Key OPC Takeaways: Preparing Oncology Pharmacists for Emerging Therapies and Evolving Care Models

In this interview with Pharmacy Times at Oncology Pharmacists Connect in Austin, TX, Chris Elder, PharmD, BCOP, Associate Director of Pharmacy Clinical Services at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, discusses key insights from the conference’s clinical forum focused on PD-L1 inhibitor use in non-small cell lung cancer. He highlights discussions surrounding the integration of new survival data, adoption of subcutaneous immune checkpoint inhibitors, and strategies for improving patient education, treatment access, and operational efficiency. Elder also explains how OPC helps translate complex findings from major meetings such as ASCO and EHA into practical, actionable information for pharmacists across diverse practice settings.

Pharmacy Times: You were involved in the clinical forum the night before the OPC conference. Can you share the discussion and some key takeaways for pharmacists?

Chris Elder, PharmD, BCOP: Absolutely. The clinical forum focused on PD-L1 inhibitor use in non–small cell lung cancer and how different practices are incorporating new survival data into clinical care. The discussion also explored the integration of novel dosage forms, including the subcutaneous formulations of immune checkpoint inhibitors, and how practices are using these therapies to streamline care delivery.

It was valuable to spend time learning from different practices about their approaches to patient education, adoption of these newer dosage forms, and implementation of subcutaneous therapies. The discussion also focused on how practices are balancing factors such as chair time, patient access, and education while using these therapies to improve efficiency and optimize care.

One of my key takeaways was the opportunity to learn from a variety of practices across the country. Understanding what others are doing can help all of us improve communication, coordination, and collaboration throughout the health care system. Pharmacists, providers, and patients all play important roles in this process, and pharmacists are often at the forefront of helping implement these innovations in practice.

Pharmacy Times: OPC 2026 is filled with data from ASCO and EHA. How does the conference expand on the information presented at the previous meetings?

Elder: One of my favorite aspects of OPC is the faculty panel format. These sessions are really focused on taking complex data presented at meetings such as ASCO and EHA and translating it into practical, actionable information for pharmacists.

Many of the studies discussed involve novel therapies and evolving treatment paradigms, which can be challenging to interpret and apply in practice. What OPC does particularly well is make that complex information more digestible, approachable, and accessible for pharmacists across a variety of practice settings throughout the country.

I also think the panel format contributes significantly to that experience. It allows for meaningful discussion, diverse perspectives, and practical insights in a way that is both engaging and easy to follow. Ultimately, that approach helps expand knowledge and supports pharmacists in incorporating new data into patient care.

Pharmacy Times: What should pharmacists look out for considering the ASCO and EHA data and takeaways from OPC 2026?

Elder: I think some of the main takeaways are that oncology care will continue to become increasingly complex. We are seeing novel therapies move earlier in treatment paradigms across multiple disease states, and that trend is likely to continue.

As a result, pharmacists will need to become even more integrated into proactive clinical and supportive care roles. Beyond direct patient care, pharmacists should also continue thinking creatively about how to address operational challenges associated with implementing these therapies in practice.

In addition, pharmacists can play an important role from a managed care and cost-effectiveness perspective. There are significant opportunities for pharmacists to contribute to cost-saving initiatives while simultaneously helping expand access to novel therapies for patients.

Overall, the evolving oncology landscape continues to create new opportunities for pharmacists to contribute across clinical, operational, and health care system levels, ultimately improving both patient outcomes and access to care.