Top 10 Articles from Evidence-Based Oncology for the Year 2015

Here are the top reads from Evidence-Based Oncology for the year 2015:

10. Zarxio Yet to See Light of Day in US Market

The biosimilar marketplace in the United States has lagged significantly compared with Europe, with the first biosimilar, Zarxio, approved earlier this year. However, this product from Sandoz was prevented from reaching the market by Amgen, the company that developed the reference product, Neupogen. Approved in March 2015, Zarxio was finally marketed in September 2015.

9. Financial Toxicity and the Young Adult Cancer Survivor

While cancer care costs have been proven to be a burden for patients, this is especially a concern for young adult (YA) survivors of the disease. Lending financial support to the young adult survivor population is The Samfund. In our special issue on AYA cancers, Samfund’s CEO and COO write about the organization’s efforts and plans to raise awareness among the YA survivors about insurance options and taking charge of their finances.

8. Will Specialty Oncology Products Follow the Sovaldi Way?

During the Spring 2015 session of The American Journal of Managed Care’s Oncology Stakeholders Summit, a panel that included payers, a health policy expert, and a provider representative, discussed ways of easing costs in oncology care in the context of the exponential rise in drug costs.

7. Experts Discuss Medicare's New Oncology Care Model

During the Spring 2015 session of The American Journal of Managed Care’s Oncology Stakeholders Summit, experts shared a common platform as provided their input on the Oncology Care Model proposed by CMS.

6. Cardio-Oncology: The Intersection Between Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

With the prognosis for many cancers improving, there has been a growing focus on the cardiovascular risks of patients who have survived cancer or are being treated for cancer, and both the short- and long-term health outcomes resulting from this comorbidity. Leading experts from the Cardio-Oncology Program at Massachusetts General Hospital provide insight into the program in our special issue on cardio-oncology.

5. Personalized Medicine: On the Brink of Revolutionizing Cancer Care

We have witnessed unprecedented activity in the area of precision medicine over the past few years, especially in oncology, with the successful development of several targeted therapies. Read about the FDA’s efforts to ensure timely access to, and the safe and effective use of, these therapies in an article written by experts at FDA’s Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in our special issue on personalized medicine.

4. New Oncology Clinical Trial Designs: What Works and What Doesn't?

Basket and umbrella studies as well as adaptive enrichment design strategies represent novel approaches to testing targeted therapeutics in oncology. A session at ASCO's annual meeting this year discussed the nuts and bolts of these design strategies.

3. ASCO Demands Medicaid Reform

With the need to integrate value and reimbursement, several organizations have been developing models that can guide value-based care and avoid unnecessary costs. The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Value in Cancer Care Task Force has been charged with providing recommendations to this end. Earlier this year, the task force developed principles that would allow a balance between federal and state budgets, fair payments, and reimbursements for health service providers.

2. Picking Up the Pieces—Thoughts on Cancer by a 25-Year-Old 8-Time Cancer Survivor

Adolescent and young adults (AYA) patients with cancer face several challenges with their care, during and post treatment. Read the narrative by an 8-time survivor in our special issue on AYA cancer care.

1. The Role of Palliative Care in Accountable Care Organizations

Accountable care organizations were developed as a tool that can ensure quality healthcare while reducing unnecessary or avoidable costs to the healthcare system. In this article published in our special issue on palliative care, the authors describe how palliative care has consistently demonstrated its ability to maximize healthcare value, especially for seriously ill patients with the greatest need and highest risk.