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| North Carolina Oncology Association www.ncoa-northcarolina.com SUMMER 2010 |
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President's Message
I have learned much about the relationship between government and medicine by working with Dana Simpson, NCOA’s representative to the NC General Assembly. With his experience, we influenced a number of key legislative issues such as the smoking ban, the update to the State Compendia, and the carve-out of oncology drugs from the State Employee health plan specialty pharmacy requirement. I look forward to continued work with Dana and the Legislature. I have also learned the value of partnering with other professional societies. NCOA worked closely with the NC Medical Society to address the reimbursement complaint with BCBS. These efforts are still underway. I want to encourage you to consider a deeper involvement in NCOA by serving on the Board, becoming a Key Contact for our government officials, or working with the grants committee to design and implement a project sponsored by ASCO. I realize how busy each of you is, especially with the current climate of healthcare reform. But, I can tell you that running a practice and participating in NCOA is doable and enjoyable! Finally, I want to thank my fellow Board Members and the fantastic staff at ACCC for their support over the past two years. I look forward to continued involvement in NCOA and confidently turn the reins over to President-Elect Richard Krumdieck. Drugs in the News from NCOA Corporate Members The FDA approved GENENTECH INC.’S (South San Francisco, CA) anti-cancer drug Rituxan® (rituximab) to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Rituxan is intended for patients with CLL who are beginning chemotherapy for the first time and for those who have not responded to other cancer drugs for CLL. Rituxan is administered with two other chemotherapy drugs—fludarabine and cyclophosphamide. For more information, go to www.gene.com/gene/news/press-releases/display.do?method=detail&id=12607. The FDA has approved an expanded indication for lapatinib (Tykerb, GlaxoSmithKline in combination with letrozole (Femara, NOVARTIS AG) for the treatment of hormone-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women for whom hormonal therapy is indicated. Lapatinib previously was approved in combination with capecitabine (Xeloda, Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc) for the treatment of advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer in patients who have received prior therapy including an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab. For more information, go to: www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm199374.htm. NOVARTIS (East Hanover, N.J.) announced FDA approval of Tasigna® (nilotinib) 150 mg capsules for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. Tasigna has been approved in more than 80 countries for the treatment of chronic phase and accelerated phase Ph+ CML in adult patients resistant or intolerant to at least one prior therapy, including Gleevec (imatinib). For more information, go to: www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm216181.htm. SANOFI-AVENTIS (Bridgewater, NJ) announced that the FDA granted marketing approval for Elitek® (rasburicase) to be used for the initial management of plasma uric acid (PUA) levels in adult patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving anti-cancer therapy expected to result in tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) and subsequent elevations of PUA. The drug also is indicated for the initial management of PUA levels in pediatric patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving anti-cancer therapy expected to result in TLS and subsequent elevations of PUA. Elitek is indicated for only a single course of treatment. For more information, go to: products.sanofi-aventis.us/elitek/elitek.html. The FDA has approved Jevtana® (cabazitaxel) Injection, a chemotherapy drug used in combination with the steroid prednisone to treat men with prostate cancer. Marketed by SANIFI-AVENTIS (Bridgewater, N.J.), Jevtana is the first treatment for advanced, hormone-refractory, prostate cancer that has worsened during or after treatment with docetaxel. For more information, go to: www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm216143.htm. Wanted: Current Contact Information Societies, organizations, and associations are just as involved in the electronic age as businesses. SCOS is conducting more and more of its business electronically, such as sending conference notifications and registrations, alerts, and elections, as well as providing valuable information on its website. To ensure that its members are “plugged in,” we want to make sure that you and your colleagues’ email addresses are current and correct. If you know of someone who is an NCOA member but is not receiving electronic or mailed information from us, please encourage them to give us a call or email us to try to determine the source of the problem. Please call Sharon Atterbury at 301.984.9496, ext. 128 or email her at satterbury@accc-cancer.org. Thanks!
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Upcoming Events
Membership Conference: Board of Directors President NCOA (as of July 1, 2010) Gold Thank you for the value you add to NCOA! Welcome New NCOA Members! |
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As my term draws to a close, I would like to thank the membership for the opportunity to serve as President of NCOA. The last two years have been a great experience. I have made new friends throughout the State and nationally through the State Affiliate Program of ASCO. Participating in NCOA has opened doors for involvement in new areas of oncology practice. I have served on ASCO’s Clinical Practice Committee and Practice Guidelines Implementation Committees.