Hyperlipidemia outcomes

The promising second oral therapy is Temsirolimus (Wyeth Pharm). Temsirolimus is believed to block the proliferation of immune T cells activated by interleukin, IL-2. The phase It clinical trial of Temsirolimus was also an international double blind placebo controlled trial. The trial involved 296 patients with either RR MS or SP MS with relapses. Participants received one of three doses of oral temsirolimus or placebo daily for 9 months. The primary outcome measure was the number of enhancing lesions after 9 months in study. By 32 w eeks into the study, those in the highest treatment dose had 47.8% fewer new enhancing lesions compared to those on placebo. The high dose group also had 51 % fev er relapses than the placebo group. Side effects included mouth ulceration or inflammation, menstrual dysfunction, hyperlipidemia and rashes. 

For pharmacists, the message is clear To improve adherence to pharmacotherapy, and hence to improve health outcomes, we must assess each patient individually, then provide targeted interventions that are responsive to his or her unique risk factors and needs (see Fig. 1). Research, such as the American Pharmaceutical Association Foundation s Project ImPACT Hyperlipidemia, has clearly documented the value of pharmacist-led patient care in fostering better adherence and outcomes. 

The law creating the prescription drug benefit requires drug plan sponsors to have an MTM program and offer it to beneficiaries with multiple chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and asthma, who use multiple medications covered by Part D and whose expenses on those medications will likely top the cost threshold set by the Department of Health and Human Services. The intent of requiring MTM services for these targeted beneficiaries is to optimize the therapeutic outcomes of Part D covered therapies. Under... 

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