BBCIC Research Network Analysis of First-Cycle Prophylactic G-CSF Use in Patients Treated With High-Neutropenia Risk Chemotherapy.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN) is prevented or minimized with granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs). Several G-CSF biosimilars are approved in the United States. The Biologics and Biosimilars Collective Intelligence Consortium (BBCIC) is a nonprofit initiative whose objective is to provide scientific evidence on real-world use and comparative safety and effectiveness of biologics and biosimilars using the BBCIC distributed research network (DRN).

Hemophilia Management via Data Collection and Reporting: Initial Findings from the Comprehensive Care Sustainability Collaborative.

Background: Despite being a rare disorder, hemophilia represents a significant driver of health care resource utilization and requires expert hematologic and multidisciplinary services to achieve optimal outcomes. Since their inception nearly 40 years ago, hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs) have served as centers of excellence in providing the intensive care and ancillary services necessary for this unique patient base; however, the full capabilities of these centers may be underused in the current framework of managed care, largely because of a lack of communication and information shared between payers and HTC stakeholders.

Program Description: In an effort to enact tangible change toward improving the quality of care for bleeding disorders, the National Hemophilia Foundation developed an ongoing initiative among 18 leading clinicians and managed care decision makers called the Comprehensive Care Sustainability Collaborative (CCSC).

Mitigation of medication mishaps via medication therapy management.

Background: In 2006, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services incorporated the requirement for a Medication Therapy Management Program (MTMP) for individuals with Part D coverage to ensure that drug regimens provide optimal therapeutic outcomes through improved medication use, thereby reducing adverse drug events.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an MTMP implemented for Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug members enrolled with Health Alliance Plan (HAP) during 2006 and 2007.

Methods: Patient eligibility for MTMP was searched electronically.

Imatinib mesylate, the first molecularly targeted gene suppressor.

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and drug-drug and drug-food interactions of imatinib and the economic considerations of imatinib in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Data Sources: Literature accessed through MEDLINE (January 1970-January 2002), abstracts from the 2001 annual meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology, imatinib product labeling, and additional studies or abstracts identified from the bibliographies of the reviewed literature were used to compile data. Key search terms were allogeneic bone marrow transplant and stem cell transplant, chronic myeloid leukemia, imatinib, interferon, Gleevec, leukemia, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, STI-571, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors.