Explore the views of oncologists nationwide on emerging therapies in our latest Oncology Insights report
March 2018
Solutions for Specialty Manufacturers:
2017 was a landmark year for advancement in oncology care, with the emergence of several innovative targeted therapies, new biosimilars for therapeutic care and the approval of the first two CAR T-cell therapies. Whether your company is active in the oncology space or not, these innovative treatments have implications across the supply chain and will most likely impact operations at integrated organizations across other specialty categories as well.
Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions recently released our second Oncology Insights report, featuring the perspectives of oncologists nationwide on the adoption of emerging treatments such as biosimilars and CAR-T therapies. With more than 80 percent of cancer patients now being treated in the community setting according to ASCO, understanding the views and challenges faced by community oncologists is essential to addressing potential obstacles to commercializing these treatment advances.
Here are some of the key findings from the report that have relevance for supply chain professionals across the specialty category:
CAR T-cell Therapy
- 51 percent of respondents said that CAR-T is a potentially game-changing approach to cancer treatment.
- The logistics of this treatment may present challenges to prescribers. Nearly 60 percent of respondents rated the logistics of administering the treatment and following up with patients as cumbersome. Cost of therapy and toxicity were also listed as top concerns.
Biosimilars
- As the number of approved biosimilars has increased, so has the familiarity of these drugs among oncologists. 84 percent of respondents indicated they were at least somewhat familiar with biosimilars, compared to 78 percent in 2016.
- When considering prescribing a biosimilar over a reference product, cost is key. 66 percent of respondents said cost-savings were an important factor in this decision.
Research was conducted at four live healthcare provider summit events, hosted by Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions, in September, October and November 2017. More than 200 oncologists from a mix of community and hospital-based practices participated in the research.
Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions has recently expanded our capabilities to support emerging new products including CAR-T therapies and biosimilars with our order-to-cash management services on the 3PL side, and our patient support services through Sonexus™ Patient Access and Support. This work exemplifies how Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions understands the complexities of specialty healthcare, and how we draw on our deep expertise to help ensure patients get the therapies they need, when they need them.
A link to the full Oncology Insights report is available below. We hope that this research provides valuable insight and expands your knowledge in these areas. We encourage you to share it with others in your organization.