Aligning the AACP Strategic Engagement Agenda with Key Federal Priorities in Health: Report of the 2016-17 Argus Commission.

The Argus Commission identified three major federal priorities related to health care, including the precision medicine initiative, the Cancer Moonshot and the opioid abuse epidemic. Current activities at the federal level were summarized and an analysis of activities within the profession, and academic pharmacy specifically, was prepared. The implications for pharmacy education, research and practice are compelling in all three areas. Recommendations, suggestions and two policy statements aim to optimize the attention to these priorities by the academy. Further, aligning the AACP Strategic Engagement agenda with the opportunities and threats acknowledged in the analysis is essential.

Clinical evaluation of natalizumab for formulary consideration.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Natalizumab is a monotherapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and maintaining remission in Crohn's disease (CD). Evaluation of natalizumab's clinical relevance must be performed before considering its place in treatment of these diseases. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: MEDLINE and PubMed searches were performed using the keywords multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, natalizumab and clinical trials. The manufacturer's product information was consulted to extract additional data. Pivotal clinical trials included: Natalizumab Safety and Efficacy in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (AFFIRM), Safety and Efficacy of Natalizumab in Combination With Interferon Beta-1a in Patients With Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (SENTINEL), Efficacy of Natalizumab as Active Crohn's Therapy (ENACT)-1 and 2 and Efficacy of Natalizumab in Crohn's Disease Response and Remission (ENCORE). WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: AFFIRM and SENTINEL showed improvements in progression of MS. ENACT-1 failed to show a significant effect, but the follow-up trials ENACT-2 and ENCORE were able to demonstrate a response to natalizumab. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Two trials on efficacy of Tysabri for treatment of MS demonstrated positive results. Efficacy for CD was mixed. More research demonstrating head-to-head evidence against other agents is necessary to determine if Tysabri's benefits are significant.