Denise Myshko

The median annual cost for new oncology medicines launched in 2022 was $260,000, up from $63,534 10 years ago, an IQVIA report finds.

Inpefa (sotagliflozin) added 0.39 quality of life years at an incremental lifetime cost of $29,449 for an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $75,510 per quality-of-life year gained, according to the study that was sponsored by the drug's maker, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals.

In an analysis, researchers determined that Inpefa is cost-effective at commonly accepted willingness-to-pay thresholds in treating patients with heart failure who have diabetes.

Over the last five years, both PBMs and drug manufacturers have implemented restrictions that put more of the costs for specialty medications on patients.

Members of the Senate Finance Committee want to modernize the rules around PBM business practices to lower out-of-pocket costs and increase competition.

If approved, Perrigo’s Opill could be the first-ever nonprescription birth control pill.

The suit alleges that Express Scripts, Prime and Prime customer Humana Pharmacy Solutions are able to share drug pricing and rebate information to increase prices for insulins, biologics and cancer drugs.

RxBenefits helps patients in self-funded plans find and apply for alternative sources of funding for specialty medicines and facilitates enrollment.

Leniolisib, now with the brand name Joenja, treats APDA, a genetic disorder that impairs the immune system. It will have an annual list price of $547,500 a year.

FDA approvals this week include: novel treatment for invasive candidiasis, an accelerated approval to Zynyz for Merkel cell carcinoma, the high-concentration Humira biosimilar Hyrimoz, and extension of Evkeeza’s indication to include young children. The agency also issued two complete responses this week: for Incyte’s extended-release Jakafi and for AbbVie’s Parkinson’s therapy.

American Indian and Alaska Native had increased access to diabetes treatment services, which lowered hyperglycemia and blood lipid levels, as well as diabetic retinopathy incidence.

The discovery of a protein that determines levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) could lead to new therapies for macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other common causes of vision loss.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley and Maria Cantwell, aims to increase transparency of PBM business practices.

In his keynote at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology Association Safi R. Bahcall, Ph.D., a physicist and entrepreneur, spoke about how seemingly crazy ideas can lead to breakthroughs.

VISIBLE is focused on answering data gaps in people of color with psoriasis. Lead investigator Andrew F. Alexis, M.D., hopes the study will generate data to help address care gaps and inform future best practices in diversity research in dermatology.

Checkpoint inhibitors, such as Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Opdivo (nivolumab), are playing a major role in cancer treatment. But they also produce side effects that affect the skin. Steven Chen, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.P. Ed., said dermatologists need to work with oncologists to manage the side effects so patients can stay on checkpoint inhibitors.

Longer-term use of Opzelura was well tolerated, with no serious treatment-related adverse events, according to a poster presented at the annual dermatology meeting.

Women who are pregnant don’t have to stop all of their treatments during pregnancy. Some can be safely treated for their psoriasis or eczema, according to a presentation today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Research shows that short-term exposure to wildfire air pollution can affect the skin and cause flares of certain skin conditions.

After initial treatment, Opzelura used on an as-needed basis was able to control symptoms of atopic dermatitis and helped patients sleep, according to a poster presented at the annual dermatology meeting.

Although not a common complication of hip, knee and other metal implants, the number of allergic reactions is growing, partly the number of joint replacements is growing, according to a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Nickel is the most common contact allergen.

The VA’s guidelines would exclude anyone who has had a stroke or seizure within the last year, as well as those who have MRIs that show evidence of microhemmorrhages, aneurysms, lesions or tumors.

The FDA has approved a novel nasal spray for migraine and a generic leukemia treatment. The agency has granted priority review to Leqembi for traditional approval but extended the review of hemophilia A gene therapy. Regulators have also assigned target dates for Voxzogo in young children with dwarfism, a skin infection gel, a nerve disorder drug and for Jardiance in children 10 to 17 with diabetes.

Payers are looking to pharmaceutical companies for innovative partnerships that provide patient access, positive clinical outcomes and reduced costs in specialty disease areas, AmerisourceBergen finds.

The FDA has approved Kevzara for an inflammatory rheumatic disease and Skyclarys, the first therapy for rare neuromuscular disease. The agency set an action date for Opdivo for melanoma indication. An advisory committee has supported Pfizer’s RSV vaccine, and Janssen has submitted an NDA for combo tablet for metastatic prostate cancer.

Leqembi would need a 66% to 19% discount from its wholesale acquisition cost of $26,500 a year to fall within commonly used cost-effectiveness thresholds.

The price cuts apply to Lilly’s nonbranded insulin, Humalog, Humulin and its Lantus biosimilar.

Investigators found an association between ICER’s value assessments and how U.S. commercial health plans cover specialty drugs.

The FDA approved several new therapies this week, including a weekly hemophilia A treatment, an extended-release version of Austedo, and the first drug for geographic atrophy due to AMD, as well as an accelerated approval to Filspari for rare kidney disease. The agency also indicated it will hold an advisory committee meeting on Onpattro for heart failure indication, granted priority review for Pfizer’s RSV vaccine and for a life-threatening hereditary immune disease, and also set goal date for blurry vision therapy.

Bruce Feinberg, D.O., of Cardinal Health, said significantly changes are on the horizon for biosimilars, but physician comfort with and use of biosimilars will depend on things beyond their control, including formulary placement and utilization management efforts.