than 300 genetic disorders where part of the body’s immune system is missing or functions improperly. It affects as many as 6 million individuals worldwide.

Cuvitru is the only 20% subcutaneous immunoglobulin (IG) treatment option without proline and with the ability to infuse up to 60 mL (12 g) per site and 60 mL per hour per site as tolerated, resulting in fewer infusion sites and shorter infusion durations compared with other conventional subcutaneous IG treatments. 

Regardless of infusion rate or volume per site, the drug was generally associated with a low incidence of local adverse and systemic reactions in a phase 2/3 study among North American patients that was published in the 

Immune globulin subcutaneous (human), 20% solution (Cuvitru) is approved for primary immunodeficiency in patients 2 years of age and older.

Pharmacist Medication Insights: Cuvitru for Primary Immunodeficiency

Thomas Menighan, co-founder of PursueCare and the CEO Emeritus of the American Pharmacists Association, discussed National Recovery Month, substance use disorder and a pharmacist’s role in helping those struggling with addiction understand what treatments are available and find the best options for them.

He talked about why National Recovery Month is important, what resources pharmacists can use to aid individuals on the road to recover, and how pharmacists can address the stigma surrounding substance abuse and addiction.

Thomas Menighan, co-founder of PursueCare and the CEO Emeritus of the American Pharmacists Association, discusses a pharmacists role in National Recovery Month.

Pharmacists Can Help Address the Stigma Around Substance Abuse

During this discussion, Pinter-Brown explained whether the current advanced CTCL treatment strategies available are applicable for all patients with advanced CTCL and how patients are selected for treatment.

Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, of UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, explained whether the current advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) treatment strategies available are applicable for all patients with advanced CTCL and how patients are selected for treatment.

Understanding the Patient Selection Process for CTCL Treatment

With the recent announcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, in addition to private businesses potentially requiring vaccines for employees, pharmacies and other health care facilities could have questions about legal issues surrounding these mandates.

Experts Ned Milenkovich, PharmD, JD, a pharmacist-attorney with Much Shelist Law, and Ron Lanton III, Esq, a principal with Lanton Law, discussed these implications in a recent video. In part 1 of the discussion, they reviewed what they’re hearing about the mandates as well as whether there are legal precedents for potential lawsuits regarding vaccine requirements.

With the recent announcement of federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates, in addition to private businesses potentially requiring vaccines for employees, pharmacies and other health care facilities could have questions about legal issues surrounding these mandates. 

Vaccine Mandates Present Potential Legal Questions for Pharmacies, Health Professionals

 interviewed Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, professor in the Department of Dermatology and the Department of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, on her recent presentation at the Society of Hematologic Oncology Annual Meeting (SOHO) 2021 conference on the treatment of advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) in 2021.

During this discussion, Pinter-Brown addressed and described what advanced CTCL is in terms of classification and what current treatment approaches are available.

Lauren C. Pinter-Brown, MD, FACP, of UCI Health and Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, described what advanced cutaneous T cell lymphoma is in terms of classification and what current treatment approaches are available.