Video
Utilizing Lower Volume Agents for Plaque Psoriasis and MetS
Bhavesh Shah, PharmD, explains how lower volume agents can be beneficial when treating plaque psoriasis and metabolic syndrome.
Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA: What are some examples, speaking to your detailing, that you could use at your organization or others? When we think about the definitive evidence we’ve discussed around plaque psoriasis and metabolic syndrome, what are some potential ways to drive the utilization of these lower volume agents that might be more effective in the patient population? Think about when we were looking at some of the research that Dr Lebwohl talked about in tildrakizumab, where we’ve seen benefits at week 17 for those patients with metabolic syndrome. Thus, how would you utilize that or encourage other integrated delivery networks or payers to think about that to drive utilization of maybe a lower volume agent compared to others, but that drives higher clinical efficacy and potential improvement in the patients so that we have quicker access or more of a streamlined approach?
Bhavesh Shah, PharmD: Yes. There are more examples probably in diabetes where we specifically have targeted a more efficacious drug that is not utilized as much or not optimized. And of course, it’s much easier to manage diabetes—well it depends on the patients—than with plaque psoriasis, because there’s more complexity in having comorbidities on top of that. Thus, I think our target would be specifically working with the providers who prescribe these drugs. Essentially, that’s the root of where we can really make an impact. If you’re going to change a treatment, it’s directly with that provider, and really incorporating multiple interventions there, where it’s not just the biologic, but what other things can we incorporate for that patient and provide? More than just the dermatology aspect, there’s probably a primary care component that can be really beneficial. Because we know that diet is an important aspect, exercise is an important aspect, and controlling the diabetes is an important aspect, on top of the biologic that they’re getting being the right biologic. Thus, I think essentially having dual interventions that would focus on both aspects and not just the biologic aspect is important.
This transcript has been edited for clarity.
