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Conference Correspondent

Chicago, IL—The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutation is a target for tyrosine kinase therapies in several cancers, including non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since 2011, several ALK inhibitors have been approved, and more are in the pipeline, but many questions remain for managing patients with ALK-positive NSCLC.

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Chicago, IL—Maintaining a clean room compliant with US Pharmacopeial Convention Chapter 800 (USP 800) can come with a significant price tag, but noncompliance can drive up costs to oncology practices and institutions. However, certain measures can contribute to the successful construction, renovation, and maintenance of hazardous drug sterile compounding spaces in an oncology setting, according to Ryan A. Forrey, PharmD, MS, FASHP, Director of Pharmacy, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Atlanta, GA.

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Chicago, IL—A clear set of standard operating procedures is at the heart of US Pharmacopeial Convention Chapter 800 (USP 800) compliance, according to Carol Yarrington, PharmD, BCOP, Oncology and Infusion Pharmacy Coordinator and Clinical Oncology Pharmacist, St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor, MI.

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New data from an interim analysis of the head-to-head, open-label, phase 3, Japanese study J-ALEX, show that alectinib (Alecensa) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with crizotinib (Xalkori) in the frontline setting, according to Hiroshi Nokihara, MD, PhD, of the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

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Price of Drugs and Affordability Don’t Always Jibe
A collaborative international pilot study found large differences in retail prices for 23 cancer drugs, showing highest retail prices in the United States and lowest prices in India and South Africa. Lower prices, however, did not necessarily mean the drugs were more affordable. Read More ›


Scottsdale, AZ—Patients with oropharyngeal cancer undergoing radiation therapy experienced diminished narcotic dependency and weight loss with the use of prophylactic gabapentin. Read More ›

Atlanta, GA—Pharmacists involved in this program followed discharged patients and helped to decrease the number of readmissions in this population. Read More ›
And other news from the 12th HOPA Annual Conference
Meg Barbor, MPH

Hepatotoxicity a Concern with Frontline Idelalisib
Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, expanded upon the results of her and her colleagues’ study of the hepatotoxic effects of idelalisib, particularly as frontline treatment of younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which was presented at the 57th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition. Read More ›

ASHP Foundation Forecast Provides Actionable Recommendations for Pharmacy Leaders
William A. Zellmer, BPharm, MPH, discusses how the 4th edition of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Foundation’s Pharmacy Forecast serves to improve the effectiveness of leaders in hospital and health-system pharmacy practice. Read More ›

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