Agreement Will Lead to Improved Access for Community Oncology Patients
OPN Healthcare has signed an agreement with the University of California Irvine (UCI) to provide OPN covered beneficiaries with access to clinical trials being sponsored by UCI.
Clinical trials for oncology drugs in the community setting is an integral component of OPN’s comprehensive platform for cancer care. OPN believes that this partnership with UCI will offer millions of OPN patients the ability to participate in leading edge clinical research normally limited to a restricted population. By giving community oncology patients access to these trials, OPN will expand access to new and innovative therapies for many underserved communities. This will ensure that patients receive off-labeled treatments in an IRB-approved, safe and protected environment.
Payers will also see notable benefits from expanded clinical trial opportunities. These programs often result in lower costs and improved patient outcomes. Significant research suggests that oncology patients do better when they participate in clinical trials. It often results in better healthcare provider access and more structured monitoring for treatment response and adverse effects. OPN’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anthony Lam believes that, “Our collaboration with UCI is an important step in bringing precision medicine closer to our local communities and ensuring there is equity of access to cutting-edge treatments. This is especially important for our underserved patients, many of whom face social, logistical and financial barriers to higher-level care.”
As Dr. Lam notes, “OPN’s own clinical trials program has been successful in bringing new study opportunities to community oncologists, but no single program will have access to all applicable studies. OPN is building bridges to other programs that offer innovative and promising new therapies. This provides the best opportunities for all our patients.”
This is part of a much larger effort by OPN to expand clinical trial access. OPN has relationships with other leading academic research institutions on a similar basis as the UCI agreement. OPN patients currently have access to over 40 clinical trials, 11 of which UCI currently sponsors.