FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J.,
July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Oncology treatments are not what they were a decade ago.
Drugs that target specific molecular pathways in a cancer
cell are being added to or replacing once standard therapies,
requiring a new model of patient care. Medco Health
Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) today announced new offerings within
its Advanced Oncology Solutions™, that include treatment pathways
decision support with embedded pharmacogenomic testing and
nutrition recommendations for cancer patients.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100609/MEDCOLOGO
)
Treatment Pathway Connections is the newest component in Medco's
Advanced Oncology Solution's platform, which coordinates care among
physicians, pharmacists, case managers and payers, and informs them
of evidence-based protocols before and during treatment.
eviti®, a web-based oncology decision-support program
developed by ITA Partners, Inc.®, will power the treatment plan
decision-support function of the platform.
"Through eviti, our treatment pathway program is able to align
quality care with reimbursement, reduce complexity, provide
transparency and improve workflows for physicians and payers," said
Jeff Ulanet, vice president
oncology. "Our goal is to reduce the gaps in care that
negatively impact patient outcomes and can lead to unnecessary
treatment costs."
Medco is the first PBM to offer this independent, comprehensive
oncology decision support approach that contains more than 1,000
evidence based treatment regimens for more than 120 cancer types,
displaying efficacy, costs, toxicity and compliance with the
patient's plan language – all at the moment of prescribing.
ITA Partners, which employs a team of oncologists, oncology
nurses, insurance professionals, actuaries, software designers and
engineers has specialized in oncology decision support for almost a
decade. With eviti, not only are oncologists empowered to
make more informed treatment decisions, but payers have instant
visibility into treatment details before the treatment begins.
Treatment Pathway Connections, supported by eviti, will allow
Medco to offer its suite of oncology services at the optimal time
in the care process, at the point of treatment prescription,
ensuring that patients receive the right treatment at the right
place with the right support.
"Medco's decision to utilize our independent, unbiased
decision-support platform – eviti – to extend the value of its
oncology offering is testament to the growing need for a holistic
approach to improving care and outcomes. eviti will be at the
forefront of the treatment selection process addressing the
clinical complexities and financial challenges of an evolving
cancer landscape," said Eduardo
Beruff, president and chief executive officer for ITA
Partners | eviti.
Cancer Game Changers
The science is advancing rapidly and Medco has been among the
first to incorporate innovations such as genetic testing on a
widespread scale when certain drugs are prescribed. Cancer
drugs have been among the most prominent medications with companion
diagnostic testing and ties to pharmacogenomics. Medco has a
personalized medicine program related to tamoxifen, as well as a
program for BCR-ABL testing in patients with chronic myeloid
leukemia using imatinib (Gleevec®), dasatinib (Sprycel®) or
nilotinib (Tasigna®). Testing of tumor tissue itself for a
specific genomic signature or biomarkers is necessary to confirm
that several other new and investigational cancer drugs are used
appropriately. DNA Direct®, a Medco subsidiary, has genetic
counselors who advise physicians, patients, and payers about the
best approaches for using genetic testing and molecular
diagnostics. When Treatment Pathway Connections identifies
the need for a pharmacogenomic test within the care regimen, an
otherwise complex process can be streamlined.
Medco's Advanced Oncology Solutions holistic approach extends
beyond the context of chemotherapy treatment decisions to identify
and address nutritional concerns for cancer patients.
Treatment Pathway Connections will incorporate tools that
trigger access to nutrition recommendations that address weight
loss, and treatment related side effects through TherapEase
Cuisine, Medco's online tool for cancer meal planning, or to acute
at-home care, such as intravenous hydration or nutrition therapy
for patients whose digestive systems have been compromised from
radiation or chemotherapy through Critical Care Systems, Medco's
home infusion nursing services.
Oncology's Economics & Outcomes
A recent study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute
projects that there will be more than 18 million cancer survivors
in the United States by the year
2020. The number of patients surviving cancer has increased,
changing many forms of cancer from a terminal condition a
generation ago into a chronic disease that is managed. In 2010,
oncology drug price inflation surged to 11.5 percent largely from
high cost targeted therapies. Expensive new cancer drugs for this
increasing numbers of patients could drive cancer drug spending as
much as 15 percent a year through 2013. At this accelerated
rate, oncology will likely rise to the second or third largest
trend-driving category by 2015, following only diabetes and central
nervous system (CNS) treatments. While costs of these new
medications are high, adherence to the prescribed treatment is
paramount for helping to drive overall healthcare costs down.
"Although many of these new therapies may be oral chemotherapy
drugs targeting cancer cells directly, they still retain many toxic
properties of traditional infusion therapies, which could cause a
patient to stop taking the medication," said Dr. Milayna Subar, national practice leader at the
Medco Oncology TRC. "Adherence to prescribed medication is
important for all patients, but when treating cancer, it takes on
an even greater importance. Our oncology specialist
pharmacists are trained to review the medications that have been
prescribed, in the context of the clinical setting and
co-morbidities, to help patients manage side effects, adapt their
diets and suggest ancillary therapies to help them remain on their
treatment and out of higher cost settings such as emergency rooms
and hospitals."
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is pioneering the
world's most advanced pharmacy® and its clinical research and
innovations are part of Medco making medicine smarter™ for
more than 65 million members.
With more than 20,000 employees worldwide dedicated to improving
patient health and reducing costs for a wide range of public and
private sector clients, and 2010 revenues of $66 billion, Medco ranks 34th on the 2011
Fortune 500 list and is named among the world's most
innovative, most admired and most trustworthy companies.
For more information, go to http://www.medcohealth.com.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that
term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may
cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the
statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and
actual results may differ materially from those projected. We
undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but
rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions
and projections about the business and future financial results of
the pharmacy benefit management ("PBM") and specialty pharmacy
industries, and other legal, regulatory and economic
developments.
About ITA Partners
ITA Partners is an independent company with nearly a decade of
experience in transforming the quality of oncology care by aligning
the interests of patients, physicians and payers to improve
clinical outcomes and reduce costs. The company utilizes the
expertise of top oncologists and oncology nurses, as well as
insurance experts and actuaries, all supported by proprietary
technology, to fulfill its mission of providing evidence-based,
unbiased support to all parties in the cancer care process. ITA
contracts with health plans and other payers, and is not affiliated
with any health system, insurance company, pharmaceutical company
or provider network. The company recently launched eviti, a
transformative web-based software application that aligns the
prescription of quality care and appropriate reimbursement in real
time. The knowledge base comprises over 1,000 of the most
appropriate, proven treatment options covering all modalities for
more than 120 cancer types compiled from the world's leading
sources. eviti's transparent approach streamlines workflow and
reimbursement, reduces variability in clinical care, and results in
cost efficiencies to benefit all participants in the cancer
treatment process and allow the best cancer care to be available
everywhere. For more information, visit www.itapartners.com.
SOURCE Medco Health Solutions, Inc.