Reston, Virginia - December 12, 2017 - Healthcare providers (HCPs) showed a delay in the integration of novel treatment approaches for the care of patients with myeloma, particularly for those with relapsed/refractory disease, according to an analysis of data captured from an online tool developed by Clinical Care Options (CCO) in collaboration with 5 myeloma experts. The analysis was presented by Kristen M. Rosenthal, PhD, at the 59th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. This trend of delayed integration of new treatment options by community HCPs was evident in the induction setting despite increasing consensus among the experts informing this decision tool since 2013. Treatment variance was even more pronounced in the relapsed/refractory disease setting where multiple next-generation proteasome inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies have been approved since 2015, but the CCO analysis showed limited incorporation of these new agents into HCP treatment recommendations.
CCO collaborated with Carol Ann Huff, MD; Shaji Kumar, MD; Suzanne Lentzsch, MD, PhD; Sagar Lonial, MD; and Kenneth Anderson, MD, to develop an online tool that provides patient-specific guidance on treatment decisions for myeloma. This tool was initially developed in 2013 and has been periodically updated through 2017 to reflect the evolving treatment landscape.
“This significant divergence in opinion speaks to the fact that we have a lot more choices in terms of what we can use now in patients who are relapsing after initial therapy,” said Shaji Kumar, MD, Professor of Medicine and Consultant in the Division of Hematology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “This is a marvelous advancement for patients and their doctors; however, it can also challenge clinicians to offer the best care for their patients with myeloma. The online tool provides up-to-date expert recommendations based on the most recent clinical data to help educate clinicians on the optimal care of their patients.”
“CCO is proud to be part of this ongoing collaboration and pleased to share the findings of this study with the medical community at large,” said Tina Stacy, PharmD, BCOP, CHCP, Senior Vice President Educational, Strategy and General Manager, Oncology at CCO. “As part of our ongoing commitment to improving patient care, we strive to create innovative technology to assess and directly address any identified clinical practice challenges.”
The goal now is to continue to update this online tool as the treatment of patients with myeloma evolves to provide a useful resource for HCPs and patients. The most recent version of this tool can be found at http://www.clinicaloptions.com/myelomatool.
Rosenthal KM, Huff CA, Kumar SK, Lentzsch S, Lonial S, Obholz KL, Fagan TF, Quill TA, Anderson KC. Evolving treatment patterns of healthcare providers (HCPs) and multiple myeloma (MM) experts from 2013-2017: analysis of an annually updated online treatment decision tool. Program and abstracts of the 59th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition; December 9-11, 2017; Atlanta, Georgia. Abstract 3393.
About Clinical Care Options
Clinical Care Options, LLC, is a global leader in the development of innovative educational programs and technology platforms. CCO’s team has been a pioneer in the creation of continuing education and decision support resources for healthcare professionals both in the United States and around the world for more than 2 decades. For more information, visit clinicaloptions.com.
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