GLG News by Oncologists Specializing in Hematologic Malignancies in the U.S.

The recent CMS guidelines restrict ESA use in all cancer patients ( including MDS) whose hemoglobin level is less than 10. This is quite reasonable, although some patients with considerable symptoms at higher hemoglobins may not benefit from ESA. A " bidding war" between JNJ and Amgen to get insurer...

My understading id medicare need to cover all FDA indicated drugs. Here CMS violating FDA indication for Aranesp and procrit

I participated in a number of the trials described in the article.  High dose cyclophosphamide certainally works well in a number of autoimmune diseases, but it is unclear how the use of this old drug will be protected by the company, who actually is going to be willing to administer the treatment...

Decrease use by 20-25% use of ESA. This may lead discounting and higher rebate from both amgen and orto-biotech to sustain market share. Since most of amgen contract with aranesp and neulasta use. It may effect use of neulasta. Next 6 month CMS may restrict use of Neulasta and neupogen for neutropenia...

BMS and Imclone have joined efforts to allocate more funds for clinical development of the EGFR inhibitor ERBITUX which have shown efficacy in colorectal cancer and head and neck acncer. EGFR is a potential target in other solid tumors like Lung, pancreas, and liver where Erbitux may play a role in...

As expected, new CMS rules restrict use of Erytropoietin stimulating agents ( ESA's) use in cancer patients receiving myelosupressive chemotherapy to those with Hemoglobin < 10 grams/dl. Several insurers will follow these guidelines leading to dramatic reduction in use of ESA'a. Amgen's Drabopoietin...

Medivation's oral agent MDV 3100 is being investigated in ap hase i?II trial for patients with hormone -refractory prostate cancer. This could be a major achievement in this patient population with poor prognosis and limited options. Given small patient numbers , early clinical trials and confirmatory...

The recent article suggests that Bexxar and Zevalin are extremely effective drugs with few side effects that are infrequently prescribed because of reimbursement forces in community oncology practices.  As an academic oncologist specializing in lymphoma, I agree that these drugs are underutilized...

CTI's improved anthracycline Pixantrone, in an iterim analysis of the RAPID Trial produced same efficacy as Doxorubicin when it repalced it in R-CHOP regimen and with less cardiac and hematological side effects, in newly diiagnosed patients with aggressive NHL Final and long safety data have to be awaited....

In this website release, reportedly 3 young girls "died shortly after administration" of the HPV vaccine and several others " had serious side effects" requiring hospitalization. No clear or detailed information is provided to prove these side effects were directly caused by the vaccine. These reports...