Alana Hippensteele, Lead Editor

Scott A. Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, explained how the expanding use of the FDA’s 505(b)(2) drug approval pathway is creating operational and reimbursement challenges for oncology infusion centers.

Christine Barrett, PharmD, BCOP, addressed advances in the treatment of stage III melanoma that provide the potential to improve long-term outcomes by enhancing immune response, tailoring surgical approaches, and refining patient selection strategies.

Mark Zangardi, PharmD, MS, BCOP, and Amber Cipriani, PharmD, BCOP, discuss the growing role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing in oncology, highlighting its applications in early cancer detection, molecular residual disease assessment, and treatment monitoring.

Matthew Lei, PharmD, BCOP, highlights the value of community, collaboration, and innovation at the HOPA Annual Conference.

Sophie Jabban discusses research presented at the SGO Annual Meeting highlighting significant disparities in MRI access for patients with cervical cancer receiving chemoradiation, with delays linked to both race and insurance status, underscoring systemic barriers that may impact timely treatment.

Sophie Jabban discusses findings from 2 studies that highlight how geographic location, race, ethnicity, and social determinants of health contribute to delays in initiating chemoradiation for patients with cervical cancer.

Mark Mulvahill, MBA, MSc, discusses the importance of microbial preservation and reference materials in pharmaceutical manufacturing and compounding pharmacies, highlighting their role in contamination control, regulatory compliance, and enhancing microbiological testing reliability.

Jeff A. Goad, PharmD, MPH, discusses the latest RSV vaccination guidelines and recommendations for 2025, highlighting vaccine options, target populations, timing considerations, evolving CDC policies, and the role of pharmacists in immunization efforts.

In a debate at the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting, speakers highlighted GLP-1s’ advantages in stroke prevention and weight loss vs SGLT2s’ superiority in heart failure, CV death reduction, and renal protection.

Two pharmacists at the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting debate the role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for non-insulin users, highlighting evolving guidelines, emerging clinical evidence, cost and coverage challenges, and the need for further research to justify widespread adoption.

Contraceptive options have expanded since 1960, with pharmacists today playing a growing role as prescribers of contraception and studies showing the benefit of pharmacist-driven contraception clinics.

Sharita Howe, PharmD, discusses her recent acknowledgement by MM+M, who acknowledged her as a part of the next wave of health care leaders in their recognition of 40 under 40 leaders in health care.

David S. Bateshansky, PharmD, BCOP, discusses his role as an oncology pharmacist at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, noting the evolving recognition of pharmacists' contributions on cancer care teams.

The health care community was left largely unaware of the controversy that occurred at one of the clinical trial sites.

Wafa Samara, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at City of Hope, highlights the vital role of oncology pharmacists at City of Hope in improving patient outcomes, conducting and leading research, and working as integral members of the multidisciplinary care team.

Conference Co-Chair and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Past President Elaine R. Mardis, PhD, explains that the conference provides pharmacy professionals with insights into the application of large-scale cancer genomics studies to real-world therapeutic responses.

Amir Ali, PharmD, BCOP, discusses his experience as an oncology pharmacist in both direct and indirect patient care at the University of Southern California (USC) Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

New drugs and collaborative care may be key to overcoming trial closures, weak guidelines, and inefficiencies.

The administration of immunotherapy in adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and perioperative settings offers distinct benefits and challenges in resectable cancers, with recent clinical trials highlighting its potential to improve long-term outcomes and the need for further research into biomarkers and combination strategies.

The FDA’s accelerated approval of lifileucel (Amtagvi; Iovance Biotherapeutics) marks a major milestone in immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma, building on decades of research in tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy.

Immunotherapy pioneer James P. Allison, PhD, revolutionized cancer treatment by discovering immune checkpoint blockade, leading to significant advances in survival rates and ongoing efforts to optimize immuno-oncology strategies.

Advancements in neoantigen vaccines and immunotherapy are transforming cancer treatment by leveraging genomic sequencing to overcome tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance.

Melody Smith, MD, MS, discusses how microbiome modulation may influence CAR T-cell therapy toxicity and outcomes, highlighting potential future interventions and clinical integration challenges.

The AACR Immunotherapy Conference 2025 will provide pharmacists with the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge cancer immunotherapy research, explore advancements in treatments, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy, and connect with key leaders in the field.

Melody Smith, MD, MS, discusses how the intestinal microbiome influences CAR T-cell therapy outcomes, highlighting the negative impact of certain antibiotics and the potential role of dietary interventions in improving treatment efficacy.

C. Brooke Adams, PharmD, BCOP, discusses the evolving diagnostic criteria and management strategies for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) in CAR T-cell therapy, highlighting advances in toxicity prevention and treatment selection.

The expanding role of real-world evidence in regulatory and health technology assessment (HTA) decision-making highlights its growing acceptance for supplementing clinical trial data, addressing evidence gaps, and informing treatment value, despite challenges in data quality, accessibility, and regulatory compliance.

Diversity in clinical trials remains important to ensure research data for therapies accurately reflects the diverse patient populations who will use them globally.

Africa's unparalleled genetic diversity presents both a challenge and an opportunity to advance precision medicine, with a focus on leveraging pharmacogenetics to improve drug efficacy and reduce adverse reactions.

Catriona Jamieson, MD, PhD, discusses the role of stress-activated base editors like ADAR1p150 and APOBEC enzymes in cancer progression and highlights innovative approaches to halt these processes and improve therapeutic outcomes.