CARY, N.C. (February 21, 2018) —Biologics, Inc., a McKesson Specialty Health oncology and complex care pharmacy services company, has been selected by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson1 to be in the limited distribution network for ERLEADA™ (apalutamide), the first FDA-approved treatment for non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (NM-CRPC). The addition of this critical patient therapy brings the total number of oncology and supportive therapies accessible through Biologics to 115.
ERLEADA is a next-generation androgen receptor inhibitor2 for the treatment of patients with NM-CRPC with the goal of delaying metastases. Approval is based on an FDA Priority Review of Phase 3 SPARTAN clinical trial data,3 which showed that ERLEADA decreased the risk of distant metastasis or death by 72 percent and improved median metastasis-free survival by more than two years in patients with NM-CRPC. The major efficacy outcome was supported by statistically significant improvements for secondary endpoints, including time to metastasis, progression-free survival, and time to symptomatic progression. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.4
“We’re delivering this important new drug to patients living with prostate cancer, and physicians nationwide now have an important and much-needed treatment option that has been shown to delay the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer,” said Brandon Tom, vice president, Biopharma Services, McKesson Specialty Health.
Biologics’ specialty pharmacy is committed to and recognized for its high level of customer service as well as its innovative, high-touch and multidisciplinary patient-centric approach. Each team includes a pharmacist with in-depth knowledge of oncology therapies, an experienced oncology nurse and a financial counselor who is familiar with various financial assistance programs and organizations that help cancer patients. This highly-skilled care team works together to develop individualized care plans that address each patient’s unique clinical, financial and emotional needs and streamlines communication back to the treating provider, enabling high-quality care and differentiated outcomes. In addition, the Biologics team works closely with payers to ensure patients can access the specialty medications they need.
Physicians may submit prescriptions to Biologics via phone (800-850-4306), fax (800-823-4506) or eScribe. For electronic prescribing systems, physicians may search for Biologics within their EMR system.
About Biologics
Biologics, Inc. is an oncology and complex care pharmacy services company that enables healthcare providers, payers and biopharma to optimize cancer care for the best possible outcomes – clinical, financial and emotional. Unifying fragmented healthcare services, Biologics brings efficiency and humanity to oncology care management by focusing on the patient’s best interest as the surest path to managing cost and risk.
Biologics is part of McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation empowering the community patient care delivery system by helping community practices advance the science, technology and quality of care. Through innovative clinical research, business and operational solutions, facilitated by integrated technology systems, we focus on improving the financial health of our customers so they may provide the best care to their patients. Our combined organization will help better support patients and expedite access to oncology therapies. For more information, visit www.McKessonspecialtyhealth.com and www.biologicsinc.com.
1https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/erleada-apalutamide-a-next-generation-androgen-receptor-inhibitor-granted-us-fda-approval-for-the-treatment-of-patients-with-non-metastatic-castration-resistant-prostate-cancer
2https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-drug/def/apalutamide
3https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01946204
4http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1715546?query=featured_home&