Pre-Conferences Kick Off ACCC National Oncology Conference

by Amanda Patton, ACCC, Communications

OPEN Pre-Conference attendees listen to session on biosimilars

Cancer care professionals from across the country are gathering in Portland, Oregon, this week for the ACCC 32^nd National Oncology Conference.

Yesterday’s pre-conferences set the stage with sessions on oncology pharmacy issues and a program designed for administrators new to oncology.

One hot topic under discussion at the Oncology Pharmacy Education Network (OPEN) pre-conference: Institutional Review of Biosimilars. Jim Koeller, MS, PharmD, of the University of Texas at Austin, told attendees that “nationally, what we hope to create…we’re really trying to get to is a national standard on how biosimilars should be reviewed [by institutions].”  Until that time, what can P&T Committees do to be ready for institutional review? Setting up a subcommittee or working group for biosimilars is an important first step, Koeller  said.

While biosimilars will be less expensive, they will still be costly and reimbursement for biosimilars will “take a long time to figure out,” Koeller warned.

Key takeaways for oncology pharmacists and the oncology pharmacy:

• Biosimilars are not generics: Use of biosimilars will require clinical review by a multidisciplinary team through the P&T Committee or other mechanism
• A systematic review process will be necessary, looking at product, manufacturing, and institutional factors
• Interchangeability is generally a state issue; keeping up with state laws will be essential.

A common theme across both pre-conferences: Oncology today requires multidisciplinary leadership.

“Almost everything in oncology practice is interdisciplinary,” said presenter John Hennessy, MBA, CMPE, in a New to Oncology session on Leadership and Organizational Structure. To succeed, oncology programs must have processes in place for identifying and training future leaders and aligning incentive across all team members, he said.

Stay tuned for more from the ACCC National Oncology Conference.  Follow the conference on Twitter at #ACCCNOC.