Medical professionals discuss the ongoing requirements in RSV treatment and vaccination, stressing the importance of at-risk populations maintaining hand hygiene, staying home when sick, and avoiding large crowds during peak seasons to minimize transmission, while also exploring the use of combination tests, panel testing, and rapid testing for RSV diagnosis.
Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, SM, SV, MB (ASCP), FACSc, guides a conversation on patient education materials, recommending resources from the American Pharmacists Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which provide tools to inform the public about vaccine-preventable diseases.
Data from the PERSEUS trial supports use of daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone followed by daratumumab and lenalidomide maintenance as a new standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
Results from the initial safety run-in of MajesTEC-7 indicate that the combination of teclistamab, daratumumab, and lenalidomide in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) shows a manageable safety profile with early signs of efficacy.
The PALOMA-3 trial showed subcutaneous amivantamab was better than IV for lung cancer patients.
Understanding patients’ specific experiences and challenges is crucial to helping them improve medication adherence.
In addition to medication management, pharmacists are educating patients and helping them navigate the complex medical system.
Tune into this special episode of “Public Health Matters” to hear Emma White, the founder and president of the nonprofit organization Life Is Worth It, discuss her mental health journey and how she used it to educate adolescents, teenagers, and young adults on mental wellness.
Lenora Newsome, PD, president of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, explores how pharmacists can support mental health through private conversations, and educating about prescriptions.
Sarah Rockwell, PharmD, BCOP, and Ke Ning, MD, share their concluding remarks, reflecting on the current landscape and expressing their aspirations for addressing remaining unmet needs.
Ke Ning, MD, describes similarities and differences when implementing bispecific antibodies and CAR T-cell therapy for patients with relapsed or remitting multiple myeloma in the community oncology setting.
Medical professionals highlight the essential support provided by pharmacists in addressing operational challenges related to bispecific antibodies. Pharmacists can play an important role in the development of policies and procedures, monitoring and management of toxicities, and delivery of educational resources.
Penelope Murphy discusses the role that preceptors play in mentoring students and new pharmacists to help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice.
In their concluding remarks, Arun Jesudian, MD; Ralph J. Riello, PharmD, BCPS, and Chas McCormick, RPh, MBA, summarize the key takeaways and highlight the persistent unmet needs in the management of hepatic encephalopathy.
The panel concludes its discussion with insights on successful strategies that can inform optimal collaborative care practices for cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with ASCVD.
Heather Moore, BCOP, CPP, PharmD, discusses switching from CDK4/6 inhibitors to later lines of therapy, typically due to toxicities, to alleviate symptoms. She emphasizes the goal of finding a new therapy rather than abandoning treatment altogether, and notes that targeted therapy may be necessary in cases of disease progression.
Frank Scimeca, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, discusses strategies for implementing cost-saving measures and utilizing patient assistance programs to help patients access therapy, while emphasizing the importance of mitigating financial toxicities for patients.
The panelists provide guidance on how pharmacists should advise patients on recognizing RSV symptoms that require urgent medical attention.
Medical experts highlight the importance of clinical decision-making and the pivotal role pharmacies play in initiating conversations and identifying high-risk patients during consultations for new medications.
Jodi Taraba, PharmD, MS, BCOP, offers insights on the benefits of involving oncology pharmacists in clinical trial research to advance treatment and care for patients with cancer.
Sarah Rockwell, PharmD, BCOP, explores how community oncology practices can understand and meet the requirements of risk evaluation and mitigation strategy programs, and stresses the importance of developing and implementing standard operating procedures.
Key opinion leaders address the importance of coordination between academic hospital providers and community oncologists when transitioning from initiation of bispecific antibodies at a tertiary hospital to maintenance therapy in the community oncology setting.
Panelists highlight the significance of obtaining leadership buy-in and involving all care team members, while also sharing strategies for coordinating care effectively across the entire team.
Key opinion leaders emphasize crucial factors for pharmacists to consider, such as medication costs, staying updated on the latest hepatic encephalopathy (HE) clinical advancements and trials, and understanding disease incidence, which can help prevent recurrence, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patients' cognitive function when managed effectively.
Expert perspectives on metrics that pharmacists can track to quantify adherence rate improvement, treatment intensification, and cholesterol level optimization over time.
The panel offers its thoughts on the current and potential role of pharmacists in the treatment of patients with ASCVD.
A medical expert compares CDK4/6 inhibitors and discusses the importance of monitoring specific parameters, such as ECGs and laboratory tests, to minimize adverse events associated with each drug.
5. Frank Scimeca, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, leads a discussion on sequencing CDK4/6 inhibitors, comparing their side effect profiles, toxicity benefits, and progression-free survival (PFS) advantages. He emphasizes the need for additional biomarkers and clearer guidance from the NCCN to aid in selecting the most appropriate drug for each patient.
The panelists address the challenges of administering multiple vaccines to eligible patients, while also discussing the timing and compatibility of administering certain vaccines simultaneously. They emphasize the importance of being receptive to patient concerns and providing guidance on childhood vaccinations for hesitant individuals.
Lauren Angelo, PharmD, MBA, acknowledges the progress made in RSV vaccinations but emphasizes the persistent need to educate at-risk patients about the advantages of vaccination, citing data indicating that many patients are willing to get vaccinated but may require encouragement, and concurs that the lack of physician referral remains a crucial barrier to improving vaccination rates among high-risk groups.
