June 2014, Vol 5, No 5

Value Propositions from June 2014.

Palonosetron HCl (Aloxi; Eisai) injection received a new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indication for the prevention of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) associated with initial or repeated courses of emetogenic chemotherapy in children aged 1 month to

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ramucirumab (Cyramza; Eli Lilly) for the treatment of patients with advanced stomach cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, which mostly affects older adults.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved ofatumumab (Arzerra Injection, GlaxoSmithKline) in combination with chlorambucil, for the treatment of previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, for whom fludarabine-based therapy is considered inappropriate.

May was a busy month for those who have made a commitment to addressing cost, quality, and value in cancer care. The Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (AVBCC) held its Fourth Annual Conference in Los Angeles, CA.

Orlando, FL—Treatment with enzalutamide (Xtandi) after progression with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) led to a significant improvement in survival for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), according to a new randomized trial reported at the 2014 American Urological Association annual meeting.

Chicago, IL—The question of value in oncology continues to pose challenges for oncologists and payers alike, as the costs of therapy continue to rise and health plans are wrestling with the need to design insurance coverage that promotes value.

Los Angeles, CA—Increasing complexities in diagnostic science, the development of precision medicine, and the use of targeted agents require un­precedented levels of collaboration between pharmaceutical manufacturers, government agencies, and payers, said oncology experts during a panel discussion on personalized medicine at the Fourth Annual Conference of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care.

Chicago, IL—Although the majority of oncologists believe that discussing the costs of care with the patient is impor­tant, many report a lack of resources available to them to inform cost-benefit decisions and a lack of time to discuss these issues with patients.

Cutaneous melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer that develops in the melanocytes of the skin, is becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States.