Great news! Kyprolis (carfilzomib) has been approved by the FDA for use in relapsed multiple myeloma patients. It should be available now, at a cancer clinic near you.
A few weeks back, I shared how I had participated in a patient and caregiver focus group at ASH in San Diego:
Years before Kyprolis (carfilzomib) was approved by the FDA, a half dozen staffers at Onyx Pharmaceuticals laid the groundwork for this new and innovative patient assistance program.
What makes the Onyx 360 program any different than similar programs offered by Celgene, Millennium or Novartis?
To get the answers I went to the top: The Head of Patient Access and Reimbursement Services at Onyx, Jennifer Sharrettts.
Jennifer was kind enough to spend 40 minutes on the phone with me on Friday. I asked a lot of questions. And Jennifer’s answers led to a series of follow-up questions that I think shed some light on how Onyx 360 works—and who can take advantage of the program’s services.
First, the basics. According to Jennifer, Onyx 360 “is a comprehensive and personalized program, designed to help support patients and caregivers.” She stressed that Onyx 360 addresses needs in three different areas: reimbursement and payment support, clinical support and referrals to third party organizations for emotional support.
Initially, I tried to focus on the third part, which includes assistance with transportation to scheduled appointments, patient and caregiver counseling and support group information. Because to me, this seemed to be the unique part of their program, since every major pharmaceutical company incorporates some type of financial and clinical support in their programs.
But Jennifer stopped me and asked me to back-up, insisting that Onyx 360′s financial criteria is both simple and generous. Specifically, she used the phrase “generous criteria.”
Generous criteria? Jennifer explained that “There is no asset test or family size adjustments for patients using Kyprolis who apply for payment support or free product.” She continued, adding that “Our program is not based on percentages of the federal poverty level. Instead, Onyx 360 relies on a flat income eligibility of $100,000 or less.”
WOW! That seemed too simple to be true—and the $100,000 income test was unexpectedly generous.
In preparation for what has become a three part series, I had requested info about the Onyx 360 program, including an application for financial aid. And I must admit that what they call their “enrollment form” was disarmingly short and easy to use. Only a few short lines of patient and insurance information was all that was required. That–and the obligatory “Physician Information” section–requiring a signature from your doctor, verifying that you have multiple myeloma, and have received previous therapy.
That’s it! Quick and simple. But let’s get back to the financial criteria—and who is eligible.
First of all, Jennifer stressed that anyone using Kyprolis is eligible for clinical and patient support. As a matter of fact, she reminded me that “any multiple myeloma patient can apply for assistance with transportation and free counseling, even if they aren’t using Kyprolis.”
Great! With Jennifer’s help, I will write about that on Wednesday. Tomorrow I will focus on the financial part of the program.
If you have any questions about anything you’ve read here—or you would like to sign-up for Onyx 360—simply call (855) 669-9360.
And guess what? “All of our patient advocates are oncology nurses with recent clinical experience.” Jennifer said proudly. “They are trained to answer all of your questions.”
No “trips to Bollywood” by phone to get answers from workers that can barely speak English? I will admit that I was impressed!
Until tomorrow, feel good and keep smiling! Pat
An inside look at the creation of Onyx 360
I didn’t know it at the time, but the information that a number of suggestions made by patients and caregivers at that meeting would be incorporated in what would become the Onyx 360 program.
Years before Kyprolis (carfilzomib) was approved by the FDA, a half dozen staffers at Onyx Pharmaceuticals laid the groundwork for this new and innovative patient assistance program.
What makes the Onyx 360 program any different than similar programs offered by Celgene, Millennium or Novartis?
To get the answers I went to the top: The Head of Patient Access and Reimbursement Services at Onyx, Jennifer Sharrettts.
Jennifer was kind enough to spend 40 minutes on the phone with me on Friday. I asked a lot of questions. And Jennifer’s answers led to a series of follow-up questions that I think shed some light on how Onyx 360 works—and who can take advantage of the program’s services.
First, the basics. According to Jennifer, Onyx 360 “is a comprehensive and personalized program, designed to help support patients and caregivers.” She stressed that Onyx 360 addresses needs in three different areas: reimbursement and payment support, clinical support and referrals to third party organizations for emotional support.
Initially, I tried to focus on the third part, which includes assistance with transportation to scheduled appointments, patient and caregiver counseling and support group information. Because to me, this seemed to be the unique part of their program, since every major pharmaceutical company incorporates some type of financial and clinical support in their programs.
But Jennifer stopped me and asked me to back-up, insisting that Onyx 360′s financial criteria is both simple and generous. Specifically, she used the phrase “generous criteria.”
Generous criteria? Jennifer explained that “There is no asset test or family size adjustments for patients using Kyprolis who apply for payment support or free product.” She continued, adding that “Our program is not based on percentages of the federal poverty level. Instead, Onyx 360 relies on a flat income eligibility of $100,000 or less.”
WOW! That seemed too simple to be true—and the $100,000 income test was unexpectedly generous.
In preparation for what has become a three part series, I had requested info about the Onyx 360 program, including an application for financial aid. And I must admit that what they call their “enrollment form” was disarmingly short and easy to use. Only a few short lines of patient and insurance information was all that was required. That–and the obligatory “Physician Information” section–requiring a signature from your doctor, verifying that you have multiple myeloma, and have received previous therapy.
That’s it! Quick and simple. But let’s get back to the financial criteria—and who is eligible.
First of all, Jennifer stressed that anyone using Kyprolis is eligible for clinical and patient support. As a matter of fact, she reminded me that “any multiple myeloma patient can apply for assistance with transportation and free counseling, even if they aren’t using Kyprolis.”
Great! With Jennifer’s help, I will write about that on Wednesday. Tomorrow I will focus on the financial part of the program.
If you have any questions about anything you’ve read here—or you would like to sign-up for Onyx 360—simply call (855) 669-9360.
And guess what? “All of our patient advocates are oncology nurses with recent clinical experience.” Jennifer said proudly. “They are trained to answer all of your questions.”
No “trips to Bollywood” by phone to get answers from workers that can barely speak English? I will admit that I was impressed!
Until tomorrow, feel good and keep smiling! Pat