Autumn Zuckerman, PharmD, BCPS, CSP, Director of Health Outcomes at Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy, presented a case study that showcased the importance of collaboration between health system specialty pharmacies and manufacturers. Zuckerman’s organization partnered with AstraZeneca to support patients starting poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor therapies.
The data from the case study revealed that many patients experienced side effects early on in treatment, with nearly a quarter discontinuing treatment and over half needing to reduce their dose. To address these challenges, Zuckerman’s team collaborated with AstraZeneca to develop a personalized monitoring strategy. Pharmacists would contact patients at specific timepoints when they were likely to experience adverse effects based on data provided by the manufacturer. Through these pharmacist-initiated discussions, the number of dose reductions decreased, and the duration of interruptions was shortened from 17 days to 7 days. Although discontinuation rates remained the same, there were fewer drug discontinuations related to adverse events.
Patients appreciated the additional touchpoint with the pharmacist during these check-ins, and pharmacists felt they were making a significant impact during these interactions. This successful model is now standard practice at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and has improved patient outcomes through tailored monitoring strategies developed in collaboration between manufacturers and pharmacists.
At AXS24: The Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit, Zuckerman emphasized the value of discussions between manufacturers and pharmacists in creating personalized monitoring strategies that benefit patient care. This collaborative approach has proven effective in improving patient outcomes and optimizing treatment regimens for individuals starting PARP inhibitor therapies.