Oncology Pharmacy Teams Support Timely Access to New Breast Cancer Treatments

In this interview with Pharmacy Times, Danielle Roman, PharmD, BCOP, manager of Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Services at Allegheny Health Network, discusses how pharmacy teams are adapting to the rapid pace of new breast cancer treatment approvals. Roman emphasizes collaboration, continuous review of emerging literature, and operational preparation to ensure health systems can implement newly approved therapies efficiently. She explains that standardized treatment plans can help teams address medication ordering, monitoring parameters, adverse-effect management, and supportive care consistently across patients.

Pharmacy Times: How are oncology pharmacy teams adapting to the rapid pace of new breast cancer treatment approvals?

Danielle Roman, PharmD, BCOP: Oncology pharmacy teams really have to work together to keep up to date with the latest literature. The literature changes so quickly that we rely on one another to stay informed. We also work together to streamline patient access and ensure that, from an operational perspective, all the necessary systems are in place to start patients on newly approved therapies.

Pharmacy Times: What operational challenges come with integrating new breast cancer therapies into clinical practice, and how can pharmacy teams overcome them?

Roman: There are often many challenges associated with ordering new drug products and ensuring that we account for all the unique monitoring parameters, adverse effect management strategies, and supportive care needs that accompany these therapies. I think our teams can help streamline this process by developing treatment plans that encompass all aspects of a therapy so that we apply them consistently across patients.

Pharmacy Times: From a pharmacy leadership perspective, what strategies are most important for ensuring patients receive timely access to new breast cancer treatments?

Roman: I think one of the most important factors in ensuring that patients can access these therapies is having a pharmacist involved on the team. Pharmacists can help ensure that patients meet the eligibility criteria to receive therapy while also addressing the financial toxicity that can be a significant burden. They can also help streamline access to care between clinic prescribing settings and the specialty pharmacies where oral therapies are filled.