Impact of Early Access Reform on Oncology Innovation in France: Approvals, Patients, and Costs

BACKGROUND

An ambitious reform of the early access (EA) process was set up in July 2021 in France, aiming to simplify procedures and accelerate access to innovative drugs.

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzes the characteristics of oncology drug approvals through the EA process and its impact on real-life data for oncology patients.

METHODS

The number and characteristics of EA demands concerning oncology drugs submitted to the National Health Authority (HAS, Haute Autorité de Santé) were reviewed until 31 December 2022. A longitudinal retrospective study on patients treated with an EA oncology drug between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2022 was also performed using the French nationwide claims database (Systeme National des Données de Santé [SNDS]) to assess the impact of the reform on the number of indications and patients, and the costs.

RESULTS

Among 110 published decisions, the HAS granted 88 (80%) EA indications within 70 days of assessment on average, including 46 (52%) in oncology (67% in solid tumors and 33% in hematological malignancies). Approved indications were mostly supported by randomized phase III trials (67%), whereas refused EA relied more on non-randomized (57%) trials. Overall survival was the primary endpoint of 28% of EA approvals versus none of denied EAs. In the SNDS data, the annual number of patients with cancer treated with an EA drug increased from 3137 patients in 2019 to 18,341 in 2022 (+ 484%), whereas the number of indications rose from 12 to 62, mainly in oncohematology (n = 17), lung (n = 12), digestive (n = 9) and breast cancer (n = 9). Reimbursement costs for EA treatments surged from €42 to €526 million (+ 1159%).

CONCLUSION

The French EA reform contributed to enabling rapid access to innovations in a wide range of indications for oncology patients. However, the findings highlight ongoing challenges in financial sustainability, warranting continued evaluation and adjustments.

Attributes for a discrete-choice experiment on preferences of patients for oncology pharmacy consultations

PURPOSE

To ensure the safe use of oral anticancer drugs, oncology pharmacy consultations (OPCs) have been established in France. They are conditioned by the needs, expectations, and involvement of the patients in their care. Thus, it is essential to elicit their preferences. The discrete-choice experiment (DCE) is a method recommended by the ISPOR for such a task. The "selection and validation of attributes and their values" step is fundamental in this process. In this context, the aim of this study was to present our research approach to identify and validate the attributes that characterize an OPC and their values.

METHODS

Due to the lack of relevant published data in the literature, the focus-group method was used in accordance with good research practices for the application of conjoint-analysis of the ISPOR. The two-round Delphi method was used to validate the attributes and their values identified by the focus-group method.

RESULTS

The focus-group method enabled identification of nine attributes. Thirty-seven healthcare professionals at a national level, including 30 pharmacists and seven physicians, were selected to take part in the Delphi procedure. Seven attributes (frequency, planification, operation mode, duration, content, written support, and report) and their values were thus validated.

CONCLUSION

Based on these results, the next step will be to elicit patient preferences for OPCs and to then shed light on the issues of pharmaceutical support for patients by comparing their preferences with those of informal caregivers and, in particular, those of the healthcare professionals involved in their care.

Health-related quality of life in patients with hematologic malignancies treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: review and current progress

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed the care of patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell derived hematologic malignancies. To date, six CAR T-cell therapies, targeting either CD19 or B-cell maturation antigen, have received regulatory approval. Along with the promising survival benefit, CAR T-cell therapy is associated with potentially lifethreatening adverse events (AE), including cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cellassociated neurotoxicity syndrome. While clinical trials evaluating CAR T-cell therapy consistently report the incidence of these AE, most trials do not collect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data. As such, the impact of CAR T-cell therapy process and related AE on the physical and psychological well-being of patients remains uncertain. HRQoL and other patientreported outcome (PRO) assessments in patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies are of utmost importance, as individuals may have unmet needs and a high demand for tolerable therapy if a cure is not obtained. In addition, it is important to standardize methods of data collection to better assess the impact of CAR T-cell therapy on quality of life, optimize patient care and costs, and enable comparison between different studies. We conducted a literature search up to June 2023 to identify the HRQoL tools used in clinical trials and in realworld studies investigating CAR T-cell therapy in patients with lymphomas or leukemias. In the present comprehensive review, we summarize the most commonly used CAR T-cell specific and non-specific HRQoL tools and discuss how the use of HRQoL and other PRO tools may be optimized.

Cost-effectiveness of the ONCORAL multidisciplinary programme for the management of outpatients taking oral anticancer agents at risk of drug-related event: protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled study

INTRODUCTION

The development of oral anticancer agents (OAA) has profoundly changed cancer care, leading patients to manage their chemotherapy treatment on an outpatient basis. The prevention of iatrogenic effects of OAA remains a major concern, especially since their side effects are not less serious than those of intravenous chemotherapy. The ONCORAL programme was set up to secure the management of OAA in cancer patients followed at the Lyon University Hospital. This multidisciplinary programme involves hospital pharmacists, nurses, oncologists, and haematologists, as well as community health professionals. Given the economic stakes that this programme entails for the health system, a medico-economic study was designed.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a prospective controlled study, with individual open-label randomisation. A total of 216 outpatients treated with OAA and at risk of developing a drug-related iatrogenic event, will be randomised (2:1) to undergo follow-up in the ONCORAL programme or usual care. The primary outcome will be the estimation of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (difference in total costs per quality adjusted life years gained) at 12 months between the two groups. The secondary outcomes will be evaluation of OAA management consequences (relative-dose intensity, adherence, adverse drug events, drug-drug interactions, and proven medication errors), evaluation of overall survival and cancer-related quality of life, and patient-reported outcomes in relation to the treatment. A budget impact analysis will be implemented. Patient and health professional satisfaction regarding the ONCORAL programme will be measured.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Approval to conduct this study was obtained from an Ethics Committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Ile-de-France VI) in October 2019, and from the French data protection agency (Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés), according to the French Law. Trial results will be disseminated at clinical conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03660670.

Clinical impact and cost-saving analysis of a comprehensive pharmaceutical care intervention in older patients with cancer

BACKGROUND

Hospital admission and discharge are at high risk of drug-related problems (DRPs) in older patients with cancer. This study aimed to assess the clinical and economic impact of a comprehensive pharmaceutical care intervention (RECAP) to optimize drug therapy in patients with cancer ≥75 years admitted to oncology or geriatric wards.

METHOD

RECAP intervention was defined as follows: at admission and discharge, hospital pharmacists conducted comprehensive medication reconciliation and review, identified relevant DRPs and provided optimization recommendations to prescribers; at discharge, pharmacists also provided patient education and shared information with primary care providers. The impact of the intervention was assessed by the rate of implementation of recommendations by the prescribers and the evolution of polypharmacy rate; a peer review of the clinical significance of DRPs was performed by an expert panel of geriatric oncologists and pharmacists. A cost saving analysis compared cost avoided through resolution of DRPs to cost of pharmacist's time.

RESULTS

From January 2019 and August 2020, 201 patients were included (median age 80 [75-97] years), 68.7% with solid tumors. DRPs requiring optimization were identified in 70.9% of patients at admission (mean 1.7 DRP/patient) and 47.7% at discharge (0.9 DRP/patient). Most pharmacist recommendations (70.8%) were followed by prescribers, allowing the correction of 1.2 DRP/patient at admission and 0.7 DRP/patient at discharge. Half of resolved DRPs were rated as clinically significant. However, polypharmacy rate was not reduced at discharge. Cost comparison showed $7.2 avoided for $1 invested, with an estimated total net benefit of $354,822 (mean $1766 per patient).

CONCLUSIONS

The RECAP model significantly reduces DRPs in hospitalized older patients with cancer. The model was cost saving, confirming the value of implementing it in routine practice.

Eliminating the need for preoperative intravenous hyperhydration: Sodium thiosulfate as nephrotoxicity prevention in HIPEC-treated patients - A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an effective treatment for peritoneal metastases. However, HIPEC with cisplatin is associated with renal toxicity. Sodium thiosulfate (ST) has been shown to prevent cisplatin-induced toxicity.

METHODS

A retrospective, single-center analysis of patients treated curatively for peritoneal surface malignancy, who underwent cytoreductive surgery with cisplatin-based HIPEC between 2015 and 2020. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the management of cisplatin-induced renal toxicity: preoperative hyperhydration alone (PHH), preoperative hyperhydration with ST (PHH + ST), and ST alone. Renal function and complications, in terms of Acute (AKI) and chronic kidney injury (CKI), were monitored and analyzed during 3 postoperative months.

RESULTS

This study included 220 consecutive patients. Mean serum creatinine levels were 95, 57 and 61 mmol/L, for PHH, PHH + ST and ST groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) were 96, 94 and 78 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively (p < 0.001). AKI and CKI are respectively for PHH, PHH + ST and ST groups were 21 % (n = 46), 1 % (n = 2) and 0 % vs 19 % (n = 42), 0 % and 0 % (p < 0.001), for pairwise analysis did not show any difference between PHH + ST and ST alone combination, regarding nephrological outcomes. All patients were followed 3 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

There is no need for preoperative hyperhydration when sodium-thiosulfate is used to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC. These findings have implications for improving and simplifying the management of patients with peritoneal metastases undergoing HIPEC with cisplatin.

A single-centre experience of 29 total ankle replacement in haemophiliac patients: Therapeutic management, factor consumption and cost

INTRODUCTION

In patients with haemophilia, repeated bleeding in large joints leads to chronic haemophilic arthropathy, a rare disease that can be managed surgically with ankle arthrodesis or with total ankle replacement (TAR). TAR has been reported to provide good surgical results in the medium/long-term and allow preservation of joint mobility but the medical therapeutic management of the patients has not been described.

AIM

To describe the medical therapeutic management of TAR.

METHODS

All patients with haemophilia A/B, with haemophilic ankle arthropathy, and who underwent TAR between April 2006 and October 2019 were retrospectively included. Factor consumption, perioperative and early complications, volume of blood lost, and orthopaedic data were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients underwent 29 TAR (mean age was 44.7 years [range: 26-65]). In the 17 patients with HA without history of anti-FVIII inhibitor, the mean ± SD consumption the day of surgery was 116 ± 16 UI/kg when clotting factors were administered by continuous infusion, 106 ± 13 UI/kg when SHL factors were administered by bolus infusion, and 75 ± 22 UI/kg when EHL factors were administered by bolus infusion. During hospitalisation, the mean factor cost was €38,073 (83.7% of the total cost of surgery). Mean blood loss was significantly lower in patients treated with tranexamic acid (164 mL, range: 40-300) than in those not (300 mL, range: 70-800; p = .01). Six patients had haematoma. The 10-year survival free of any prosthesis removal/arthrodesis was estimated to be 92.2% (95% CI [83; 100]).

CONCLUSION

The medical therapeutic management of TAR is complex, carried out by a multidisciplinary team but effective in avoiding the occurrence of complications.

[Antibody drug conjugates (ADC) and bispecific antibodies in oncology - report of the 2022 Saint Louis day]

Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC) and bispecific antibodies are booming and were the subject of the scientific event proposed by the French Society of Oncological Pharmacy, October 13, 2022. An ADC is composed of the antibody targeting a receptor expressed on the tumor cell, the spacer making it possible to attach the cytotoxic to the antibody and to control its distribution in the body, and the cytotoxic. Therapeutic antibodies, monoclonal and conjugated, have particular pharmacokinetics. Unlike monoclonal antibodies for which the standard dose is most often fixed, this is expressed in mg/m2 (or mg/kg) and capped at 2m2 (or 100kg) for conjugates. The linked cytotoxics are powerful cytotoxics: mitotic spindle poisons (emtansine, monomethyl auristatin E or vedotin), topoisomerase I inhibitors (deruxtecan, SN 38) or antibiotics (ozogamicin). In senology, trastuzumab deruxtecan (anti-HER2) and sacituzumab govitecan (anti-Trop 2) are now modifying treatment standards for patients with metastatic breast cancer, respectively HER2 3X or HER2 low and triple negative. In metastatic bladder cancer, enfortumab vedotin (anti-nectin 4) is positioned as the 2nd line of treatment. Bispecific antibodies, on the other hand, are able to target two epitopes, an antigen specific to a tumor cell and one to an immune cell, allowing a bridge between the killer immune cells and the tumor cells. For lymphoma proliferation, many bispecific antibodies are in development. The most advanced are glofitamab, epcoritamab and mosunetuzumab, which target the CD20 of B lymphocytes and the CD3 of T lymphocytes. Bispecific antibodies are also emerging in the treatment of myeloma with teclistamab and elranatamab (anti-CD3 and anti-BCMA) or talquetamab (anti-GPRC5D and anti-CD3). Conjugated antibodies, and more recently bispecific antibodies, are potential game changers in cancer treatment and researchs are needed to improve their efficacy and safety.

Anti-coagulant Treatment of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis in Frail Patients: Impact of Frailties on the Management of Drug-Drug Interactions

Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and anti-Xa direct oral anti-coagulants (DOACs) are recommended for the long-term treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) based on well-documented randomised controlled trials. Anti-Xa DOACs are viewed as a first choice for the treatment of patients with CAT. A large number of drug-drug interactions have been reported between DOACs and chemotherapy drugs, modifying circulating levels of DOAC leading to fears of increased bleeding risks or thrombotic recurrence. Progresses in anti-neoplastic therapies have improved the prognosis and the survival, thus increasing the prevalence of frail patients with cancer. However, since frailties tend to be excluded from large trials due to multiple co-morbidities, current guidelines are not fully applicable to this population. The management of these frail patients with CAT is particularly complex and requires a risk assessment on a case-by-case basis with specific focus on cancer, patient-related risk factors and drug-drug interactions. In this brief review we have identified age, co-morbidities and co-medications as key factors of frailty that require careful attention and we have developed a therapeutic decision algorithm to help clinicians optimising the use of anti-coagulants in patients with cancer with CAT, especially in case of anti-Xa DOACs concomitant medications. With the evaluation of the bleeding risk according to the type of cancer, and anticipating drug-drug interactions intensity, taking into account patient frailties allows the optimisation of the anti-coagulant choice. A systematic collaboration between oncologists, vascular pathology specialists and pharmacists is warranted to ensure an optimal patient management. Clinical studies are needed to determine the real impact of these interactions.

Cancer outpatients during the COVID-19 pandemic: what Oncoral has to teach us about medical drug use and the perception of telemedicine

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare access and telemedicine has been widely deployed. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of this health crisis on treatment consumption and telemedicine development in outpatients treated by oral anti-cancer agents and followed by the Oncoral hospital/community multidisciplinary program where continuity care is maintained by a pharmacist/nurse pair.

METHODS

A prospective monocentric study was conducted among cancer patients who received Oncoral telephone follow-up during the 1st lockdown in France using a 56-item questionnaire which covered sociodemographic data, patient medication management, and telehealth.

RESULTS

178 patients received Oncoral follow-up during the 1st lockdown and 67.4% responded to the questionnaire. During lockdown, 9.2% of patients took medication or CAM for fatigue, 6.7% for mood alteration, 10.8% for sleep disorder, 11.7% for stress and anxiety, and 12.5% to get more energy. Homeopathy consumption was triggered by the pandemic. Habits about getting drugs from the pharmacy changed significantly (p < 0.001), while other treatment habits did not. 83% of patients were satisfied by the telephone follow-up established, 69% would be in favor of repeating this in case of a new epidemic wave. Those most in favor of using telemedicine seemed to be the youngest (p < 0.001), with several dependent children (p < 0.007), high school degree or higher education (p = 0.023), and in work (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Health system reorganization enables to limit the impact of the crisis on patients' drug use in oncology care. Telemedicine is a promising public health tool.

Enhancing collaboration between geriatricians, oncologists, and pharmacists to optimize medication therapy in older adults with cancer: A position paper from SOFOG-SFPO

Optimizing anticancer treatment and medication therapy in older patients with cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, with a strong collaboration between geriatricians, oncologists and pharmacists. While all patients can benefit, some clinical situations seem to be high-priority. Careful attention should be given to patients with cardiovascular comorbidities and/or diabetes, which are prone to decompensate during anticancer treatment and often involve multiple medications. Another great concern is the risk of falls, closely related to polypharmacy, hence the need for a comprehensive medication review. Managing the pharmacological treatment of depression is also challenging and require shared expertise. Finally, pharmacists can prove valuable in situations of adherence difficulties or use of complementary medicines. Collaborative practice should begin at initiation of anticancer treatment and continue throughout the care pathway, as continuous reassessment is essential. Although the integration of pharmacists in multidisciplinary teams is often challenged by funding, collaborative should still be strongly encouraged.

Comparing different robots available in the European market for the preparation of injectable chemotherapy and recommendations to users

INTRODUCTION

Recent advances in technology have made it possible to develop robots for preparing injectable anticancer drugs. This study aims to compare characteristics between robots available in the European market in 2022 and to help future pharmacy users in their choices.

METHODS

Three sources of data were used: (1) a review of published articles in the MEDLINE database from November 2017 to end of June 2021 on chemotherapy-compounding robots used in hospital; (2) all manufacturers' documentation, and (3) demonstrations of robot operations in real hospital conditions and discussions with users and manufacturers. Robot characteristics included number of robots installed, general technical characteristics, type of injectable chemotherapy produced and compatible materials, productivity data, preparation control methods, residual manual tasks, chemical and microbiological risk management, cleaning method, software, and implementation time.

RESULTS

Seven robots commercialized were studied. Several technical characteristics have to be taken into account in selecting the robot whose match the specific needs of a particular hospital, and which often require rethinking the current production workflow as well as the organization of the pharmacy unit. In addition to increasing productivity, the robots improve the quality of production thanks to better traceability, reproducibility, and precision of sampling. They also improve user protection against chemical risk, musculoskeletal disorders, and needle wounds. Nevertheless, when robotization is being planned, there are still numerous residual manual tasks to keep in mind.

CONCLUSION

Robotization of the production of injectable anticancer drugs is booming within anticancer chemotherapy preparation pharmacy units. Feedback from this experience needs to be further shared with the pharmacy community regarding this significant investment.

[SARS-COV-2 pandemic: Involvement of the hospital pharmacist in securing patient care]

OBJECTIVES

In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, hospital pharmacists supported the implementation of recommendations and ensured the safety of patient medication management. The aim of this study is to establish the interest of the involvement of the hospital pharmacist in this context by describing and comparing the activities carried out with patients with COVID-19 and those without.

METHODS

During the study period, data on clinical pharmacy activities with hospitalized patients were collected and analyzed: pharmaceutical analysis of prescriptions, participation in multi-professional consultation meetings (RCP) dedicated to COVID-19, and monitoring of adverse events.

RESULTS

The activities concerned 1483 patients, including 444 with COVID-19, resulting in 575 pharmaceutical interventions (PI). The main problems identified were overdoses, untreated indications, and drug-drug interactions (DDI). AMIs were significantly more common in patients with COVID-19, with 73.3% involving disease-specific therapies. Eleven PIs had a life-threatening impact, 189 a major impact. During the PCRs, 36 PIs were performed for 59% of the patients presented. A pharmacovigilance report was performed for a quarter of patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and 33% of patients treated with lopinavir/ritonavir.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the value of involving hospital pharmacists in the drug management of patients with COVID-19, particularly with the evolution of available therapies and the implementation of vaccination, in order to reduce the spread of SARS-COV2 and limit the appearance of resistance.

Clinical and economic impact of clinical oncology pharmacy in cancer patients receiving injectable anticancer treatments: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Clinical pharmacy can reduce drug-related iatrogenesis by improving the management of adverse effects of drugs, limiting drug-drug interactions, and improving patient adherence. Given the vulnerability of cancer patients and the toxicity of injectable anticancer drugs, clinical pharmacy service (CPS) could provide a significant clinical benefit in cancer care. This review aims to synthesize existing evidence on clinical pharmacy's impact on patients treated with intravenous anticancer drugs.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed/Medline database from January 2000 to December 2021, associating the keywords: clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical care, pharmacist, oncology, and chemotherapy. To be eligible for inclusion, studies have to report clinical pharmaceutical services for patients treated with intravenous chemotherapy with a clinical and/or economic impact.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies met the selection criteria. Various CPS were reported: medication reconciliation, medication review, and pharmaceutical interview with patient. There was a lack of randomized study (n = 3; 7.3%). In one randomized controlled trial, pharmaceutical intervention significantly improved quality of life of patients receiving pharmaceutical care during injectable anticancer drugs courses. Economical results appear to show positive impact of clinical pharmacy with cost savings reported from 3112.87$ to 249 844€. Although most studies were non-comparative, they highlighted that clinical pharmacy tend to limit chemotherapy side effects and drug-related problems, improve quality of life and satisfaction of patients and healthcare professional, and a positive economic impact.

CONCLUSION

Clinical pharmacy can reduce adverse drug events in cancer patients. More robust and economic evaluations are still required to support its development in everyday practice.

Comparative analysis of CAR T-cell therapy access for DLBCL patients: associated challenges and solutions in the four largest EU countries

Introduction

CAR T-cell therapy has emerged as a promising new immuno-oncology treatment that engages the patient's immune system to fight certain hematological malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In the European Union (EU), CAR T-cell therapies have been approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) DLBCL patients since 2018, but patient access is often still limited or delayed. This paper is aimed at discussing challenges to access and possible solutions in the largest four EU countries.

Methods

The analysis relied on literature review, market data collection, since homogeneous data coming from registries were not available, and discussion with experts coming from all four countries.

Results

We calculated that in 2020, between 58% and 83% of R/R DLBCL patients (EMA approved label population) or between 29% and 71% of the estimated medically eligible R/R DLBCL patients, were not treated with a licensed CAR T-cell therapy. Common challenges along the patient journey that may result in limited access or delays to CAR T-cell therapy were identified. These include timely identification and referral of eligible patients, pre-treatment funding approval by authorities and payers, and resource needs at CAR T-cell centers.

Discussion

These challenges, existing best practices and recommended focus areas for health systems are discussed here, with the aim to inform necessary actions for overcoming patient access challenges for current CAR T-cell therapies as well as for future cell and gene therapies.

Monitoring multidimensional aspects of quality of life after cancer immunotherapy: protocol for the international multicentre, observational QUALITOP cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, have significantly improved the clinical outcomes of various malignancies. However, they also cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that can be challenging to predict, prevent and treat. Although they likely interact with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), most existing evidence on this topic has come from clinical trials with eligibility criteria that may not accurately reflect real-world settings. The QUALITOP project will study HRQoL in relation to irAEs and its determinants in a real-world study of patients treated with immunotherapy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This international, observational, multicentre study takes place in France, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. We aim to include about 1800 adult patients with cancer treated with immunotherapy in a specifically recruited prospective cohort, and to additionally obtain data from historical real-world databases (ie, databiobanks) and medical administrative registries (ie, national cancer registries) in which relevant data regarding other adult patients with cancer treated with immunotherapy has already been stored. In the prospective cohort, clinical health status, HRQoL and psychosocial well-being will be monitored until 18 months after treatment initiation through questionnaires (at baseline and 3, 6, 12 and 18 months thereafter), and by data extraction from electronic patient files. Using advanced statistical methods, including causal inference methods, artificial intelligence algorithms and simulation modelling, we will use data from the QUALITOP cohort to improve the understanding of the complex relationships among treatment regimens, patient characteristics, irAEs and HRQoL.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

All aspects of the QUALITOP project will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and with ethical approval from a suitable local ethics committee, and all patients will provide signed informed consent. In addition to standard dissemination efforts in the scientific literature, the data and outcomes will contribute to a smart digital platform and medical data lake. These will (1) help increase knowledge about the impact of immunotherapy, (2) facilitate improved interactions between patients, clinicians and the general population and (3) contribute to personalised medicine.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05626764.

Impact of pharmaceutical care interventions on multidisciplinary care of older patients with cancer: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Optimizing medication use is a major issue in older patients with cancer and pharmacists are increasingly involved in their multidisciplinary care. The implementation of pharmaceutical care interventions must be supported by impact evaluations to enable their development and funding. This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on the impact of pharmaceutical care interventions in older patients with cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases, for articles reporting evaluations of pharmaceutical care interventions for patients with cancer aged 65 years or older.

RESULTS

Eleven studies met the selection criteria. Most pharmacists were part of multidisciplinary geriatric oncology teams. Whether in outpatient or inpatient settings, interventions had common components, including patient interview, medication reconciliation, and comprehensive medication review to assess drug-related problems (DRPs). DRPs were identified in 95% of patients with 1.7 to 3 DRPs on average. Pharmacist recommendations resulted in a 20-40% reduction in the total number of DRPs and a 20-25% decrease in the prevalence of DRP. Prevalence of potentially inappropriate or omitted medications and their subsequent deprescribing or addition varied greatly between studies, notably depending on detection tools used. Clinical impact was insufficiently evaluated. Only one study reported a reduction of anticancer treatment toxicities following a joint pharmaceutical and geriatric assessment. A single economic evaluation calculated a potential net benefit of $3,864.23 per patient resulting from the intervention.

DISCUSSION

These encouraging results must be confirmed by more robust evaluations to support the involvement of pharmacists in multidisciplinary care of older patients with cancer.

Intravenous route for folate supplementation in a patient with celiac disease treated by pemetrexed-based chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer

INTRODUCTION

Oral folic acid supplementation is essential for patients treated with pemetrexed, to prevent the risk of severe hematologic toxicity. In case of intestinal absorption disorder, no recommendations exist for intravenous folic acid supplementation.

CASE REPORT

We describe a 74-year-old patient with multimetastatic non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma, receiving first-line chemotherapy with carboplatin AUC5, pemetrexed 500 mg/m² and pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks. The patient presented neglected celiac disease, resulting in malabsorption syndrome with iron and folic acid deficiency. The question was how to administer folic acid supplementation during the pemetrexed-based chemotherapy.

MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES

Intravenous injection of 200 mg levoleucovorin on day 1 of cycle 1 of pemetrexed-based chemotherapy was administered and well tolerated. During the second cycle, the levoleucovorin perfusion was not renewed by omission. The patient was hospitalized for 7 days because of febrile aplasia. Piperacillin-tazobactam was started, and then switched to amoxicillin-clavulanate plus ciprofloxacin. After this episode of post-chemotherapy febrile aplasia, it was decided to systematically supplement the patient with intravenous levoleucovorin, with blood folate concentration monitoring at each cycle. At 16 months after start of treatment, the patient was in complete remission, indicating that the immune-chemotherapy was effective, with no further febrile neutropenia.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

This case report highlights intravenous levoleucovorin supplementation as an alternative to oral folic acid if needed during pemetrexed-antifolate-based chemotherapy.

Management of adults and children receiving CAR T-cell therapy: 2021 best practice recommendations of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT and EBMT (JACIE) and the European Haematology Association (EHA)

BACKGROUND

Several commercial and academic autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) products targeting CD19 have been approved in Europe for relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, high-grade B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma. Products for other diseases such as multiple myeloma and follicular lymphoma are likely to be approved by the European Medicines Agency in the near future.

DESIGN

The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)-Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT and EBMT (JACIE) and the European Haematology Association collaborated to draft best practice recommendations based on the current literature to support health care professionals in delivering consistent, high-quality care in this rapidly moving field.

RESULTS

Thirty-six CAR-T experts (medical, nursing, pharmacy/laboratory) assembled to draft recommendations to cover all aspects of CAR-T patient care and supply chain management, from patient selection to long-term follow-up, post-authorisation safety surveillance and regulatory issues.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide practical, clinically relevant recommendations on the use of these high-cost, logistically complex therapies for haematologists/oncologists, nurses and other stakeholders including pharmacists and health sector administrators involved in the delivery of CAR-T in the clinic.

Implementation assessment of a patient personalized clinical pharmacy programme (5P project) into orthogeriatric care pathway

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

The orthogeriatric path (hip-fractured elderly patients) is composed of several transition points (emergency surgery, orthopaedic, geriatric and rehabilitation units). The intervention of clinical pharmacists can ensure the continuity of patients' drug management during their hospital stay. The aim of the study was to assess the implementation of clinical pharmacy activities in an orthogeriatric pathway, regarding its impact on medication error prevention, the healthcare professionals' and patients' satisfaction, and the estimated associated pharmaceutical workload.

METHODS

Participants were aged 75 or older and managed for proximal femoral fracture. Their admission prescription was reviewed. If they were evaluated at high risk of adverse event (AE), medication reconciliation (MedRec) and pharmaceutical interviews (admission, discharge, and targeted on oral anticoagulant) were added at different steps of their care pathway. The achievement and duration of each clinical pharmacy activity were recorded. The number of pharmaceutical interventions (PI) made during prescription review, and unintentional discrepancies (UID) identified during MedRec were collected. A satisfaction questionnaire was sent to patients and healthcare professionals.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Among 455 included patients, 284 patients were considered at high risk of AE. Clinical pharmacy activity achievement rates varied between 12% and 98%. A total of 622 PI and 333 UID were identified. The overall patients' and healthcare professionals' satisfaction was rated from 63% to 100%. The total workload was estimated at 376 h: on average 16 min per prescription review, 43 min per admission MedRec, 26 min per discharge MedRec and 17 to 25 minutes per interview.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of the programme showed a high potential of drug management securing. To sustain it, additional pharmaceutical human resources and high-performance computing tools are needed.

Assessment of Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) in Outpatients Taking Oral Anticancer Drugs Included in the Real-Life Oncoral Program

Simple Summary

Patients receiving oral anticancer agents (OAAs) have a substantial symptom burden. Given the trend toward patient-centered care, the use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) seems appropriate to secure medication management, and to improve clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to assess symptoms potentially related to adverse events experienced by cancer outpatients treated by OAAs using PROs. In total, 407 questionnaires were completed by 63 patients, in which 2333 symptoms were reported. Almost three-quarters (74.6%) reported at least one high-level symptom. The symptoms most commonly experienced were fatigue, various psychological disorders and general pain. This initiative is the first step in the implementation of symptom assessment by PROs in patients treated by OAAs. The results highlight the need for close coordination between community and hospital health professionals, and the integration of patient self-reporting systems in oncologic clinical practice.

Abstract

Background In previous studies, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been shown to improve survival in cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to assess symptoms potentially related to adverse events experienced by cancer outpatients treated by oral anticancer agents (OAAs) using PROs. Methods Between September 2018 and May 2019, outpatients starting OAAs were included in a 12-week follow-up to assess 15 symptoms listed in the National Cancer Institute PRO Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, using a 5-point scale of severity or frequency. Patients were requested to alert a referral nurse or pharmacist when they self-assessed high-level (level 3 or 4) symptoms. Results 407 questionnaires were completed by 63 patients in which 2333 symptoms were reported. Almost three-quarters (74.6%) reported at least one high-level symptom. The symptoms that were most commonly experienced were fatigue (>9 in 10 patients; 13.2% of symptoms declared), various psychological disorders (>9 in 10 patients; 28.6% of symptoms declared) and general pain (>8 in 10 patients; 9.4% of symptoms declared). Conclusion PROs are appropriate to detect potential adverse events in cancer outpatients treated by OAAs. This study is the first step for integrating the patient’s perspective in a digital e-health device in routine oncology care.

How a Patient Personalised Clinical Pharmacy Programme Can Secure Therapeutic Care in an Orthogeriatric Care Pathway (5P Project)?

Background

A new model was developed for integrating a personalised clinical pharmacy programme (5P project) into the orthogeriatric care pathway.

Objective

To secure the therapeutic care of orthogeriatric patients.

Design and Setting

Prospective descriptive study in a multisite teaching hospital from June 2019 to January 2020.

Subjects

Patients aged ≥75 years admitted for hip fracture.

Methods

A prescription review was performed for all patients at inclusion. Other clinical pharmacy activities (additional prescription review, pharmaceutical interviews, medication reconciliation) were dedicated to “high-risk” patients. Potential medication errors (ME), either pharmaceutical interventions (PI) or unintentional discrepancies (UID), were recorded. The potential clinical impact of PI was evaluated by a pluriprofessional expert panel using a validated tool.

Results

In the 455 patients included, 955 potential ME were detected, that is ≥1 potential ME for 324/455 (71%) patients. In acute care, 561 PI were formulated during prescription review for 440/455 (97%) patients and 348/561 (62%) were accepted by physicians. Medication reconciliation was performed for 213 patients, 316 UID were identified. In rehabilitation units, a second prescription review was performed for 112/122 (92%) “high-risk” patients, leading to 61 PI. The clinical impact was evaluated for 519/622 (83%) PI. A consensus was obtained for 310/519 (60%) PI: 147/310 (47%) were rated as having minor clinical impact, 138/310 (45%) moderate, 22/310 (7%) major, 2/310 (0.6%) vital, and 1/310 (0.3%) null.

Conclusion

The 5P project secured the orthogeriatric care pathway by detecting a great number of potential ME, including PI mostly considered as having a significant clinical impact.

Preparations of exploration of immediate hypersensitivity to antineoplastic agents: An oncology pharmacy perspective

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients are being exposed to antineoplastic drugs more frequently and for longer periods, resulting in a higher risk of hypersensitivity reactions. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmaceutical time and direct cost of drug allergy explorations following immediate hypersensitivity reactions to antineoplastic agents.

METHODS

A micro-costing method was used to collect data on consumption of human and material resources for allergy exploration preparations. The monetisation was carried out on the basis of prices and hourly wage costs applied in 2018. The number and type of allergy explorations prepared by the pharmacy as well as nature of antineoplastic drugs tested, and the number of culprit drugs reintroductions were collected.

RESULTS

Almost 1.5 h is required to realise allergy tests for one patient including pharmacist time for prescription analysis and pharmacy technician's time for tests preparation. The mean manufacturing cost of these tests is estimated at €62.87 (€57.82-65.49) per culprit drug for one patient. Programming patients according to culprit drugs tested allows rationalising healthcare provider time and increasing efficiency. From January 2010 to December 2018, 277 patients were tested and 490 allergy explorations were performed, corresponding to more than 5000 preparations. Mostly, the culprit drug could be reintroduced (n = 383, 78.2%) allowing patients to receive the best possible treatment.

CONCLUSION

Management of hypersensitivity reactions is constantly progressing, as it contributes to improving patient care in oncology. This activity is time-consuming for the pharmacy team but allows patients with previous hypersensitivity reaction to continue effective treatment.

Sodium thiosulfate protects from renal impairement following hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) with Cisplatin

BACKGROUND

Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been shown to provide benefits in the management of peritoneal metastasis. Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most frequently used drugs for peritoneal infusion. A major restriction is that CDDP causes renal toxicity and acute renal failure, sometimes leading to chronic renal failure. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of sodium thiosulfate (ST) in preventing renal impairment (RI) following HIPEC with CDDP.

METHODS

This prospective study assessed the RI rates for all patients who underwent HIPEC with CDDP during two successive periods: without ST (nST Period; from November 2016 to September 2017) and with ST (ST Period; from October 2017 to March 2018). During the ST Period, patients received an ST infusion at 9 mg/m² prior to HIPEC and at 12 mg/m² at the end of the procedure. RI was defined by postoperative serum creatinine >1.6 times elevation of baseline value. The impact of ST treatment was evaluated by comparison of the RI rates between the two periods.

RESULTS

During ST Period, none of 38 patients (0%) developed RI versus 11/35 patients (31.4%) during the nST Period (p < .005); 2 of whom required definitive hemodialysis. Baseline characteristics, background circumstances, indications and laboratory parameters before HIPEC were comparable between the two groups, as well as CDDP dose use during HIPEC.

CONCLUSION

ST appears to be an effective drug for the prevention of the renal toxicity of CDDP used for HIPEC and should be used for all such procedures.

Real-life drug-drug and herb-drug interactions in outpatients taking oral anticancer drugs: comparison with databases

PURPOSE

Due to polypharmacy and the rising popularity of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM), oncology patients are particularly at risk of drug-drug interactions (DDI) or herb-drug interactions (HDI). The aims of this study were to assess DDI and HDI in outpatients taking oral anticancer drug.

METHOD

All prescribed and non-prescribed medications, including CAM, were prospectively collected by hospital pharmacists during a structured interview with the patient. DDI and HDI were analyzed using four interaction software programs: Thériaque^®, Drugs.com^®, Hédrine, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) database. All detected interactions were characterized by severity, risk and action mechanism. The need for pharmaceutical intervention to modify drug use was determined on a case-by-case basis.

RESULTS

294 patients were included, with a mean age of 67 years [55-79]. The median number of chronic drugs per patient was 8 [1-29] and 55% of patients used at least one CAM. At least 1 interaction was found for 267 patients (90.8%): 263 (89.4%) with DDI, 68 (23.1%) with HDI, and 64 (21.7%) with both DDI and HDI. Only 13% of the DDI were found in Thériaque^® and Drugs.com^® databases, and 125 (2.5%) were reported with similar level of risk on both databases. 104 HDI were identified with only 9.5% of the interactions found in both databases. 103 pharmaceutical interventions were performed, involving 61 patients (20.7%).

CONCLUSION

Potentially clinically relevant drug interaction were frequently identified in this study, showing that several databases and structured screening are required to detect more interactions and optimize medication safety.

Immunosuppression medication adherence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Impact of a specialized clinical pharmacy program

This study aims to evaluate the impact of implementing a specialized clinical pharmacy program in patients with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) on their adherence to the immunosuppression treatment after discharge. A prospective open interventional design using a retrospective control group was used. The intervention was based on pharmaceutical consultations: the first was performed the day before discharge of HSCT unit and the next consultations during day-care follow-up (weeks 2 and 4 after discharge). Proactive medication reconciliation was implemented with a complete list of medications before the discharge prescription. The discharge prescription summarized on a personalized drug schedule was explained to the patient. The importance of optimal adherence and the potential problems related to self-medication were explained to the patient. Immunosuppression drug adherence was assessed by a direct method using serum levels of calcineurin inhibitors. The potential impact on acute GvHD, and infection was investigated. Twenty-six patients were included in the specialized clinical pharmacy program and 35 patients were in the control group. Seventy-nine pharmaceutical consultations were conducted in the intervention group, lasting a mean 25 min and 16 min for the first and following consultations, respectively. Serum levels in the therapeutic target range were higher in the intervention group (61.5% versus 53.0%, p = 0.07), with greater intra-individual variation (p = 0.005). There was no significant intergroup difference in acute GvHD (53.8% versus 50.3%, p = 0.85) or infection (26.9 versus 22.8%, p = 0.72). The implementation of a specialized clinical pharmacy program for patients who have received allogeneic HSCT seems to be beneficial for immunosuppression drug adherence; this now needs to be confirmed in a multicenter study involving a larger number of patients.

Immunomodulatory drugs in multiple myeloma: Impact of the SCARMET (Self CARe and MEdication Toxicity) educational intervention on outpatients' knowledge to manage adverse effects

Long-term multiple myeloma therapy by immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) raises the question of management of adverse effects. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of an educational session for patients on the acquisition of knowledge to manage hematologic and thromboembolic adverse effects of IMiDs. In this prospective single-center study, patients attended an educational session with a hospital clinical pharmacist and a nurse. The primary endpoint was the patient's level of knowledge for the management of IMiDs adverse effects, assess with a dedicated questionnaire administered before the session then 1 and 6 months after. Assessment of knowledge was combined with self-assessment of certainty. The secondary endpoints were adherence and IMiD treatment satisfaction. 50 patients were included. Patient knowledge increased at 1 month (p<0.001) despite a loss of knowledge at 6 months (p<0.05). Six months after the educational intervention, the number of patients with skills considered satisfactory by the pharmacist and nurse increased (p<0.01). Most patients showed satisfactory adherence, with medication possession ratio ≥ 80%. The Self CARe and MEdication Toxicity (SCARMET) study highlighted the impact of multidisciplinary follow-up in multiple myeloma patients to improve knowledge of toxicity self-management.

Commercial anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive B cell lymphoma in a European center

Two autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T cells (axicabtagene ciloleucel [axi-cel] and tisagenlecleucel [tisa-cel]) are commercially approved in Europe for relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We performed a retrospective study to evaluate patterns of use, efficacy and safety for axi-cel and tisa-cel. Data from 70 patients who underwent apheresis for commercial CAR T cells between January 2018 and November 2019 in our institution were retrospectively collected. Sixty-one patients were infused. The median age at infusion was 59 years old (range 27-75 years). The median number of prior therapies was 3 (range, 2-6). The overall response rates (ORRs) at 1 month and 3 months were 63% and 45%, respectively, with 48% and 39% achieving a complete response (CR), respectively. After a median follow-up after infusion of 5.7 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.0 months (95% CI, 2.8-8.8 months), and the median overall survival (OS) was 11.8 months (95% CI, 6.0-12.6 months). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor PFS were the number of previous lines of treatment before CAR T cells (≥4) (P = .010) and a C reactive protein (CRP) value >30 mg/L at the time of lymphodepletion (P < .001). Likewise, the only factor associated with a shorter OS was CRP >30 mg/L (P = .009). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) of any grade occurred in 85% of patients, including 8% of patients with CRS of grade 3 or higher. Immune cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) of any grade occurred in 28% of patients, including 10% of patients with ICANS of grade 3 or higher. Regarding efficacy and safety, no significant difference was found between axi-cel and tisa-cel. This analysis describes one of the largest real-life cohorts of patients treated with axi-cel and tisa-cel for R/R aggressive B cell lymphoma in Europe.

Economic impact of clinical pharmaceutical activities in hospital wards: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The positive impact of clinical pharmacy services (CPS) in improving clinical outcomes such as reduction of drug related problems is well demonstrated. Despite these results, the deployment of these activities is not systematically observed in the hospital setting.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review first aimed to describe existing evidence regarding economic evaluation of ward-based CPS focusing on the entire treatment of a patient in a hospital setting. Secondly, the quality of economic evaluations of existing evidence was assessed.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed/Medline, Science Direct and the NHS Economic Evaluation databases from January 2000 to March 2019. English or French language articles describing an economic evaluation of ward-based CPS on inpatients in hospital settings were included. Articles not describing a single study, dealing with a CPS not considering the entire medication regimen of the patient or presenting both inpatient and outpatient CPS were excluded. Selected articles were analyzed according to Drummond's check-list for assessing economic evaluations.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies were included. About one third were American publications. CPS implemented in ICU represented about half of the selected articles. Pharmacist-to-bed ratios varied according to countries and care unit type with the most favorable ratios in ICU and in American studies. Cost-avoidance was mostly used to express economic impact and ranged from €1579 to €3,089 328. Studies yielding the greater economic impact were conducted in the USA with implementation of full-time equivalents pharmacists or establishing of collaborative practice agreements. Only 6 articles dealt correctly with at least 7 of the 10 Drummond's checklist assessment criteria.

CONCLUSION

This review suggests that the existing evidence is not sufficient to conclude to a positive economic impact of CPS conducted according to clinical pharmacy guidelines. Funding resources, remuneration of clinical pharmacy activities and provision of standardized national clinical and economic databases appear to be essential evolutions to improve CPS development.

Cancer, immune suppression and Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19): Need to manage drug safety (French Society for Oncology Pharmacy [SFPO] guidelines)

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is disrupting our health environment. As expected, studies highlighted the great susceptibility of cancer patients to COVID-19 and more severe complications, leading oncologists to deeply rethink patient cancer care. This review is dedicated to the optimization of care pathways and therapeutics in cancer patients during the pandemic and aims to discuss successive issues. First we focused on the international guidelines proposing adjustments and alternative options to cancer care in order to limit hospital admission and cytopenic treatment in cancer patients, most of whom are immunocompromised. In addition cancer patients are prone to polypharmacy, enhancing the risk of drug-related problems as adverse events and drug-drug interactions. Due to increased risk in case of COVID-19, we reported a comprehensive review of all the drug-related problems between COVID-19 and antineoplastics. Moreover, in the absence of approved drug against COVID-19, infected patients may be included in clinical trials evaluating new drugs with a lack of knowledge, particularly in cancer patients. Focusing on the several experimental drugs currently being evaluated, we set up an original data board helping oncologists and pharmacists to identify promptly drug-related problems between antineoplastics and experimental drugs. Finally additional and concrete recommendations are provided, supporting oncologists and pharmacists in their efforts to manage cancer patients and to optimize their treatments in this new era related to COVID-19.

Providing Oncology Pharmacy Services During the Coronavirus Pandemic: French Society for Oncology Pharmacy (Société Francaise de Pharmacie Oncologique [SFPO]) Guidelines

PURPOSE

Patients with cancer are at higher risk for contracting the COVID-19 infection and are more likely to have higher morbidity and mortality. This is a big challenge for oncology teams that have to treat patients to avoid contamination by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the current work is to present oncology pharmacy practice guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic to secure the pharmaceutical care of patients with cancer.

METHODS

The bureau of the French Society for Oncology Pharmacy proposed these recommendations according to the French High Authority of Health following the Guidelines of Good Practice, slightly modified according to the pandemic crisis situation. These guidelines were developed by a working group of 7 experts in oncology pharmacy practice. Furthermore, the guidelines were assessed by 31 independent reviewers.

RESULTS

One hundred percent of reviewers approved the guidelines and 90% of them suggested some improvements. The final version incorporates the best comments and consists of 26 recommendations organized in 8 different sections.

CONCLUSION

These guidelines allow secure pharmaceutical management of patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drug cost savings in phase III hematological oncology clinical trials in a university hospital

The rapid emergence of expensive anticancer therapies is leading to exponential growth in healthcare expenses. In clinical trials, most investigational drugs are provided free of charge by industrial and academic sponsors. This results in drug cost savings for healthcare payers, who are no longer charged with the cost of the standard-of-care treatment, which would have been administered outside the trial. This study aims to estimate drug cost savings resulting from patient enrolment in hematological oncology clinical trials, from a public payer perspective. Retrospective screening identified all patients with hematological malignancies included from 2011 to 2016 in a phase III trial and having received at least one sponsor-provided cycle. Drug cost savings were defined as the standard treatment costs not charged to the payer due to sponsor provision of treatment. For each patient, cost savings were determined by the number of cycles received in the trial and the cost of standard (control arm) treatment. Of the 345 patients included in eligible trials during study period, 272 received sponsor-provided drugs. Drug cost savings could be estimated for 177 patients (65.1%) included in 27 trials. Total cost savings were €5218 million (US$ 6804 million) for 1720 sponsor-provided cycles. Mean cost saving per patient was €19 182.7 ± 29 865.7 ($25 015.24 ± 39 478.25). Most cost-saving trials were industry-sponsored (77.8%), although academic trials generated 40.15% of total cost savings. Enrolling patients in clinical trials, whether industry-sponsored or academic, leads to substantial drug cost savings for payers. Implications are significant for public payers facing increasing financial constraints, as savings can be reallocated to patient care.

Clinical and economic impact of medication reconciliation in cancer patients: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Medication reconciliation can reduce drug-related iatrogenesis by facilitating exhaustive information transmission at care transition points. Given the vulnerability of cancer patients to adverse drug events, medication reconciliation could provide a significant clinical benefit in cancer care. This review aims to synthesize existing evidence on medication reconciliation in cancer patients.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed in the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, associating the keywords "medication reconciliation" and "cancer" or "oncology."

RESULTS

Fourteen studies met the selection criteria. Various medication reconciliation practices were reported: performed at admission or discharge, for hospitalized or ambulatory patients treated with oral or parenteral anticancer drugs. In one randomized controlled trial, medication reconciliation decreased clinically significant medication errors by 26%. Although most studies were non-comparative, they highlighted that medication reconciliation led to identification of discrepancies and other drug-related problems in up to 88% and 94.7% of patients, respectively. The impact on post-discharge healthcare utilization remains under-evaluated and mostly inconclusive, despite a trend toward reduction. No comparative economic evaluations were available but one study estimated the benefit:cost ratio of medication reconciliation to be 2.31:1, suggesting its benefits largely outweigh its costs. Several studies also underlined the extended pharmacist time required for the intervention, highlighting the need for further cost analysis.

CONCLUSION

Medication reconciliation can reduce adverse drug events in cancer patients. More robust and economic evaluations are still required to support its development in everyday practice.

Encounters between medical and lay knowledge in therapeutic patient education. A qualitative study based on an oral chemotherapy program

OBJECTIVES

The growing number of cancer patients treated with Oral Chemotherapy (OC) at home, is prompting many healthcare centers to develop Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) programs. This study aimed to 1) describe the different forms of knowledge shared and learned in these programs, and 2) better understand how self-care and psychosocial skills are promoted in the TPE context.

METHOD

This study used qualitative data from the French "ONCORAL" program. Data collection was conducted with non-participant observations. The corpus comprised 42 TPE sessions.

RESULTS

Analysis highlighted that TPE specifically helps patients' functional health, revealed the medical expectations and social norms that shape the patient's role, and exposed the difficulties faced by the patient when acquiring self-care skills. Self-care skills and psychosocial skills also appeared to be mutually dependent in the context of TPE.

CONCLUSION

TPE programs which focus more on developing medical knowledge inevitably give less importance to psychosocial skills. Yet the recognition and promotion of the latter in TPE may lead to positive coping strategies related to medical outcomes, such as adherence.

PRACTICE IMPLICATION

Dedicated TPE program objectives for patients undergoing oral chemotherapy should recognize not only the value of medical knowledge but also of lay knowledge.

Conditions for the Implementation of a Patient Education Program Dedicated to Cancer Patients Treated by Oral Anticancer Therapy

INTRODUCTION

A patient education program has been developed in the field of cancer for supporting cancer patients undergoing oral anticancer therapies. Its implementation was tested in 3 different settings. The objectives of this study were to 1) identify barriers and facilitators for implementing the patient education program, 2) identify practices encouraging or hindering implementation and 3) produce recommendations for its dissemination.

METHODS

Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers from all three establishments.

RESULTS

The main factors associated with successful implementation were as follows: prescribers' representations on patient education, considered of low value; on oral anticancer therapies, considered too dangerous to be handled by the patient him/herself, the indefinite legitimacy of certain professions in charge of patient education programs; patients' engagement in their care pathway and provision of caregivers.

CONCLUSION

Recommendations include developing patient education culture within the environment of the medical doctors' curriculum, to consider contextual, pre-existing cooperative units for implementing patient education, to systematically send patients to patient education programs without practicing triage. Successful implementation of patient education critically depends on the prescribing physicians' perceived value of patient education. Patient education should become mandatory, integrated as part of the cancer care pathway. Physicians lack the necessary time and/or means to assess patients' capacity for engagement, without adequate strategies for their support. Therefore, physicians should systematically refer all patients to patient education, where nurses can tailor their coaching of cancer patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was approved by the IRB SUD EST I (N° EudraCT: 2016-A00113-48). All participants were given written and verbal information about the study and gave informed consent to participate.

[Feedback on clinical oncology pharmacy]

The rising of oral anticancer therapies let more and more patients to be cared at home and improve their quality of life. However the toxicities of these drugs and the distance with health professionals imply that the patient needs to be more autonomous with respect to his treatment. Patients through therapeutic education programs allows them to manage side effects, to be more observant and then to subsequently benefit from the treatment. We report here, oncology clinical pharmacists experiences in some health facilities in France, presented at the 1st day of clinical oncology pharmacy (December 2017, Marseille).

Feasibility and Evaluation of Automated Methods for Radiolabeling of Radiopharmaceutical Kits with Gallium-68

Objective:

Recent gallium-68 labeled peptides are of increasing interest in PET imaging in nuclear medicine. Somakit TOC® is a radiopharmaceutical kit registered in the European Union for the preparation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC used for the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors. Development of a labeling process using a synthesizer is particularly interesting for the quality and reproducibility of the final product although only manual processes are described in the Summary of Product (SmPC) of the registered product. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the feasibility and value of using an automated synthesizer for the preparation of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TOC according to the SmPC of the Somakit TOC®.

Methods:

Three methods of preparation were compared; each followed the SmPC of the Somakit TOC®. Over time, overheads, and overexposure were evaluated for each method.

Results:

Mean±SD preparation time was 26.2±0.3 minutes for the manual method, 28±0.5 minutes for the semi-automated, and 40.3±0.2 minutes for the automated method. Overcost of the semi-automated method is 0.25€ per preparation for consumables and from 0.58€ to 0.92€ for personnel costs according to the operator (respectively, technician or pharmacist). For the automated method, overcost is 70€ for consumables and from 4.06€ to 6.44€ for personnel. For the manual method, extremity exposure was 0.425mSv for the right finger, and 0.350mSv for the left finger; for both the semi-automated and automated method extremity exposure were below the limit of quantification.

Conclusion:

The present study reports for the first time both the feasibility of using a [68Ga]- radiopharmaceutical kit with a synthesizer and the limits for the development of a fully automated process.

Human-simulation-based learning to prevent medication error: A systematic review

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

In the past 2 decades, there has been an increasing interest in simulation-based learning programs to prevent medication error (ME). To improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes in prescribers, nurses, and pharmaceutical staff, these methods enable training without directly involving patients. However, best practices for simulation for healthcare providers are as yet undefined. By analysing the current state of experience in the field, the present review aims to assess whether human simulation in healthcare helps to reduce ME.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted on Medline from 2000 to June 2015, associating the terms "Patient Simulation," "Medication Errors," and "Simulation Healthcare." Reports of technology-based simulation were excluded, to focus exclusively on human simulation in nontechnical skills learning.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies assessing simulation-based learning programs were selected, focusing on pharmacy, medicine or nursing students, or concerning programs aimed at reducing administration or preparation errors, managing crises, or learning communication skills for healthcare professionals. The studies varied in design, methodology, and assessment criteria. Few demonstrated that simulation was more effective than didactic learning in reducing ME. This review highlights a lack of long-term assessment and real-life extrapolation, with limited scenarios and participant samples. These various experiences, however, help in identifying the key elements required for an effective human simulation-based learning program for ME prevention: ie, scenario design, debriefing, and perception assessment. The performance of these programs depends on their ability to reflect reality and on professional guidance.

CONCLUSION

Properly regulated simulation is a good way to train staff in events that happen only exceptionally, as well as in standard daily activities. By integrating human factors, simulation seems to be effective in preventing iatrogenic risk related to ME, if the program is well designed.

No Renal Toxicity After Repeated Treatment with Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) in Patients with Unresectable Peritoneal Metastasis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a recent approach for intraperitoneal chemotherapy with promising results for patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM). The aim of this study was to report renal toxicity for patients who received at least 3 repeated PIPAC procedures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent at least 3 PIPAC cycles of cisplatin (7.5 mg/m²) and doxorubicin (1.5 mg/m²) for unresectable PM from December 2015 to September 2017, were analysed regarding postoperative renal toxicity.

RESULTS

Among 103 patients registered in a prospective single center database, 43 patients underwent at least 3 PIPAC cycles representing a total of 175 PIPAC. Median age was 59.8 years, 24 (55.8%) patients were female and median BMI was 22.2 kg/m² Most common origins of PM were gastric 22 (51.1%) and ovarian 11 (25.6%) cancer. Median peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was 17 (range=5-39). For 39 (90.1%) patients, systemic chemotherapy was performed in addition to PIPAC. Forty-three (100%), 17 (39.5%), 14 (32.5%), 8 (18.6%), 3 (7%), 2 (4.7%) and 2 (4.7%) patients underwent three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine PIPAC procedures, respectively. Repeated PIPAC did not induce significant acute nor cumulative renal toxicity in any patients.

CONCLUSION

Repeated PIPAC did not induce clinically relevant renal toxicity. This study confirms the previous published results in a larger group of patients.

Stability Study of [18F]Fludeoxyglucose and [18F]Fluorocholine in Different Medical Devices for Intravenous Administration

OBJECTIVE

The present study had determine the impact of prolonged storage in a cartridge or syringe on the quality of the [18F]-radiopharmaceuticals used in our center [18F]fludeoxyglucose and [18F]fluorocholine). [18F]-radiopharmaceuticals registered as ready-to-use drugs are prepared in multidose flasks. When the change of packaging must be made extemporaneously for the preparation of patient unit doses in a syringe or cartridge, this is under the responsibility of radiopharmacists. As drug quality in medical devices (syringe or cartridge) is not evaluated during the marketing authorization of such radiopharmaceuticals, an evaluation of drug stability in such devices seems interesting. In addition, if there are difficulties in patient care (placement of the catheter, lack of personal, etc.) or equipment problems (technical issue with the automated dispenser delaying the delivery of the prepared dose), the contact time of [18F]-radiopharmaceuticals with the medical devices (cartridge or syringe) increases.

METHODS

Appearance, pH, radiochemical purity, sterility and endotoxin tests were made according the current European Pharmacopoeia. Adsorption tests were made according the literature.

RESULTS

There was no drug absorption of [18F]fludeoxyglucose or [18F]fluorocholine after 1.5h, which may be related to their hydrophilic nature. No drug radiolysis was observed even after dilution of the radiopharmaceuticals (appearance, pH, and radiochemical purity were unchanged). No impurity from medical devices (cartridge or syringe) was observed, and microbiological aspects remained in specification of the current European Pharmacopoeia.

CONCLUSION

These radiopharmaceuticals repackaged in plastic medical devices retained their quality after dispensing and prolonged storage.

Physico-Chemical Stability of Sodium Thiosulfate Infusion Solutions in Polyolefin Bags at Room Temperature over a Period of 24 Hours

Background

Many publications described sodium thiosulfate used to prevent the renal toxicity induced by cisplatin hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. After around 60 or 90 minutes of hyperthermic chemotherapy, cisplatin was drained and then, sodium thiosulfate was infused by intravenous route. Sodium thiosulfate is used in two steps: a first step, at 9 g/m2 in 250 mL of 0.9 % sodium chloride over 10 minutes followed by a second step, at 12 g/m2 in 1000 mL of 0.9 % sodium chloride over 6 hours. The purpose of this work was to study the stability of sodium thiosulfate at 16 mg/mL in 0.9 % sodium chloride polyolefin bags 1000 mL and at 72 mg/mL in 0.9 % sodium chloride polyolefin bags 250 mL, at 25 °C, protected or unprotected from light.

Methods

Chemical stability was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a photodiode array detector after preparation and after 6-hour or 24-hour storage. The method was validated according to the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH). Physical stability was evaluated by visual and subvisual inspection (turbidimetry by UV spectrophotometry at 550 nm). Three bags for each condition were prepared. On each time of the analysis, three samples were prepared for each bag and analysed by HPLC. pH values were evaluated on each moment of the analysis.

Results

Sodium thiosulfate solutions diluted in 0.9 % sodium chloride at 16 and 72 mg/mL retained more than 95 % of the initial concentration during 24 hours. Concerning pH measurements, the maximum variation was 0.24 pH unit. No visual modification such as colour change, precipitation or gas formation was observed. The absorbance at 550 nm obtained for each sample was less than 0.010 AU.

Conclusions

Sodium thiosulfate solutions at 16 mg/mL in 1000 mL 0.9 % sodium chloride and at 72 mg/mL in 250 mL 0.9 % sodium chloride are stable physically and chemically over a period of 24 hours at 25 °C, with or without protection from light. This stability study allows the use of sodium thiosulfate in renal protection protocols during cisplatin hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Non-cancer drug consumption during the early trajectory of lymphoma survivorship

PURPOSE

This study explored the use of non-cancer drugs in lymphoma survivors during the early trajectory (0 to 2 years) of cancer survivorship and determined the factors that influenced this consumption.

METHODS

Between January and March 2014, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess drug consumption in adult lymphoma survivors at the Toulouse University Hospital. This study was based on a questionnaire consisting of ten open questions related to medical prescription and/or self-medication occurring within the last 3 months.

RESULTS

A total of 83/103 lymphoma survivors returned the questionnaire. This study showed that 91.6% of patients were drug consumers (about twice more than the general French population). Twenty percent of patients were treated with≥5 drugs. Overall drug consumption mainly concerned analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and psychotropics. The presence of comorbidity, urban residence and female gender were associated with overall drug consumption. Moreover, half of survivors required at least one self-medication. Finally, only seven survivors (8.4%) reported no use of any medication.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that, at least during the early trajectory of cancer survivorship, lymphoma patients are heavily treated with non-cancer drug therapy. This drug consumption profile may have serious implications in terms of safety, overall benefit and health economics.