Specialty Clinical Research

Client and Pharmacist walking next to each other.

Welcome to our Accredo specialty clinical research page. We are proud to showcase a collection of posters, abstracts, and articles that have been presented at various conferences, highlighting our commitment to advancing pharmaceutical knowledge and improving patient outcomes.

Explore our research library and learn how we are leading the way in specialty pharmacy services.

Motivational Interviewing and Specialty Adherence Improvement

Specialty medication adherence improvements

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. October 14-17, 2024, Las Vegas, NV

One of the largest assessments of motivational interviewing to date, this interventional, case control study examines a specialty adherence support across multiple therapeutic areas.

Publication: Pitts S, Amato D, Martin N , Mager D, Bridges G. (2024) Specialty medication adherence improvements via a targeted, telehealth motivational interviewing program: Scalability across diverse, at-risk therapeutic populations. Journal of Managed Care + Specialty Pharmacy 10-a(30);s139 [poster Z1]. Accessed at: https://www.jmcp.org/pb-assets/Supplements/2024%20October%20JMCP%20Poster%20Abstract%20Supplement-1-1728656684240.pdf

Branded Epoprostenol Transitions

Download Branded Epoprostenol Transitions: Specialty Pharmacy Support During a Drug Shortage

Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA). August 2024, Indianapolis, Indiana

Specialty pharmacy clinicians play a critical role in transitioning patients from legacy epoprostenol to an alternate prostacyclin. Strategic prescriber collaboration, proactive pharmacist counseling, and PAH specialty-trained nurse training positively impacts successful conversion without gaps-in-care while optimizing waste avoidance to the healthcare system.


PAH Treprostinil Support

Download Transition from TD300 Inhalation Device to Dry-Powder Inhaler for Treprostinil Administration: Comparing Dosing, Tolerability, and Reason for Conversion

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Association PH Professional Network (PHPN) Conference. September 28-30, 2023. Washington D.C.

This study evaluates the tolerability, patient reported adverse events, and reason for conversion to treprostinil dry powder inhaler in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. Study explores the impact of PAH specialist nurses supporting patients undergoing device conversion with no interruptions or gaps in care.


Impact of a Specialty Pharmacy-Prepared Infused Prostacyclin Admixture Program

Download Impact of a Specialty Pharmacy-Prepared Infused Prostacyclin Admixture Program on Central Venous Catheter Infections in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

American Thoracic Society (ATS). May 17, 2022. San Francisco, CA.

Specialty-pharmacy prefilled prostacyclin cassettes improved patient convenience and showed lower central line infection rates over time compared to patient-admixed therapy. Adverse event rates for patients trained and serviced by the specialty pharmacy were significantly better than industry benchmarks.


WellBeing WatchSM: addressing social determinants in PAH patients

Download WellBeing WatchSM: A Dedicated Focus on Whole-person Health for Patients Diagnosed with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Association PH Professional Network (PHPN) Symposium. September 2021. Arlington, VA.

This retrospective review evaluates the impact of Accredo’s Wellbeing Watch™ program across a diverse group of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.

Regimen optimization in Hemophilia B

Download Optimizing the Extended Half-life Recombinant Factor IX Regimen in Hemophilia B Prophylaxis

National Hemophilia Foundation. September 2023; Washington D.C.

This study evaluates an evidence-based factor regimen optimization algorithm for extended half-life recombinant factor IX prophylaxis. Specialty pharmacist-prescriber collaboration can achieve regimens that reduce patient infusion burden, maximize clinical outcomes and provide payers with context around total cost of therapy.

Publication: D’Albini L., Dorholt M., and Gallucci L. “Optimizing maintenance dosing of emicizumab-kxwh as prophylaxis in hemophilia A: Dosing to product labeling while minimizing drug waste”.Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. 2023 Vol(1):47-57. Accessed at https://www.jmcp.org/doi/full/10.18553/jmcp.2023.29.1.47

Mitigating refill gaps in CF

Download SPECIALTY PHARMACY INTERVENTION MITIGATES REFILL GAPS IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS

North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC). October 2019; Nashville, TN.

Hospitalizations, exacerbation risk, and lung function are directly impacted by drug adherence in Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Our research assessed the impact of proactive clinical outreach to improve CF medication utilization and reduce the number of gaps in care.

Published abstract: Mager, D., et al. "Specialty Pharmacy Intervention Mitigates Refill Gaps in Cystic Fibrosis." PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY. Vol. 55. 111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ USA: WILEY, 2020. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ppul.25089

Treatment of osteoporosis

The impact of safety labeling changes on parathyroid hormone analog utilization and persistence

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Annual Meeting. April 2024. New Orleans, LA.

Safety labeling changes may have a significant impact on drug utilization by healthcare providers and patients. This study explores the effects of safety labeling changes on parathyroid hormone analog utilization and persistence, shedding light on potential implications for patient safety and specialty management.

Published abstract: Pitts S, Mager D, Bridges G, Dollear T, Dorholt M. The impact of safety labeling changes on parathyroid hormone analog utilization and persistence. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. 2024 Vol 30(4-a):S92. https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2024.30.4-a.s1


Recall impact on rare disease

Download Impact of parathyroid hormone product recall on severe hypoparathyroidism patient management: understanding transitions in care

National Organization for Rare Disorders Annual Rare Summit. October 2023. Washington DC.

This retrospective cohort review examines the impact of a drug recall on prescribing patterns and drug utilization in severe hypoparathyroid patients. Evidence of gaps in care demonstrate the impact of market disruptions on fragile, orphan populations.

HAE Regimen Optimization

Download optimizing the lanadelumab-flyo

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). February 2024. Washington, DC.

Specialty pharmacists play a critical role in identifying patients, who may be suitable candidates for a longer dosing interval. When appropriate, regimen optimization can positively impact the patient’s quality of life, as well as patient, payer, and system costs.


Home Infusion Care Management Adverse Event Reduction in IVIG

Minimizing Adverse Drug Reactions to IVIG

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). February 2019. San Francisco, CA.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions are associated with predictable adverse drug reactions (ADRs), some of which are life threatening. The application of a clinical program at the specialty pharmacy (SP) level can decrease both the frequency and severity of reactions.

Publication: D'Albini, L., & Wiseman, M. J. (2019). Minimizing Adverse Drug Reactions to IVIG in the Home Setting Through Application of an Evidence-Based Clinical Care Management Program. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 143(2), AB71. Accessed at: https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749%2818%2931960-2/fulltext

Infection management in MS

Download Disease-modifying therapy landscape: an evaluation of cost and care.

Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers Annual Meeting. May 2020. [Virtual]

Our observational analysis of disease modifying therapy trends in MS, including overall DMT PMPY spend, generic utilization, switching, and infection rates demonstrates the importance of specialty support for multiple sclerosis.

Published article: Swart, Elizabeth CS, Douglas Mager, Natasha Parekh, Rock A. Heyman, Rochelle Henderson, Kiraat Munshi, Gail Bridges, and Chester B. Good. "Infection incidence and management in multiple sclerosis patients after initiating disease-modifying therapy." Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders 56 (2021): 103285. Accessed at: https://www.msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(21)00552-6/abstract#relatedArticles

Published abstract: Bridges, Gail, et al. "(DXT23) Disease-Modifying Therapy Landscape: An Evaluation of Cost and Care." International Journal of MS Care 22 (2020). Accessed at (DXT23) Disease-Modifying Therapy Landscape: An Evaluation of Cost and Care.

Impact of specialty pharmacy in inflammatory conditions

Download Impact of Specialty Pharmacy: A Study in Inflammatory Conditions

International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. May 2024. Atlanta, GA.

Specialty pharmacy management is associated with lower patient medical costs and is associated with health plan digital resource utilization.

Cartwright, A., Halim, L., Dorholt, M., Bridges, G., & Viteri, Y. (2024). HSD81 Impact of Specialty Pharmacy: A Study in Inflammatory Conditions. Value in Health, 27(6), S235. https://www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S1098-3015(24)01419-0/abstract


Infliximab home infusion safety

Download infliximab abstracts

Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Annual Meeting. December 2022; Orlando, FL.

Infliximab infusion therapy administered in the home setting can be a convenient, safe, and effective treatment option for patients being treated for inflammatory conditions. A specialty home infusion model designed to maximize patient safety was associated with lower rates of adverse events than reported previously in the literature.

Published abstract: Viteri, Yvonne; Mager, Douglas; Bridges, Gail; Wiseman, Mary Jane; Dorholt, Mary. S133 Infliximab Infusion Related Adverse Events in the Home Setting. The American Journal of Gastroenterology 117():p S34, December 2022. | DOI: 10.14309/01.ajg.0000898040.63592.13


Infliximab home infusion safety

Download Associations between pharmacy channels, adherence to biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and chronic opioid use among patients with inflammatory conditions

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Annual Meeting. April 2020. Virtual.

Study examines the interplay between adherence to biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy, pain control and opioid utilization patterns.

Published abstract: Dunn, T., Viteri, Y., Bridges, G., Dorholt M, Munshi K, Swift C, Henderson R. (April 2020). Associations Between Pharmacy Channels, Adherence to Biologic Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs and Chronic Opioid Use Among Patients with Inflammatory Conditions. In Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy (Vol. 26 No 4-a; S63). 675 North Washington St., Suite 220, Alexandria 22314, VA USA.