Review of ICER Report on Treatment Options for Multiple Myeloma
Who is ICER?
ICER is the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. As far as I can tell, it is funded primarily by insurance companies and by nonprofit organizations who, in turn, are funded by insurance companies. They claim some funding by the federal government as well. Other members include pharmaceutical companies who apparently participate in order to have some voice in ICER's proceedings. A quick Google search shows that the title of many of ICER's documents is "Building Trust through Rationing," which I believe is their mantra and suggests that rationing health care is their real purpose....
Source: Myeloma Hope - June 12, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: ICER myeloma report Source Type: blogs
Review of ICER Report on Treatment Options for Multiple Myeloma
Who is ICER?
ICER is the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review. As far as I can tell, it is funded primarily by insurance companies and by nonprofit organizations who, in turn, are funded by insurance companies. They claim some funding by the federal government as well. Other members include pharmaceutical companies who apparently participate in order to have some voice in ICER ' s proceedings. A quick Google search shows that the title of many of ICER ' s documents is " Building Trust through Rationing, " which I believe is their mantra and suggests that rationing health care is their real purpose...
Source: Myeloma Hope - June 12, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: ICER myeloma report Source Type: blogs
Yes, Providing Cancer Drugs In Multiple Vial Sizes Could Save Patients and Payers Money
On March 1, 2016, we published an article in the BMJ showing how in the US nearly $3 billion will be spent on discarded cancer drugs this year because companies package drugs in vials that contain too much of the drug for most doses, creating expensive leftover product. We proposed that companies in the US should either package drugs in more appropriate vial sizes to reduce the leftover amounts, or provide refunds for leftover drug.
Since the time of our article’s publication, numerous Senators have written letters to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging action on vial sizes, and calling for the Department of He...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - June 8, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Peter Bach, Rena Conti, Raymond Muller, Geoffrey Schnorr and Leonard Saltz Tags: Costs and Spending Drugs and Medical Technology Cancer Source Type: blogs
Rising Cost Of Drugs: Where Do We Go From Here?
The trends are clear: patients and institutions across the nation are concerned about skyrocketing drug prices. This post offers some information about drug pricing, explores the notion of market intervention, and proposes a series of responses to high pharmaceutical costs.
A few jaw-dropping facts quickly illustrate the pattern of rising drug costs. The average annual cost of cancer drugs increased from roughly $10,000 before 2000 to over $100,000 by 2012, according to a recent study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Several breakthrough specialty medications and orphan drugs recently approved by the Food and Drug Administratio...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - August 31, 2015 Category: Health Management Authors: Ifrad Islam Tags: Costs and Spending Drugs and Medical Technology Featured Medicaid and CHIP Payment Policy Public Health Big Pharma CMS FDA Gilead Sciences hepatitis C Pricewaterhouse Coopers Source Type: blogs
A Look at the Current State of Drug Treatments for Amyloidosis
We report here treatment with lenalidomide-dexamethasone in 84 AL amyloidosis patients with relapsed/refractory clonal disease following prior treatment with thalidomide (76%) and/or bortezomib (68%).
On an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis, the overall haematological response rate was 61%, including 20% complete responses. The median overall survival (OS) has not been reached; 2-year OS and progression-free survival (PFS) was 84% and 73%, respectively. Achieving a free light chain (FLC) response was an independent good prognostic factor for OS in multivariate analysis. There was no impact of prior thalidomide or bortezomib...
Source: Fight Aging! - October 7, 2014 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs
ABT-199 Trial
I started a clinical trial of ABT-199 3 weeks ago. (sorta technical Myeloma Beacon EHA 2013 Congress Abstract P210 (Poster Presentation)) It is in combination with Velcade and Dex. The Dex is being reduced thank you very much!Three weeks on the protocol produced a 37% drop in my myeloma marker (Igg-Lambda Free Light Chains).It was easy easy easy just time consuming. I like to view is a behaviour disorder which compels me to drive almost an hour to an overpriced internet cafe'. I alway bring a book and laptop and don't bore easily soThe disorder then morphs into the Dex Pirate from which all living creatures shoul...
Source: Laughing Plasma Cells - August 27, 2014 Category: Cancer Source Type: blogs
Consultation on specialised services clinical commissioning policies
NHS England -This consultation looks at a number of clinical commissioning policies for specialised services: Bortezomib for the treatment of refractory antibody mediated rejection post kidney transplant, Eculizamab for the treatment of refractory antibody mediated rejection post kidney transplant, non invasively lengthened spinal rods for scoliosis and Dolutegravir for the treatment of HIV-1 in adults and adolescents. The four policies will be open to a 12 week formal consultation period, closing on 17th September 2014.
Online survey
NHS England - news (Source: Health Management Specialist Library)
Source: Health Management Specialist Library - July 2, 2014 Category: UK Health Authors: The King's Fund Information & Knowledge Service Tags: Commissioning Consultations Source Type: blogs
ASH 2013 - Maintenance Matters
This study confirms again that they are correct - Rd thoroughly trounces MPT.
For those of us seniors with access to Revlimid, though, this study clearly demonstrates the advantage of Revlimid maintenance after initial therapy. It studied 1,623 newly-diagnosed myeloma patients over age 65 or ineligible for transplant, in three study arms: (A) Rd until disease progression; (B) Rd for 72 weeks or progression; and (C) MPT for 72 weeks or progression.
Some results for patients on continuous Rd versus those on 72-week Rd:
Median progression-free survival: 26 months versus 21 months.
Four-year overall survival: 59% ver...
Source: Myeloma Hope - December 11, 2013 Category: Cancer Source Type: blogs
Total Recall? China Chastises J&J Over Its Product Recall Policy
In the latest flap over Johnson & Johnson product recalls, the Chinese government has taken the health care giant to task for its quality control procedures and, more specifically, allegedly failing to withdraw some products that have been pulled from other markets, according to reports.
Last week, the China Food and Drug Administration met with J&J officials and issued a statement urging improvements in quality control. The agency also vowed to strengthen oversight to ensure timely recalls and pledged to crack down on companies that conduct late or secretive recalls, Global Times writes.
What prompted the meeting?...
Source: Pharmalot - June 19, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs
Pomalyst (Pomalidomide) Approved by FDA
Five years ago two different therapies had failed to stop my myeloma's upward climb, and finally a PET scan showed holes in my bones. This was Stage I disease, and time for a treatment that would actually work for me! I went on a trial of CC-4047 (later pomalidomide, now Pomalyst) with dexamethasone, then eventually Pomalyst alone. It brought my numbers down quickly, and now my myeloma remains stable, with an M-spike of about 1.1 mg/dL. More-recent PET scans and X-rays have not found holes in my bones.
My family and I have enjoyed five free years, with a high quality of life. During that time I have been privileged t...
Source: Myeloma Hope - February 8, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: Pomalyst Source Type: blogs
