Evidence Based Oncology™ Presents Immune-Oncology Issue Featuring Biomarkers, Combinations, CAR T-cell Coverage

Biomarkers, the next wave of therapy combinations, and the challenge of payer coverage for CAR T-cell therapy are among the topics in this year’s special issue on immuno-oncology in Evidence-Based Oncology™ (EBO™), the multistakeholder publication from The American Journal of Managed Care®. The full issue can be found here.

Since the EBO™ 2017 issue on immuno-oncology, the US Food and Drug Administration approved two chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, and this new issue features a discussion with an official from The University of Chicago Medicine, who said that both the cost and the highly personalized features of the therapies demand the full attention of senior leaders at the institution, since they cost $373,000 and $475,000.

But in an interview on advances in care for metastatic melanoma, Dr. Jeffrey Weber of NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center said the prospect of triple therapy combinations will easily rival CAR T-cell therapy for cost. For this reason, he said, biomarkers are a key area of research, as are immune-related adverse events.

Dr. Hope Rugo of UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center weighs in on a discussion of a biosimilar for trastuzumab, which saw a price increase in several Humana Medicare plans earlier this year. Rugo was candid in her assessment that the payer was laying the groundwork to move patients to the biosimilar when it becomes available.

Finally, a feature on the importance of clinical trials tells the story of Wesley Hall, who has taken part in three trials since 2013. Hall, 74, a patient at Florida Cancer Specialists, told EBO™ that he understands how his participation may help someone else. “I have young friends with cancer, and my heart bleeds for them,” he said.

The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) is a peer-reviewed, MEDLINE-indexed journal that keeps readers on the forefront of health policy by publishing research relevant to industry decision makers as they work to promote the efficient delivery of high-quality care. AJMC.com is the essential website for managed care professionals, distributing industry updates daily to leading stakeholders. Other titles in the AJMC® family include The American Journal of Accountable Care®, and two evidence-based series, Evidence-Based Oncology™ and Evidence-Based Diabetes Management™. These comprehensive offerings bring together stakeholder views from payers, providers, policymakers and other industry leaders in managed care. To order reprints of articles appearing in AJMC® publications, please contact Jeff Prescott at 609-716-7777, ext. 331.

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Surabhi Verma