Video Series

Experts discuss the cost of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) tests and how these costs, along with the National Lipid Association’s (NLA) recommendation and supporting clinical evidence, may influence payer decisions regarding coverage for Lp(a) testing.

A panelist discusses how real-world data presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting (AAD 2025) demonstrates that initiating ruxolitinib cream therapy for atopic dermatitis (AD) significantly reduced patients’ reliance on other topical treatments, oral corticosteroids, and biologics in both biologic-experienced (n = 125) and biologic-naive (n = 431) populations, suggesting this Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor may serve as an effective steroid-sparing agent with potential for long-term disease management across different patient subgroups.

Panelists discuss how immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy significantly impacts patients’ quality of life through chronic symptoms, treatment burden, psychological effects, and the looming threat of progressive kidney function decline.

Experts discuss whether providers should wait for another complete scientific statement from the National Lipid Association (NLA) or new guidelines from organizations like the American Heart Association (AHA) before implementing the 2024 NLA recommendation for universal lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) measurement.

Panelists discuss how treatment continuation decisions for amyloid-targeting therapies involve comprehensive assessment of multiple factors including cognitive and functional changes measured through standardized tools, occurrence and severity of adverse events, treatment adherence capabilities, impact on patient/caregiver quality of life, disease progression rate, emerging safety signals, and ongoing dialogue about evolving treatment goals and expectations.

Experts discuss the metrics used to evaluate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)'s comprehensive return on investment, including both cost savings and quality measure performance, and identify which patient populations demonstrate the strongest combined benefits in costs, quality measures, and outcomes, along with how these groups are prioritized for CGM access.

Panelists discuss how American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines for recurrent uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women recommend culture-confirmed diagnosis, prophylactic antibiotics, nonantibiotic prevention, self-initiated treatment, and behavioral modifications while noting pivmecillinam’s recent FDA approval. Pivmecillinam features a penicillin-binding protein 2 inhibition mechanism with 85% to 95% efficacy against gram-negative uropathogens, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers; minimal intestinal flora disruption; low resistance rates; and primarily mild gastrointestinal adverse effects.

Panelists discuss how treatment failure in uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) creates substantial economic burden through direct costs of additional health care visits, repeated diagnostic tests, and rescue medications alongside indirect costs from productivity losses, with implications including progression to complicated infections such as pyelonephritis, increased emergency department use, antimicrobial resistance development threatening broader public health, psychological impacts on patients, and strain on health care resources that could be mitigated through more effective initial treatment strategies.

Experts discuss the impact of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) implementation on emergency department utilization, hospitalizations, and quality measures including Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS)/Medicare Star ratings, and how CGM adoption has influenced patient encounter patterns, care coordination efficiency, and achievement of quality benchmarks.

Panelists discuss how diagnostic challenges in immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy lead to delayed identification, missed treatment windows, and increased risk of irreversible kidney damage due to the requirement for invasive biopsy, nonspecific symptoms, and variable disease presentation.

Experts discuss the evidence supporting the National Lipid Association’s (NLA) recommendation for universal lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) measurement and evaluate how compelling this evidence is from a clinical perspective.

A panelist discusses how real-world evidence from a large cohort study (n = 31521) presented at AAD 2025 reveals notable differences in treatment patterns, discontinuation rates, persistence, and adherence among psoriasis patients treated with different biologics including tildrakizumab, risankizumab, guselkumab, and ustekinumab, with implications for clinical decision-making based on early versus late disease onset and prior biologic exposure.

Panelists discuss how patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy typically present with microscopic or gross hematuria, often during upper respiratory infections, along with variable proteinuria and sometimes hypertension or decreased kidney function.

Experts discuss how guideline recommendations influence formulary decisions regarding preventive measures like lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) testing, exploring the varying recommendations from organizations such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Heart Association, and the National Lipid Association (NLA), and how these align with recent guidance from Europe and Canada.

Panelists discuss how hesitancy in prescribing amyloid-targeting therapies stems from multiple factors including concerns about ARIA adverse effects, modest clinical efficacy data, high treatment costs and limited insurance coverage, logistical challenges of regular infusions and monitoring, infrastructure requirements for specialized imaging, uncertainty about long-term benefits, and the need for careful patient selection within appropriate disease stages.

Experts discuss how to evaluate and communicate the return on investment for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) coverage to overcome cost-related barriers, explore strategies other payers could adopt based on the success of Metro Nashville Public Schools' initiative to provide CGM devices without prior authorization, and examine the impact of removing prior authorization requirements on appropriate patient selection and utilization, along with which aspects of this model could be adopted by other employers and the resources needed to implement similar programs.

Panelists discuss how significant gaps in current uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) therapies include insufficient nonantibiotic preventive strategies, limited options for multidrug-resistant pathogens, inadequate personalized treatment approaches, minimal focus on biofilm disruption, lack of rapid point-of-care diagnostics to guide targeted therapy, poor understanding of the urinary microbiome’s role in infection susceptibility, and insufficient research into immunomodulatory interventions that could address the underlying mechanisms of recurrence and resistance development.

Panelists discuss how ideal candidates for amyloid-targeting therapy typically present with biomarker-confirmed early-stage Alzheimer disease, demonstrate positive amyloid PET scans or CSF biomarkers, exhibit mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, lack contraindications such as significant cerebrovascular disease or anticoagulant use, have adequate support systems for monitoring and managing potential adverse effects, and would benefit from comprehensive pretreatment evaluations including brain MRI and APOE genotyping.

Experts discuss the disparities observed in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) access and utilization with Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) now stratifying 22 measures by race and ethnicity, and how these insights can inform strategies to improve health equity, along with successful strategies implemented to improve CGM access and technology literacy in underserved communities.

Panelists discuss how fluoroquinolones are generally reserved for uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) only when first-line options are contraindicated or pathogen resistance is confirmed, with treatment duration ranging from single-dose fosfomycin to 3 to 5 days for most antibiotics and 7 to 10 days for nitrofurantoin, noting shorter regimens typically achieve 85% to 95% adherence rates compared with 60% to 75% for longer courses, significantly affecting treatment success, particularly when patient factors such as adverse effects, dosing complexity, and lifestyle disruptions are considered.

Panelists discuss how immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy diagnosis requires kidney biopsy with immunofluorescence showing dominant or codominant IgA deposits in the mesangium, often accompanied by C3 and sometimes IgG or IgM.

Experts discuss an example illustrating the association between lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) levels and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and explore how this example can inform our understanding of Lp(a) and ASCVD risk on a population level.

A panelist discusses how real-world evidence from a large cohort study (n = 31521) presented at AAD 2025 reveals notable differences in treatment patterns, discontinuation rates, persistence, and adherence among psoriasis patients treated with different biologics including tildrakizumab, risankizumab, guselkumab, and ustekinumab, with implications for clinical decision-making based on early versus late disease onset and prior biologic exposure.

Experts discuss the genetic determinants of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) levels, providing evidence supporting this conclusion. They also explore how the hereditary nature of Lp(a) can drive awareness of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and aortic stenosis risk, potentially influencing screening protocols.

Panelists discuss how immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy develops through a complex 4-hit cascade involving aberrant IgA1 glycosylation, anti-glycan antibody formation, immune complex deposition, and inflammatory kidney damage.

Experts discuss innovations and advancements in bispecific antibodies that could transform their use in the next 5 years.

Experts discuss how bispecifics might be incorporated earlier in the lines of treatment for certain cancers, the steps that can be taken to improve access to bispecific therapies in underserved or rural community settings, and how partnerships among academic centers, manufacturers, and community practices can help accelerate the adoption of bispecific antibodies.

Experts discuss the most promising applications of bispecifics in solid tumors and other emerging therapeutic areas.