ASH Clinical News December 2014 | Page 90

Clinical Innovators difference between success and failure in passing national health reform, there are a few things that Obama did right. First off, he cared passionately about it and made it his first domestic policy priority. He risked his presidency and his legacy for health-care reform. He acted quickly and early in his first term, when his political capital was greatest. He laid out strong, clear principles for what kind of plan he would accept, but left the drafting to Congress, so that it would own the result. Within the administration, he left the policy details to his expert staff and concentrated on the politics of passage, which is the key contribution a president can make. Perhaps most importantly, he didn’t give up. When the bill’s prospects looked darkest, right after the election of Republican Scott Brown ended the Democrats’ filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, he pressed on. He was willing to lose rather than surrender. Eventually, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid found a way to get around the filibuster. Let’s talk about your role in health-care reform as the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology in 2009-2011. What is the role of health information technology (HIT) in supporting our nation’s health-care reform efforts? Is the one necessary for the other? Health IT is necessary, but not sufficient, to ensure that our health-care system achieves its T:7” CYP1A2 inducers: Co-administration of POMALYST with drugs that are CYP1A2 inducers has not been studied and may reduce pomalidomide exposure. 8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Category X [see Boxed Warnings and Contraindications (4)] 8.3 Nursing Mothers It is not known if pomalidomide is excreted in human milk. Pomalidomide was excreted in the milk of lactating rats. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for adverse reactions in nursing infants from POMALYST, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. 8.4 Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness of POMALYST in patients below the age of 18 years have not been established. 8.5 Geriatric Use No dosage adjustment is required for POMALYST based on age. Of the total number of patients in clinical studies of POMALYST, 41% were aged 65 years and older, while 12% were aged 75 years and older. No overall differences in effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients. In this study, patients aged greater than or equal to 65 years were more likely to experience pneumonia than patients aged less than or equal to 65 years. 8.6 Females of Reproductive Potential and Males POMALYST can cause fetal harm when administered during pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)]. Females of reproductive potential must avoid pregnancy while taking POMALYST and for at least 4 weeks after completing therapy. Females Females of reproductive potential must commit Print-only heterosexual either to abstain continuously fromcontent sexual intercourse or to use 2 methods of reliable birth control simultaneously: one highly effective form of contraception – tubal ligation, IUD, hormonal (birth control pills, injections, hormonal patches, vaginal rings, or implants), or partner’s vasectomy, and 1 additional effective contraceptive method – male latex or synthetic condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap. Contraception must begin 4 weeks prior to initiating treatment with POMALYST, during therapy, during dose interruptions, and continuing for 4 weeks following discontinuation of POMALYST therapy. Reliable contraception is indicated even where there has been a history of infertility, unless due to hysterectomy. Females of reproductive potential should be referred to a qualified provider of contraceptive methods, if needed. Females of reproductive po FV