Teh role of pharmacists in cancer care is undergoing a dramatic shift, driven by the emergence of innovative therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies. Eileen Peng, PharmD, vice president, chief administrator, and pharmacy officer at Astera Cancer Care, emphasizes that pharmacists are no longer confined to simply dispensing medications. Instead, they are becoming integral members of multidisciplinary teams, actively involved in patient management, side effect mitigation, and comprehensive care coordination.

The Evolving Role: Beyond Dispensing

Pharmacists are now essential in several key areas:

• Patient Selection: Ensuring the right patients receive the appropriate therapies.
• Proactive Toxicity management: Identifying and mitigating potential side effects.
• Value-Based Care: Optimizing medication choices and adherence to reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

This expanded role highlights the pharmacist’s expertise in medication management and their ability to positively impact patient outcomes and healthcare costs.

Patient Selection: A Critical First Step

Not all patients are suitable candidates for advanced therapies like CAR T-cell therapy or bispecific antibodies. With a growing array of treatment options available, pharmacists play a crucial role in determining the most appropriate course of action.

The right patient selection is very, very crucial. We need to know…when is the right time and what type of patient could benefit from [the therapy].
Eileen peng, PharmD, Astera Cancer Care

pharmacists leverage their knowledge of patient history, disease characteristics, and treatment options to guide these critical decisions.

proactive Toxicity Management: Keeping Patients on Track

Novel cancer therapies can be associated with meaningful side effects. Pharmacists, working closely with patients and monitoring lab results, are often the first to detect subtle changes that may indicate an emerging toxicity.

We can actually use our knowledge to adjust the dose or change treatment and even put some…prophylaxis there to treat the side effect and keep [the] patient on treatment longer.
Eileen Peng,PharmD,Astera Cancer Care

By proactively managing these toxicities,pharmacists help patients stay on their treatment regimens,improving their chances of a prosperous outcome.

Value-Based Care: Optimizing Outcomes and Costs

In the evolving landscape of value-based care, pharmacists are uniquely positioned to contribute to cost-effective cancer treatment.

We can choose the medication that’s cost-effective and manage patient adherence to avoid a lot of hospitalization or ER [emergency room] visit[s].
eileen peng,PharmD,Astera Cancer Care

By selecting appropriate medications and ensuring patient adherence,pharmacists help reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits,ultimately lowering healthcare costs.

Collaboration: The key to Success

Pharmacists are integral members of multidisciplinary teams, collaborating closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Physicians often seek pharmacists’ input on treatment changes and dose adjustments based on lab results or patient-reported symptoms. Triage nurses also consult pharmacists for recommendations on managing patient symptoms at home, preventing unnecessary emergency department visits.

Addressing Medication Adherence: A Proactive Approach

Ensuring patients adhere to their medication regimens is crucial for treatment success. Astera Cancer Care employs a system to track infusion schedules and proactively contact patients who miss appointments. For oral medications, pharmacists closely monitor prescriptions, review physician notes, and assess lab results to identify potential adherence issues.

If we identify a patient [is] not adherent, not only would we tell them how important it is to adhere to their treatment, we also will inform our physician and let them know, ‘Maybe set up [an] appointment and ask [the] patient to come in.’
Eileen Peng, PharmD, Astera Cancer Care

By identifying and addressing adherence problems, pharmacists help patients stay on track with their treatment plans.