BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER

MassBio supports Massachusetts' life sciences ecosystem through innovation, economic development, policy, member services, and patient advocacy. Highlights include MassBioDrive, Bioversity, CEO & Founder Link, and policy advocacy. MassBio aims to empower members, enhance public understanding, and deliver medicines to patients.

Despite the U.S. approval of gene therapies Casgevy and Lyfgenia for sickle cell disease, their use has been minimal due to complex treatment processes and limited accredited centers. Both therapies offer near-curative benefits but require extensive preparation and carry significant risks. Despite initial slow uptake, developers Vertex and Bluebird anticipate growth as more centers become accredited. The high cost and potential risks remain significant considerations for patients.

IVBM's Boston event in 2024 focused on 'Elevating Value in Cancer Care,' discussing immunotherapy challenges in NSCLC, HER2 targeting in breast cancer, predictive biomarkers for sarcomas, and pharmacy decision-making. Panelists highlighted the need for optimized dosing, comprehensive biomarker testing, and equitable access to immunotherapy, emphasizing a more thoughtful approach to advancing cancer care.

Becker's 2024 list highlights hospitals & health systems excelling in oncology, recognized for advanced clinical trials & research. Notable institutions include AdventHealth, Allina Health, Arkansas Children's, Atlantic Health System, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Boston Medical Center, Brown University Health, Children's Health, Children's Hospital Colorado, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's Nebraska, ChristianaCare, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, Connecticut Children’s, Covenant Health, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dartmouth Health, DeTar Hospital Cancer Center, Duke Health, El Paso Children's Hospital, Emory Healthcare, Endeavor Health, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center/UW Medicine, Geisinger, Hackensack Meridian Health, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Inova, Jefferson Health, Johns Hopkins, Jupiter Medical Center, Keck Medicine of USC, Laredo Medical Center, Lehigh Valley Health Network, MUSC Health, MaineHealth, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mayo Clinic, MedStar, MemorialCare, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Michigan Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System, Nebraska Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell, Northwestern Medicine, Novant Health, OSF HealthCare, OU Health, Ochsner Health, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Oregon Health & Science University Hospital, Orlando Health, Penn Medicine, Providence Alaska Medical Center, Providence Cancer Institute of Oregon, Providence South Division Cancer Institute, Queen's Health System, RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, Renown Health, Rochester Regional Health, Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sanford Health, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, Scripps Health, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Stanford Medicine, Stanford Medicine Children's Health, Sutter Health, Swedish Cancer Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Miami, Tampa General Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, UC Davis Health, UCLA Health, UCSF Health, UK HealthCare, UNM Health System, UVA Health, UW Health, UMass Memorial Health, University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital, University of Chicago Medical Center, University of Colorado Cancer Center-UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, University Hospitals, University of Iowa Health Care, University of Kansas Health System, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Vermont Health Network, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Virtua Health, WVU Cancer Institute, WellSpan Health, Yale New Haven Health.

Becker's honors healthcare CNOs for tackling nurse staffing shortages, managing budgets, and developing professional growth opportunities. CNOs oversee nursing departments, spearhead innovative patient care initiatives, and bring clinical expertise and executive leadership skills. The list is based on nominations and editorial research, with leaders presented in alphabetical order.

Oncology dominates pharmaceutical innovation, with 1,600 cancer drugs in development. Spending on cancer drugs is projected to reach $409 billion by 2028, with high costs for novel agents. Biosimilars and generics may provide savings but cannot match rising expenditures. The focus is shifting towards cell therapies for solid tumors, with 44% of trials initiated in 2023 targeting solid tumor indications. Several cancer drugs have been approved by the FDA this year, and many more are expected to receive approval decisions soon.

Panel discussion at Institute for Value-Based Medicine event in Boston focused on connecting NSCLC patients with new treatments, ensuring equitable access, and prioritizing clinical trials addressing clinical dilemmas. Discussed molecular testing, combination therapies, and disparities in cancer care. Emphasized increasing clinical trial diversity by addressing next-generation sequencing disparities and language barriers.

Geoff Oxnard, MD, discusses transitioning from academia to industry, the impact of belief vs. access on precision testing adoption, flexible enrollment in clinical trials, and promoting clinical research as care in precision medicine.

Head and neck cancer trials showed worsening racial and ethnic diversity despite efforts, suggesting new strategies are needed to address inequities in cancer clinical trials.

Researchers from Boston University and Boston Medical Center found that head and neck cancer clinical trials are becoming less racially and ethnically diverse over time, despite efforts by organizations like the FDA and NCI. The inequitable representation in cancer research has worsened in the last decade. BMC's initiatives have improved diversity in their trials, with 58% of participants from underrepresented groups, compared to the national average of 7-12%.