Pharmacist Moms Group^™

Morgan Cantley, PharmD, BCOP, shares key insights about the HER2-targeting antibody drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan.

Scott A. Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA, discusses how Medicaid payment changes could impact rural hospitals and local pharmacies, noting the importance of pharmacists staying involved as the situation develops.

Panelists discuss how common barriers to implementing trifluridine/tipiracil plus bevacizumab combination therapy include complex pill burden management with multiple bottle strengths that can confuse patients during dose reductions, procedural complications requiring bevacizumab holds that patients sometimes fail to disclose in advance, and hypertension management challenges that create patient anxiety about treatment delays, while emphasizing that adherence support strategies include close monitoring with biweekly visits, written dosing calendars, alternative five-day dosing schedules aligned with infusion timing, and incorporating patient-reported outcomes into shared decision-making to optimize treatment success despite these practical barriers.

Panelists discuss how real-world dose adjustment decisions in metastatic colorectal cancer are primarily driven by individual patient factors rather than package insert recommendations, emphasizing the importance of understanding each patient's goals, values, comorbidities, and tolerance thresholds through collaborative multidisciplinary decision-making, since patients frequently ask "how will this make me feel?" and often prioritize quality of life over strict adherence to standard dosing, with the key insight that dose reductions can maximize efficacy by keeping patients on therapy longer rather than causing treatment discontinuation from intolerable toxicities.

A panelist discusses how social determinants of health including low health literacy, economic instability, housing and transportation issues create significant barriers to tyrosine kinase inhibitor adherence and patient engagement in underserved chronic myeloid leukemia populations, leading to higher cancer-related mortality rates, while pharmacists can help bridge these gaps through tailored education, advocacy for assistance programs, and innovative care delivery methods like virtual visits.

Pharmacists help connect patients with the correct resources and help remove barriers so patients can receive continuous care.

Pharmacists can educate patients and health care professionals in addition to coordinating lab orders, interpreting results, and guiding patients through the next steps.

Jennifer Goldman, PharmD, CDCES, BC-ADM, FCCP, explains the different stages of type 1 diabetes, teplizumab’s use, and emphasizes the pharmacist’s role in care.