The advent of innovative treatments like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies has significantly altered the function of pharmacists within cancer care teams. Eileen Peng, pharmd, vice president, chief administrator, and pharmacy officer at Astera Cancer Care, noted that pharmacists are now involved in patient selection and adverse effect management, moving beyond the traditional dispensing role.

Peng recently participated in a panel discussion titled “Pharmacy Decision-Making in Oncology” during an event in Princeton, New Jersey.

Pharmacists’ Expanding Responsibilities

“The pharmacist and the pharmacy team role has evolved tremendously with CAR T and bispecifics, as we move from dispensing-pure dispensing-to managing patient selection, managing side effects, [and] providing education,” said Peng. “Mostly we also get involved with coordinating care between the provider, patient caretakers, and the patients.”

Pharmacists are vrey close to patients and lab results… We can actually use our knowledge to adjust the dose or change treatment.

Peng emphasized the importance of appropriate patient selection for these therapies. “Not every patient is qualified or appropriate for CAR T and bispecifics,” she stated. “There are many, many treatments [a] patient can go through now. The right patient selection is very, very important. We need to know when and when is the right time and what type of patient could benefit from it.”

Managing Treatment Toxicities

Pharmacists play a crucial role in proactively managing and mitigating potential toxicities associated with novel therapies. Peng explained, “Pharmacists are very close to patients and lab results. We are often the first one to realize their symptoms come up or a subtle change [in the labs]. We can actually use our knowledge to adjust the dose or change treatment and even put some prophylaxis there to treat the side effect and keep patient on treatment longer.”