INTERVIEWS

Dr. Robert Provenzano, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan, discusses chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the often underdiagnosed and undertreated complication of anemia in CKD. He talks about the unmet need among patients with CKD and what patients are saying about the toll this takes on their daily lives.

Dr. Saad Usmani, a specialist in hematology and oncology at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC, discusses multiple myeloma and relapsed refractory multiple myeloma. He talks about signs, symptoms, and risk factors. He is joined by Robert Pugh who was diagnosed in 2014 and he shares how his life has been impacted by living with this disease.

Returning guest, Dr. David Spetzler, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Caris Life Sciences, discusses the company’s launch of CODEai™(Comprehensive Oncology Data Explorer), a proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) framework, to deliver the most comprehensive cancer data solution in the genomics industry.   He explains the importance of molecular insights for the treatment of cancer and how CODEai is set to have a dramatic impact on research initiatives, product development objectives, clinical trial services and target identification opportunities.

Susan, a woman living with an NTRK gene fusion, a rare genomic driver that drove her thyroid cancer shares her unique cancer journey and how she benefited from genomic testing.  As an advisor on the TargetCancer Foundation’s TRACK (Target Rare Cancer Knowledge) Patient and Caregiver Advisory Council she was directly involved in the development of the TRACK Study and has first-hand understanding of the importance of early testing and broader access for patients like her.

Dr. Scott Sigman, Founder and CMO of OrthoLazer and Team Physician at UMASS Lowell, discusses the publication of a second case report demonstrating positive outcomes for a COVID-19 patient treated with adjunct laser therapy. The patient is part of a randomized clinical pilot trial. The treatment is once-daily for four days using an FDA-cleared laser. Photobiomodulation Therapy is known to have anti-inflammatory effects and in this case study it helped treat the patients’ respiratory symptoms.Dr. Sigman is looking to expand this work and raise awareness among other healthcare providers for this novel therapeutic option.

Jim Palma, Executive Director at TargetCancer Foundation discusses a new clinical trial called TRACK (TargetRare Cancer Knowledge). Supported by Bayer and Foundation Medicine, TRACK provides rare cancer patients with access to genomic testing, personalized treatment recommendations and information via a virtual panel of rare cancer experts. This approach ensures that patients have access to this trial, even if they do not live near a clinical trial site and can socially distance due to COVID-19.

Dr. Matthew Smith, MD, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Genitourinary Malignancies Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center discusses final data published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” (Sep 2020) from the Phase III ARAMIS trial for NUBEQA® (darolutamide) plus androgen deprivation therapy in men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC).

Beto Casellas, CEO of CareCredit, a Synchrony solution, discusses the partnership with Salucro Healthcare Solutions.  He talks about the financial implications of COVID-19 on hospitals, health systems and patients.  He also talks about managing unplanned out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Mark Campbell, PharmD, Vice President of Clinical Services for RxBenefits, a technology-enabled pharmacy benefits optimizer (PBO), discusses the company’s PBO model and the components behind the model.