Christine Blank

2021 was an outstanding year for biosimilar medications, as they increased market share and adoption by healthcare providers and the first biosimilar and interchangeable insulin was approved by the FDA. Take a look at Managed Healthcare Executive's top four biosimilar developments of 2021.

A temporary add-on payment in the Part B program should be considered as a way to increase biosimilar uptake, says Sandoz’s Afton Wagner.

More patients aged 65 or older in the United States will need a liver transplant than ever before, according to a study by Inova Health System.

Whether the hepatitis C virus plays a direct role in causing hepatocellular carcinoma or an indirect one by fomenting inflammation and cirrhosis is unclear.

While HIV continues to impact certain racial and ethnic minorities, the mortality rate in the US continues to drop.

Among the top studies presented at the 18th European AIDS Conference in London is the news that Gilead’s blockbuster HIV drug Biktarvy maintained virologic suppression after one year of treatment.

Three pieces of legislation that would provide incentives to prescribers and put generics and biosimilars in favorable formulary tiers would speed further prescribing and use of biosimilars, Christine Simmon told Managed Healthcare Executive.®

More than half of advanced liver disease patients have had procedures canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent survey.

The Association for Accessible Medicines said biosimilar drugs saved $7.9 billion in 2020, more than tripling the $2.5 billion saved in 2019.

An Ibrance-Jakafi combination shows promise in a mouse model of myelofibrosis.

In an interview with MHE, SVP Savitha Vivian said the biosimilars to Humira and Novolog that are expected to be on the market in the next few years could have the kind of impact that proponents of biosimilars have been hoping for.

Three notable medications to treat liver diseases are expected to come online in the third quarter of 2021 and in 2022, according to PBM OptumRx.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says biosimilar alternatives to Avastin have never been tested in the eye.

FDA approval means that pharmacists can swap biosimilar Semglee, an insulin product, for brand-name Lantus, although state-level pharmacy rules may apply.

Insurer also moves two approved biosimilars for Remicade, Avsola and Inflectra, to preferred status.

The biggest price increase was a 9.5% rise for Zogenix’s Fintepla (fenfluramine), used to treat seizures associated with Dravet syndrome.

Positive findings for resmetirom and icosabutate were presented at the meeting in June.

The longstanding medicine for adults is now approved to treat children 3 months to less than 12 years old with venous thromboembolism.

Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems and a variety of other healthcare entities have been sending lots of text messages to patients. Reminders about appointment, prompts to take medications, health information updates — they are part of healthcare’s new enthusiasm for all things digital and remote.

African Americans are significantly less likely to get a COVID-19 vaccination, and hesitancy is particularly prevalent in South Carolina and the Southeast U.S., a new survey says.

The study investigates the various eye symptoms indicative of conjunctivitis in relation to COVID-19.

While glucocorticoids are widely used to reduce inflammation in patients with many inflammatory diseases, doctors don’t know whether a low to moderate glucocorticoid dose increases cardiovascular risk.

Researchers say their study is the first to look at race as a factor in how people with diabetic macular edema respond to treatment with Avastin.

Telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially important to patients with rare disorders, many of which are autoimmune diseases, according to a recent report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Study shows 12% retained sight for driving and 15% for reading.

Central obesity may be especially unhealthy for people with the inflammatory condition that affects the spine.

Fatigue causes a complex array of problems for people with autoimmune disease.

Shielding means staying at home and limiting contact with members of the household. Research also calls into question on how effective it is in reducing the incidence of COVID-19.

Here are the top 2 novel cancer drugs cleared by the agency.