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Issues in Pharmaceutical Economics: A Look at Specialty Medications

Dial-in Webinar

There is not a set definition for what “specialty medications” are. Definition may vary depending on different stakeholders. No matter how they are defined, it is certain that specialty medications are a growing part of the pharmaceutical market, and this growth is expected to continue. As a result, pharmacists practicing in various settings can anticipate coming across specialty medications at some point in the course of their practice. As this market continues to grow, it becomes more important for pharmacists to understand the key issues facing specialty medications, and how specialty medications are managed.

After participating in this program, the pharmacist should be able to:

• describe what differentiates specialty medications from traditional medications,
• Identify who the various stakeholders within the specialty drug market are,
• Understand what the current policy and economic issues related to specialty medications are,
• Recognize the challenges specialty medications present to the various stakeholders within the pharmaceutical market.
  
  

Speaker: Bithia Fikru

Bithia Fikru, Pharm.D., MPA, Ph.D. Student
Research Analyst Department of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems
University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy-PRIME Institute

Dr. Fikru has been a researcher in the pharmaceutical market for the last four years. Her work and research interests encompass economic and policy issues related to drugs and their use with a focus on the specialty drug market including biological products, biosimilars, pharmacogenomics, and orphan drugs. She currently works as a research analyst in drug policy and economics at the University of Minnesota’s College of Pharmacy-PRIME Institute. In addition, she works as a consultant pharmacist for a pharmacy benefit consulting firm - The Burchfield Group. Previously, she worked as a researcher in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. In addition, she held various internship positions in pharmacy administration, managed care pharmacy, and pharmacoeconomics & formulary management. Dr. Fikru has an in-depth understanding of the specialty drug market as well as the pharmaceutical market as a whole.

Registration Fees:

$10 for MPhA members and $25 for nonmembers.

Continuing Education:

This presentation is being submitted to the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy for Continuing Education credit approval (one hour).

To receive Board of Pharmacy credits for this program the following must be completed:

• Full participation/completion of webinar either during the live program or the archived presentation

• Completion of survey post webinar acknowledging participation

Board of Pharmacy credit processing takes place on the 15th of each month.

The Minnesota Pharmacists Association is accredited by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Questions? Please contact karip@ewald.com