Real-world patient profile and step-up dosing process of early initiators of teclistamab for multiple myeloma in US hospitals: An analysis using the Premier Healthcare Database.

Background: Teclistamab is the first-in-class B cell maturation × cluster of differentiation 3 T cell bispecific antibody approved in the United States for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). During the first year following US Food and Drug Administration approval, many institutions initiated teclistamab step-up dosing (SUD) in hospital settings.

Objective: To describe patient characteristics, length of hospital stay (LOS) during SUD, and real-world incidence and management of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) among patients with MM who initiated teclistamab in US hospital settings.

Daratumumab, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone Versus Bortezomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone in Transplant-Ineligible Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (DRd) and bortezomib in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) are guideline-recommended preferred regimens for initial treatment of transplant-ineligible (TIE) patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). This study aimed to systematically identify evidence on the clinical effectiveness of DRd and VRd as first-line treatments for patients with TIE NDMM and to conduct a meta-analysis. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from January 2019 to June 2023, along with key congresses from January 2018 to June 2023.

Progression-Free Survival of Daratumumab Versus Bortezomib Triplet Combination With Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone in Transplant Ineligible Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: TAURUS Chart Review Study.

Background: Daratumumab, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (DRd) and bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) are preferred regimens for transplant ineligible (TIE) patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Both DRd and VRd demonstrated superior efficacy versus Rd in the MAIA and SWOG S0777 trials, respectively, but there is no head-to-head (H2H) clinical trial comparing their efficacy. Differing populations in the MAIA and S0777 trials make an unadjusted comparison of outcomes challenging and biased.

Racial disparities in utilization of first-generation versus second-generation long-acting injectable antipsychotics in Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia.

Background: Multiple studies report racial disparities in antipsychotic prescription patterns. This study assessed demographic and clinical factors associated with the utilization of first-generation (FG) versus second-generation (SG) long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics.

Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort analysis used claims data from the IBM MarketScan® Multi-State Medicaid database.

Real-world Duration of Use and Dosing Frequency of Daratumumab in Patients With Multiple Myeloma in the United States.

Daratumumab (DARA) is an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody approved as a combination therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) and as monotherapy and combination therapy for relapsed or refractory MM cases. We assessed the length of DARA use across lines of therapy and the probabilities of treatment discontinuation in patients with MM in the real-world. We used the deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart database from Optum to identify patients with MM (n=2124) who received DARA-containing treatment between November 1, 2015 and March 31, 2021 in the United States.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Treatment Initiation Among Patients with Newly Diagnosed Psoriatic Arthritis: A Retrospective Medicaid Claims Database Study.

Introduction: In patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), potential differences in care by race/ethnicity have not been well studied.

Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort analysis utilized the IBM MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid database. Patients aged ≥ 18 years with two or more PsA-related claims between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019, and ≥ 12 months of continuous enrollment before the first diagnosis of PsA (index date) were included.

Real-world calibration and transportability of the Disease Recovery Evaluation and Modification (DREaM) randomized clinical trial in adult Medicaid beneficiaries with recent-onset schizophrenia.

The Disease Recovery Evaluation and Modification study (DREaM; NCT02431702) assessed the benefit of initiating paliperidone palmitate (PP), a long-acting injectable antipsychotic, in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder. To determine whether reductions in psychiatric hospitalizations with early initiation of PP vs oral antipsychotic (OAP) therapy observed in a DREaM post hoc analysis are transportable to a real-world population of patients with recent-onset schizophrenia. Patients enrolled in DREaM were randomized to receive OAP or PP for 9 months, after which OAP recipients were re-randomized to receive OAP or PP for another 9 months.

Racial or ethnic differences on treatment adherence and persistence among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases initiated with biologic therapies.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease with the potential for significant morbidity in case of suboptimal treatment (e.g. low treatment adherence).

Healthcare Costs of Multiple Myeloma Patients with Four or More Prior Lines of Therapy, Including Triple-Class Exposure in the United States.

Introduction: The treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) remains a challenge as patients eventually progress through several lines of therapy (LOTs), requiring use of multiple MM drug classes. In this retrospective US claims-database study, we examined the healthcare costs of patients with MM who received ≥ 4 prior LOTs, including triple-class exposure (TCE).

Methods: Adult patients with MM were selected from the IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare claims databases (1 January 2012-30 June 2021).

Radiotherapy combined with nivolumab or temozolomide for newly diagnosed glioblastoma with unmethylated MGMT promoter: An international randomized phase III trial.

Background: Addition of temozolomide (TMZ) to radiotherapy (RT) improves overall survival (OS) in patients with glioblastoma (GBM), but previous studies suggest that patients with tumors harboring an unmethylated MGMT promoter derive minimal benefit. The aim of this open-label, phase III CheckMate 498 study was to evaluate the efficacy of nivolumab (NIVO) + RT compared with TMZ + RT in newly diagnosed GBM with unmethylated MGMT promoter.

Methods: Patients were randomized 1:1 to standard RT (60 Gy) + NIVO (240 mg every 2 weeks for eight cycles, then 480 mg every 4 weeks) or RT + TMZ (75 mg/m2 daily during RT and 150-200 mg/m2/day 5/28 days during maintenance).

Healthcare resource utilization and costs before and after long-acting injectable antipsychotic initiation in commercially insured young adults with schizophrenia.

Background: Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics use is associated with improved adherence which can reduce the rate of relapse, hospitalization, and associated costs in patients with schizophrenia. Young adults could be at higher risk of poor adherence, hence use of LAI in this population may offer a benefit but the evidence is limited. This study aimed to compare clinical and economic outcomes before and after the initiation of LAI antipsychotics in commercially insured young adults (18-35 years of age) with schizophrenia.

Depression and food insecurity among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in NHANES.

Background: Social determinants of health (SDH), including food insecurity, are associated with depression in the general population. This study estimated the prevalence of depression and food insecurity and evaluated the impact of food insecurity and other SDH on depression in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Adults (≥ 18 years) with RA were identified from the 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Healthcare Costs Incurred by Patients with Multiple Myeloma Following Triple Class Exposure (TCE) in the US.

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of plasma cells; most MM patients will eventually relapse or become refractory to treatment. Treating MM patients remains a challenge since patients eventually progress through several lines of therapy (LOTs), requiring the use of multiple MM drug classes. We examined healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and the costs incurred by MM patients following triple class exposure (TCE; defined as exposure to a proteosome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent, and an anti-CD-38 antibody).

Distance to glycemic goal at the time of treatment intensification in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus failing metformin monotherapy in the United States.

A substantial proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) do not reach their target HbA1c level on metformin. The objective of this retrospective observational cohort study is to better characterize the distance between HbA1c target and patient's actual HbA1c level (the distance to goal), using a target HbA1c of 7.0% (53 mmol/mol), in patients with T2DM who have started metformin monotherapy.

Dose distribution and up-titration patterns of metformin monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aims: To assess the dose distribution among users of metformin monotherapy as well as the patterns of up-titration following initiation of therapy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of adults with T2DM in the United Kingdom (UK). Metformin dose distribution was assessed at 0, 6 and 12 months in people initiating metformin monotherapy (new users) and cross-sectionally in people with ongoing metformin monotherapy (prevalent users).

Implementing robotic surgery for uterine cancer in the United States: Better outcomes without increased costs.

Objective: To examine the effect of robotic-assisted surgery implementation for treatment of endometrial cancer in the United States on 30-day clinical outcomes and costs.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of adult patients who underwent total hysterectomy for endometrial cancer in the US hospitals in Premier Healthcare Database between January 1, 2008 and September 30, 2015. We conducted trend analyses comparing the proportions of surgical approaches with the associated clinical outcomes and costs over the study period using Mann-Kendall tests.

Health-related quality of life among rural men and women with hypertension: assessment by the EQ-5D-5L in Jiangsu, China.

Purpose: Hypertension is a major global public health problem, including rural China. However, studies examining health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for patients with hypertension have been mostly conducted in urban populations. This study aimed to use the EuroQol five-dimensional-five-level (EQ-5D-5L) and its recently developed Chinese value set to analyze HRQoL and its influencing factors among hypertensive population in rural China.

Costs associated with adverse events for systemic therapies in metastatic melanoma.

Aim: To determine the costs of adverse events (AEs) associated with current metastatic melanoma (MM) therapies.

Materials & Methods: Two retrospective cohort studies were independently conducted using the PharMetrics and MarketScan databases. Included patients were aged ≥18 years, and had ≥1 MM diagnosis and ≥1 claim for systemic therapy from 2004 to 2015.