Cost utility of tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis: an application of Bayesian methods for evidence synthesis in a Markov model.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1.5 million people in the US. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors have been shown to effectively treat and maintain remission in patients with moderately to severely active RA compared with conventional agents.

Denosumab for treatment of breast cancer bone metastases and beyond.

Introduction: Bone metastases develop in approximately 70 - 85% of patients with metastatic breast cancer, are incurable and can result in debilitating skeletal complications. Bone-modifying agents to treat breast cancer bone metastases include bisphosphonates. Denosumab is a humanized monoclonal IgG2 antibody targeting receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and provides an alternative therapy for treatment of breast cancer bone metastases.

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) genotyping to predict myelosuppression risk.

Azathioprine (AZA), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), and thioguanine (TG) are thiopurine drugs. These agents are indicated for the treatment of various diseases including hematologic malignancies, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis, and as immunosuppressants in solid organ transplants. Thiopurine drugs are metabolized, in part, by thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT).

Cost-utility analysis of bevacizumab versus ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration using a Markov model.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of intravitreal bevacizumab to ranibizumab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: A cost-utility analysis using a Markov model was performed to evaluate incremental cost-effectiveness ratio [ICER, $US per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained] between bevacizumab and ranibizumab from a US payer perspective. Transition probabilities for ranibizumab and bevacizumab were extrapolated from published studies and local institutional data.

Measuring patient satisfaction in the pharmacy specialty immunization clinic: a pharmacist-run Immunization Clinic at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System.

Objective: The aim was to measure patient satisfaction with the Pharmacy Specialty Immunization Clinic (PSIC), a pharmacist-run vaccination clinic.

Methods: Patient satisfaction was measured using a non-validated instrument containing 10 items with a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, not sure, disagree and strongly disagree). Patients who were seen at the PSIC and who received at least one vaccination were eligible to take part in the patient satisfaction survey.