BREAKING NEWS

Trial Shows Strong Response to Lorlatinib in NSCLC Patients
ALK-positive and ROS1-positive patients benefit
Cabozantinib Improves Survival in Advanced Liver Cancer
Application to FDA expected in early 2018
FDA Clears Robotically-Assisted Surgical Device for Adults
Senhance System aids surgeons in minimally invasive procedures
Stelara Approved for Use in Adolescents With Plaque Psoriasis
New indication follows study showing significant skin clearance at week 12
NIH, Big Pharma Launch Cancer Immunotherapy Drive
“Moonshot” goal: Spread success to patients in half the time
FDA Clears First 7T Magnetic Resonance Imaging Device
Siemens Magnetom Terra doubles available magnetic field strength
Penicillin Misconceptions May Lead to Surgical Infections
When patients wrongly report drug allergies, doctors use inferior drugs, study finds
Study Finds Few Medicare Limits on Prescription Opioids
While restrictions are increasing, a third of plans impose none
Lilly Dealt a Setback by Phase 3 Lung Cancer Results
“Unfortunate” outcome in phase 3 JUNIPER trial of abemaciclib
Vaccine Receives Orphan Drug Designation for Brain Cancer
Investigational peptide vaccine induces attack on various cancers

P&T TV

Dr. David B. Nash Talks About Our Health Care Challenges

Dr. David B. Nash, Dean of the Jefferson College of Population Health, talks with P&T Editor Steve McIver about health care reform, value-based treatment, the opioid crisis, telehealth, vaccinations, and our less-than-healthy lifestyles—issues that call for hard work by governments, professions, industry, and every American.

August 2017 interview

P&T October 2017
Table of Contents

Features

More Clouds Form Over 340B Program
Potential Medicare Cut Underlines Need to Rein In Program
In an effort to control costs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services wants to exact a severe reduction in reimbursement to hospitals that participate in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. The author discusses the program’s shortcomings, the actions taken to address them, and how participating hospitals might be affected by the cut.
Provision of Medication Therapy Management by Pharmacists to Patients With Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Federally Qualified Health Center
Pharmacists are well suited to improve outcomes by delivering medication therapy management (MTM) services. This article presents an MTM pilot program for patients with uncontrolled diabetes that led to significant reductions in hemoglobin A1c.
Vaccine Spotlight
Vaxchora: The First FDA-Approved Cholera Vaccination in the United States
While cholera is not endemic in the U.S., many travelers are at risk for this life-threatening infection. The authors focus on the target population, safety, and efficacy associated with the use of the vaccine for the prophylaxis of cholera.
A P&T Committee’s Transition to a Complete Electronic Meeting System—A Multisite Institution Experience
An electronic P&T committee meeting system that encompasses document sharing, voting, and communication can help multisite institutions unify their formularies across multiple sites. The authors describe one such system designed, developed, and implemented in a large health care system in the Middle East.
Pipeline Plus
Promising HIV Treatments in Late-Stage Clinical Development
Analysts have identified several unmet needs in the HIV therapy marketplace. We present the promising candidates in late-stage clinical development or FDA review.

Departments

Prescription: Washington
Off-Label Drug Bills Back on Track
Off-label drug bills are back on track but could run off the rails
Medication Errors
Misidentification of Alphanumeric Symbols Plays a Role in Errors
Misidentification of alphanumeric symbols plays a role in errors
Drug and Device News October 2017
Approvals, new indications, regulatory activities, and more
Pharmaceutical Approval Update October 2017
L-glutamine oral powder (Endari) for reducing the acute complications of sickle cell disease; edaravone (Radicava) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and midostaurin (Rydapt) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in combination with chemotherapy
Drug Forecast
Xadago (Safinamide)
Xadago (safinamide), a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor for the adjunct treatment of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease
Research Briefs October 2017