Presenting Author: Jeffrey Murray, PharmD, PVI, PeerView Institute For Medical Education, New York, NY
Co-Authors: Carmine DeLuca and Michael Beyer, PVI, PeerView Institute For Medical Education; Zahra Mahmoudjafari, PharmD, The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS; R. Donald Harvey, PharmD, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
BACKGROUND: As the role of the clinical pharmacist evolves, it is crucial that hematology-oncology pharmacists, as experts in drug information, develop knowledge and clinical skills to guide safe and effective delivery of modern antibody and cellular therapies to patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
OBJECTIVES: To improve pharmacists’ knowledge and ability regarding integration of these platforms into MM care, PeerView designed an educational initiative that provided guidance on navigating real-world challenges in using CD38- and BCMA-directed antibody and CAR-T therapy across various MM treatment settings and insights into how pharmacists can modernize MM treatment protocols by ensuring appropriate care coordination, addressing safety and dosing considerations, and optimizing therapy delivery.
METHODS: A live and enduring educational initiative was launched in conjunction with the 2023 HOPA annual meeting. Expert faculty used a linked case-based approach to enhance the understanding and application of antibody and cellular therapies in MM, providing insights on appropriate care coordination, safety and dosing considerations, and optimal therapy delivery. To measure the effects of the education, PeerView assessed learners before and after participation. Enduring participant responses were compared with a demographically matched nonparticipant sample.
RESULTS: The participants (N=1256; 140 live and 1116 enduring) had a substantial increase in knowledge and competence regarding BCMA CAR-T constructs and neurotoxicity management, including the understanding of the efficacy and safety profiles of subcutaneous versus intravenous isatuximab, with a 57% increase after the live event and a 42% improvement over nonparticipants with the enduring activity; proficiency in developing step-up dosing schedules for teclistamab in patients with relapsed or refractory MM, with 83% of live and 88% of enduring learners responding correctly; and the ability to develop modernized protocols to address practical aspects of care when using antibody and cellular therapy platforms, with 94% versus 49% of nonparticipants answering related questions correctly. The participants indicated a strong intent to implement learned strategies, counsel patients on treatment, and integrate novel approaches into practice, and 92% versus 38% of nonparticipants planned to always or frequently coordinate care for patients with MM receiving CAR-T therapy during intake, preinfusion, infusion, and the early and late-care continuum.
CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate the efficacy of this initiative in enhancing pharmacist preparedness through a greater understanding of medication information and ability to manage practical aspects of care. By addressing these gaps, this initiative will improve the integration of antibody and cellular therapies into patient care to ultimately enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.
- PeerView Institute for Medical Education. Coordinating better outcomes in multiple myeloma: pharmacist leadership with novel antibodies and CAR-T therapy. Activity release date: April 14, 2023. www.peerview.com/coordinating-better-outcomes-in-multiple-myeloma-2820?AudienceID=PVI&promocode=700&SpecID=69