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The immunotherapy agent nivolumab was approved by the European Commission in combination with ipilimumab for the treatment of advanced melanoma, but rejected by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for use in patients with advanced lung cancer.

Cancer patients who receive a particular type of chemotherapy, called doxorubicin, run a risk of sustaining severe, lasting heart damage. But until now, there was no way of knowing who would experience this serious side effect.

In a blogpost on Health Affairs, 2 economists have challenged the claim made by researchers that packaging expensive, patented chemotherapy drugs into multiple vial sizes could reduce wastage and in turn significantly reduce healthcare costs.

The findings show poor diet can have immediate effects on the body, and they suggest ways to overcome them.

What we're reading, May 12, 2016: there are 18 bills in the House that address the opioid epidemic and Massachusetts residents don't think medical professionals are doing a good job carrying out a dying person's wishes.

While final decisions will come in Septembers, Aetna's early word comes in contrast with that of other large insurers heading into 2017.

Five states report that 1 in 3 adults meet the CDC definition of obesity, which is having a body mass index of 30 or more.

Less than 5% of individuals who received an opioid prescription are abusers, but they account for 32% of total opioid prescriptions and 40% of opioid prescription spending, according to a new report.

CancerCare's 2016 Patient Access and Engagement Report underscores barriers for patient access to care, as well as communication gaps with care providers, both of which have a significant impact on patient outcomes.

While health plans and PBMs have taken a variety of approaches to control spending on the new class of cholesterol fighting drugs, Cigna is the first to reach value-based agreements with the drug makers.

What we're reading, May 11, 2016: Hillary Clinton is floating the idea of letting more people buy into Medicare; American public not on board with speeding up FDA drug approvals; and Walgreens expands mental health treatment and service options.

Efficiencies that could be gained in healthcare information exchange present emerging opportunities to close discrepancies between evidence-based recommendations or best practices and the care that is actually delivered.

Algenpantucel-L, an allogenic whole-cell immunotherapeutic vaccine being developed to destroy a patient’s pancreatic cancer cells, has failed to improve overall survival (OS).

Exclusivity deals in managed care to hold down the cost of drug therapy are not new. But requiring persons with type 1 diabetes to use insulin pumps from a single manufacturer has brought out a whole different reaction.

Therapeutic substitution of branded drugs with generics approved for the same indication, in the absence of a generic equivalent, has the potential to yield considerable cost savings to the healthcare system and individual patients.

What we're reading, May 10, 2016: the FDA is looking to redefine "healthy"; leadership at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center is getting overhauled; and Senator Bernie Sanders' tax and spending proposals would add $18 trillion to the federal deficit.

Experiments with mice suggest a potential early treatment to avoid a deadly infection.

As the population ages, the role of caregivers for seniors becomes more important, and the idea of patient engagement is expanding to include caregiver engagement.

Nanostring Technologies has announced that its Prosigna Breast Cancer Gene Signature Assay has received a positive coverage decision from the commercial health plan Aetna.

FDA's requirement for large, cardiovascular safety trials for all new diabetes and obesity drugs has created a "cottage industry" that some see as necessary but others feel drives up drug costs.

The percentage of Democrats with an unfavorable opinion of the Affordable Care Act has increased, because more of them want to expand what the law does.

At the spring live meeting of the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition in Scottsdale, Arizona, attendees heard presentations and participated in workshops that discussed better integration of care, improved use of technology, and the future of healthcare and the Affordable Care Act.

A new analysis of websites that provide information on pancreatic cancer, published in JAMA Surgery, has found that they overestimate the reading ability of the population and might even misguide them.

What we're reading: Arizona revives its Children's Health Insurance Program; new medical schools focus on creating a new type of physician; and Cigna believes its deal with Anthem won't close until 2017.

There may be an inexpensive way to reduce the risky use of pain medications by people at high risk of overdosing: using trained therapists in the emergency department to provide motivational interviews.

With an increased interest in transitioning to a Learning Health Care System, there is an urgency to understand the ethical implications associated with the transition.

Discovery of a previously unknown heart muscle protein and how it affects mechanisms related to heart failure may lead to further treatments for cardiovascular disease.

This week, the top stories in managed care included Express Scripts expressing a desire to partner with retail health clinics, a study that found oral cancer agents are being launched at much higher prices, and The American Journal of Managed Care's hepatitis C virus special issue was published online.

The matchstick-like device is placed under the skin and continuously delivers exenatide to ovecome a chief hurdle in diabetes care: poor adherence.

A new study found the increase in the use of insulin reaped dual results: the pharmacy expenses were substantially increased but the number of hypoglycemia-related emergency department visits were reduced.