Skylar is an associate editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and The Center for Biosimilars®, and joined AJMC® in 2020. She is responsible for covering all aspects of the ever-changing global biosimilar industry and produces content that is accessible and informative for all health care stakeholders.
She has a BA in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University. You can connect with Skylar on LinkedIn.
Study Supports Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines’ Safety in Patients With Multiple Myeloma
Study results showed that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines were safe and effective in patients with multiple myeloma, which investigators hope will improve vaccine hesitancy in the high-risk population.
Panelists Explore What Exactly Is Holding Up US Adoption of Biosimilars
Payer intervention, lack of patient savings, and confusion surrounding interchangeability are some of the many barriers standing in the way of US biosimilar uptake, with our group of panelists calling for big changes.
Gender Differences for Health-Related QOL Detected Among Patients With Advanced Kidney Disease
Although men and women with advanced kidney disease experienced physical and mental declines in health-related quality of life (QOL), men’s declines occurred at a significantly faster rate, researchers concluded.
Patents Filed a Decade Post Originator Approval Account for Most Biosimilar Patent Lawsuits
Researchers have found that most US patent infringement cases against biosimilar manufacturers cover patents filed over a decade after the originator product's FDA approval, leading to limits on competition among biologic drugs.
Different Pathogeneses May Cause Dementia in Older, Younger Patients With PD
Older patients with Parkinson disease (PD) were found to have a higher incidence of dementia compared with younger patients. However, the difference may have to do with different pathologies causing dementia in older and younger patients.
Ophthalmology Biobetters and Biosimilars May Be Just Around the Corner
More biobetter drugs may be on the horizon, with an opportunity to snatch market share from reference products, and several biosimilars are under development for ophthalmic conditions, authors of a review concluded.
How Does CGP Testing Align With Recommendations, Impact Budgets?
Posters from the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus 2021 meeting detailed how coverage of genetic testing aligns with current guidelines as well as the potential budget impact of expanding access to comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP).
Active Video Games Improve Balance Better Than Conventional Rehab in MS
Video games that involve physical exertion was found to be more effective at improving balance in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with more conventional rehabilitation methods, investigators concluded.
Review: Greater Focus on Targeting Insulin Resistance in Patients With CKD May Be Needed
Insulin resistance may become a future target of treatment in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population because of the several mechanisms in patients that contribute to increasing resistance, authors of a review concluded.
COVID-19 Vaccination May Provide Less Protection for Patients Taking Ocrelizumab, Fingolimod for MS
After administration of a COVID-19 vaccine, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) taking ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) or fingolimod (Gilenya) may find themselves less protected against COVID-19 than the general population.
Top 5 Most-Read Spinal Muscular Atrophy Stories of 2021
The top 5 most-read spinal muscular atrophy stories of 2021 on AJMC.com covered a variety of topics concerning the disease, including cost differences, the potential for combination therapies, and identifying biomarkers for treatment.
Racial Differences Detected Regarding Impact of Obesity on Retinal Integrity in MS
Obesity was found to have a significant association with retinal structure abnormalities related to multiple sclerosis (MS); however, the impact may be greater for African Americans than Caucasian Americans.
Top 5 Most-Read Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Articles of 2021
The top 5 most-read comprehensive genomic profiling articles of 2021 on AJMC.com largely focused on the use of liquid biopsy and how biomarkers can offer providers new ways to help predict treatment-related outcomes and identify therapeutic targets.
Dialysis Modality Influenced Degree of Pandemic-Related Psychological Distress in Patients With CKD
Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis experienced a greater degree of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with patients treated with peritoneal dialysis, investigators found.
Acute Kidney Injury Episodes Led to Significant Impacts on Physical, Emotional Health
Patients who have experienced acute kidney injury (AKI) reported experiencing significant impacts on aspects of their physical and emotional health, demonstrating the different ways that AKI episodes influence patients’ health-related quality of life.
Review: NGS Reveals Migration Patterns of B Cells Across Blood-Brain Barrier for MS
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) may be a helpful tool for establishing how B cells migrate and maturate across the blood-brain barrier in multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially providing better insight into the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in neuro-inflammation.