Improving cancer patients' access to and adherence with oral cancer medicines through specialty pharmacies
Project 4: Care Integration for Patients with Cancer Using Specialty Pharmacies
This project looks at how linking specialty pharmacies with hospitals and clinics can help people with cancer get started on and stick with prescribed oral cancer and supportive medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145965 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the project explores different ways hospitals and practices work with specialty pharmacies—running on-site pharmacies, contracting with outside specialty pharmacies, or partnering with independent pharmacies—and how those choices affect your access to oral cancer and supportive drugs. The team will conduct case studies and survey health system leaders, pharmacy managers, clinicians, and staff to learn how pharmacy services coordinate with oncologists to help patients initiate and adhere to medications. They will examine practical barriers and supports such as prior authorization, delivery services, costs, and hospital 340B discount practices that influence whether patients can start and continue treatment. Findings will be combined with other project teams to create practical guidance for integrating pharmacy care into oncology settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who are prescribed oral anticancer drugs or oral supportive care medications, or who receive cancer care at health systems or clinics working with specialty pharmacies, are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who only receive inpatient or exclusively intravenous cancer treatments and do not use outpatient pharmacies are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make it easier for cancer patients to obtain and stay on their oral cancer and supportive medicines, reducing missed doses and treatment interruptions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous programs and studies have shown specialty pharmacy services can improve access and adherence in some chronic conditions, but evidence specifically about oral cancer drugs is still evolving and variable.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keating, Nancy L — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Keating, Nancy L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.