Tennessee Cancer Specialists, the third largest oncology practice in the state, strengthens its ability to deliver cutting-edge advanced care by joining The Network

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Aug. 7, 2024 — The US Oncology Network (The Network), the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, announced today that Tennessee Cancer Specialists (TCS) has joined The Network, effective August 1, 2024. The practice is the largest community-based oncology provider in eastern Tennessee and the third largest oncology practice in the state. With the addition of TCS, The Network significantly extends its reach into eastern Tennessee while the practice enhances its ability to provide cancer patients in the region convenient access to high-quality, cutting-edge cancer care.

“We are pleased to welcome Tennessee Cancer Specialists to The Network, as it allows us to collaborate with a well-known, long-standing provider of high-quality community-based cancer care,” said Devon Womack, president, The US Oncology Network. “We share like-minded goals to advance cancer care while strengthening the practice’s ability to remain independent and viable in today’s challenging value-based landscape.”

As part of The Network, TCS can now utilize the deep expertise and substantial resources of The Network. The practice’s clinical staff can collaborate with their colleagues across The Network, tapping into the collective knowledge and experience of more than 2,600 independent providers across the U.S. The practice can also access The Network’s clinical and business consulting services, as well as innovative technologies that support high-quality patient care, efficient drug management, and revenue cycle optimization.

“We have had significant growth over the last few years, and we plan to continue this expansion by entering new markets, adding physicians, and building new service lines,” said Tracy W. Dobbs, MD, practice president, Tennessee Cancer Specialists. “The comprehensive resources and expert guidance from The Network will be invaluable as we move forward on this growth path while continuing to provide the high level of cancer care our patients and referring physicians have come to know and expect.”

The Network is supported by McKesson Corporation, allowing TCS to benefit from a comprehensive suite of solutions and services. From access to Ontada’s cutting-edge technologies enabling enhanced patient referral, patient intake, and provider workflow as well as simplified genomic test ordering and result capture, to increased access to innovative clinical trial opportunities, McKesson’s unapparelled oncology portfolio can help community-based practices like TCS thrive, so they can best care for their patients.

As announced in May, the practice is especially eager to engage in clinical research through Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI). Since its inception, SCRI has contributed to pivotal research that has helped advance the majority of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA today. In collaboration with SCRI, TCS will be able to provide patients convenient access to some of the most innovative investigational therapies in the communities where patients live.

“The stability, experience, resources, and professionalism of The Network drew us to the organization,” Dobbs stated. “We are excited to collaborate with this highly respected group of independent providers to achieve our mutual goal of bringing advanced cancer care to more communities.”

TCS is the premier provider of advanced cancer care in eastern Tennessee with 15 physicians and 45 advanced practice providers (APPs) delivering world-class cancer care across 16 locations. The practice is committed to putting the patient first by delivering high-quality, compassionate, evidence-based care designed specifically to meet the unique needs of each patient. A full-service, comprehensive medical oncology and hematology practice, TCS offers onsite infusion centers, cutting-edge clinical trials, on call 24/7 support, knowledgeable billing and insurance staff, financial counseling and patient assistance, plus in-office pharmacy services for added convenience. The practice also provides non-oncology injections and infusions for patients who require specialty infusion services for other conditions, giving patients the convenience of dealing with one facility for all their infusion needs.

The physicians and APPs of TCS are among many who have recently joined The Network. Within the last 18 months, The Network has welcomed more than 400 new providers into the organization. This continued growth trajectory is significantly increasing the availability of advanced cancer care in local communities from strong, viable, and independent practices.

About Tennessee Cancer Specialists
Tennessee Cancer Specialists, PLLC was founded in 2004 when East Tennessee Oncology and Hematology merged with Cancer Care of East Tennessee to become the largest private, independent cancer practice in eastern Tennessee and the third largest oncology group in the state of Tennessee. The practice has offices in eight counties to conveniently serve patients in Knoxville and surrounding communities. At Tennessee Cancer Specialists, their mission is to provide the highest quality compassionate care, to meet the unique needs of patients with cancer, and to assist them and their families to focus on recovery.

About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps more than 2,600 independent providers deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About McKesson Oncology and Specialty Solutions
It’s an unprecedented time for patients living with cancer as life sciences companies race to create new, cutting-edge therapies. With cancer care becoming more targeted, providers, life sciences companies, and payers face a multitude of challenges and complexity in the development of new treatments and making them accessible to patients in need. At McKesson, our unmatched portfolio of oncology businesses and partners provide research, insights, technologies, and services that are helping to address these hurdles and improve cancer and specialty care.

• McKesson is fueling discovery by helping patients participate in cutting-edge clinical trials closer to home through the joint venture between US Oncology Research and Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
• The US Oncology Network and McKesson Provider Solutions are advancing specialty care and high-quality cancer care in the communities where patients live by supporting the practices of thousands of independent, community-based providers.
• Ontada^®, a McKesson business dedicated to oncology, generates real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE), and provides clinical education and provider technology to inform and improve cancer care.
• As one of the largest distributors of oncology and specialty medicines, we are ensuring medicines make their way to those who are counting on them.
• And through CoverMyMeds, Biologics by McKesson, and GPO services, our work continues to help patients access, afford, and adhere to their medicines.

Media Contact
The US Oncology Network
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@usoncology.com

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Findings show clinical trial participation is not associated with suboptimal end of life care outcomes

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 3, 2024, 1:15 p.m. CDT — To address a gap in knowledge surrounding clinical trial participation impacts on unplanned healthcare utilization and hospice enrollment in adults with cancer, investigators from The US Oncology Network (The Network), the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, evaluated the episode claims from a prospective longitudinal observational cohort of 121,717 patients receiving cancer care. All patients were from within The Network and participating in the oncology care model (OCM), an alternative payment model pilot from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to promote quality cancer care while reducing costs. Of the patients assessed, 94% were over 65 years of age. The results indicated that:

• Patients enrolled in clinical trials did not have significantly more emergency room or observational visits (23.4%, p 0.11) compared to those not in clinical trials (22.3%).
• Hospitalization rates were significantly higher in clinical trial enrollees compared to patients receiving usual care (25.9% versus 21.9%, p <0.001).
• Clinical trial participants were no less likely (56.8%, p 0.13) to enroll in hospice three or more days prior to their death compared to patients receiving usual care (52.6%).
• Clinical trial participants had significantly higher per-episode savings against the benchmark price ($4,816, p<0.0001) compared to patients receiving usual care ($826).

“There is a perception that older adults with cancer who take part in clinical trials have suboptimal end of life outcomes or that participation in clinical trials may adversely impact cost of care and performance in novel payment models such as the OCM, a perception that results in clinical trial access barriers,” said co-first author Puneeth Indurlal, MD, MS, MBBS, senior director of Care Transformation for The Network. “The findings demonstrate that while more hospitalizations were observed, clinical trial participation is not associated with suboptimal end of life care when it comes to hospice enrollment and duration or increased emergency room and healthcare utilization. In fact, clinical trial participants saw relative cost savings against the benchmark compared to patients receiving usual care in the OCM. These data highlight that clinical trial participation for older cancer patients should not be ruled out of a treatment plan while participating in novel payment models.”

Study Methodology
A prospective longitudinal observational cohort of patients were identified who were cared for in 11 states within 323 clinics in 14 multi-site community practices in The Network participating in the OCM. Data (episode claims, medical records, episodes) were extracted from OCM performance periods (PP) 3-11 between July 1, 2017, and June 30, 2022. Propensity score matching by PP, age, gender, date of death, and cancer type identified the analysis cohort of matched episodes. The cohort was then stratified by trial participation (clinical trial participation vs usual care) to compare total cost of care (TCOC), drug expenditures, hospice care, unplanned healthcare utilization (ER visits), and hospitalizations.

Results from this study were presented in a rapid oral presentation at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Other Research and Additional Activity at ASCO 2024
The Network is presenting 14 studies at ASCO 2024. The research spans clinical, operational, and financial domains, with key topics including the impact of biosimilars, understanding the nuances of novel payment models, assessing the drug cost trends for key therapeutic agents in oncology, and the impact of the integration of remote clinical oncology pharmacists into routine precision medicine. Click here for a brochure of all The Network’s presentations at ASCO 2024.

“It is important to measure and understand the effects that emerging products, pricing, and support have on patients in the community setting to ensure a more holistic approach to cancer care,” said Marcus Neubauer, MD, chief medical officer, The Network. “The research completed in the community provides unique insights into the challenges and impact of cancer care delivery outside more traditional academic settings, and we’re proud of the presentations selected for inclusion at this year’s ASCO Annual Meeting.”

The Network is supported by McKesson, which has an unmatched portfolio of oncology businesses and partners that provide research, insights, technologies, and services that are helping address barriers and improve cancer and specialty care. At ASCO, McKesson-supported businesses including The Network, Ontada, and Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), are part of more than 160 abstracts and presentations. These are inclusive of oral and poster presentations, educational sessions, late-breaking studies, and early-phase studies. Click here for a full list of SCRI-affiliated studies and presentations and here for Ontada-affiliated abstracts.

Additionally, McKesson participated in two thought leadership panels. Michelle Lockyer, chief strategy officer of Oncology for McKesson, participated in a McKinsey-hosted panel titled, “The Heart of the Matter – Themes in Patient Centricity,” on May 31. Michelle brought her perspective on how the patient experience in oncology trials can be improved.

McKesson and The Network will also be taking part in a panel hosted by Endpoints on June 4, 11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT to discuss, “Overcoming Access Challenges in Cancer Care.” Jason Hammonds, chief operating officer, Oncology & Specialty, McKesson, and Dr. Ishwaria Subbiah, executive director of Cancer Care Equity and Professional Wellness, SCRI, and medical director of Supportive Care Oncology, Health Equity & Professional Well-being, The Network, will be participating in this live event with two external experts. Click here to register.

About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps approximately 2,600 independent providers deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About McKesson Oncology and Specialty Solutions
It’s an unprecedented time for patients living with cancer as life sciences companies race to create new, cutting-edge therapies. With cancer care becoming more targeted, providers, life sciences companies, and payers face a multitude of challenges and complexity in the development of new treatments and making them accessible to patients in need. At McKesson, our unmatched portfolio of oncology businesses and partners provide research, insights, technologies, and services that are helping to address these hurdles and improve cancer and specialty care.

• McKesson is fueling discovery by helping patients participate in cutting-edge clinical trials closer to home through the joint venture between US Oncology Research and Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
• The US Oncology Network and McKesson Provider Solutions are advancing specialty care and high-quality cancer care in the communities where patients live by supporting the practices of thousands of independent, community-based providers.
• Ontada^®, a McKesson business dedicated to oncology, generates real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE), and provides clinical education and provider technology to inform and improve cancer care.
• As one of the largest distributors of oncology and specialty medicines, we are ensuring medicines make their way to those who are counting on them.
• And through CoverMyMeds, Biologics by McKesson, and GPO services, our work continues to help patients access, afford, and adhere to their medicines.

Media Contacts
The US Oncology Network
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@usoncology.com

GCI Health on behalf of The US Oncology Network
Christine Murphy, Public Relations
201.230.9636 christine.murphy@gcihealth.com

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IRVING, Texas, Feb. 8, 2024 — For the eighth consecutive year, McKesson has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR). The designation enables healthcare practices and providers utilizing iKnowMed℠ electronic health record (EHR) to efficiently submit data directly to CMS without engaging a separate registry vendor, streamlining data submission and minimizing administrative burden.

As a CMS-approved QCDR, Practice Insights℠, a performance analytics tool powered by Ontada^®, can collect and report clinical data on behalf of clinicians for standard MIPS measures. This designation also provides the additional ability to report on custom QCDR quality measures developed in partnership with physicians in The US Oncology Network (The Network) to drive improvements in quality and cost of care.

In addition to quality measures, practices now have the opportunity to improve patient care by identifying social drivers of health via the integration of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Distress Thermometer in iKnowMed. In 2024, care teams can monitor patient needs through a comprehensive report dashboard and track screening rates based on the new MIPS 487 Screening for Social Drivers of Health measure. These efforts will help practices ensure all patients are screened and connected with community resources to assist them with health-related social needs.

“As the only oncology-specific QCDR, we empower practices to focus on what matters – improving patient care by equipping them with actionable insights and performance measures that can help to reduce administrative burden for their practices,” said Christine Davis, president, Ontada. “Our work continues to focus on innovation and technology advancements that can help practices improve cancer care and deliver better patient outcomes.”

A total of eight custom QCDR measures identified by physician leaders in The Network and submitted by McKesson were approved by CMS, including two measures approved for the 2024 Advancing Cancer Care MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) – Utilization of GCSF in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer and Mutation Testing for Stage IV Lung Cancer Completed Prior to the Start of Targeted Therapy. Practice Insights QCDR supports reporting of traditional MIPS and the new Advancing Cancer Care MVP, allowing practices to participate in the MIPS program a variety of different ways. It also continues to provide meaningful insights to improve care while simultaneously easing the burden of participating in CMS regulatory programs. Below are the eight Practice Insights QCDR measures approved for the 2024 MIPS program:

• Advance Care Planning in Metastatic Cancer Patients
• Hepatitis B Serology Testing and Prophylactic Treatment Prior to Receiving Anti-CD20 Targeting Drugs
• Patient-Reported Pain Improvement
• Supportive Care Drug Utilization in Last 14 Days of Life
• Mutation Testing for Stage IV Lung Cancer Completed Prior to the Start of Targeted Therapy (Included in the Advancing Cancer Care MVP)
• Utilization of GCSF in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (Included in the Advancing Cancer Care MVP)
• Antiemetic Therapy for Low- and Minimal-Emetic-Risk Antineoplastic Agents in the Infusion Center – Avoidance of Overuse (Developed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and approved for the second year)
• Appropriate Antiemetic Therapy for High- and Moderate-Emetic-Risk Antineoplastic Agents in the Infusion Center (Developed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and approved for the second year)

“As a result of our advocation for quality measures that are truly impactful to oncology care, we are proud that CMS announced in the Final Rule that two of our QCDR measures will be included in the Advancing Cancer Care MVP for the 2024 MIPS Program,” said Erin Crum, senior director of Quality Strategy and Innovation, McKesson and The US Oncology Network. “One of these measures aims to improve biomarker testing rates across non-small cell lung cancer and to ensure patients receive appropriate targeted therapy based on their test results. This is a critical area for cancer care where comprehensive biomarker panel testing rates continue to lag in comparison to the fast-paced innovation of targeted treatments. We aim to help practices close this gap by identifying patients eligible for testing and deliver targeted therapies to optimize their treatment, guaranteeing the best possible outcomes.”

About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation is a diversified healthcare services leader dedicated to advancing health outcomes for patients everywhere. Our teams partner with biopharma companies, care providers, pharmacies, manufacturers, governments, and others to deliver insights, products, and services to help make quality care more accessible and affordable. Learn more about how McKesson is impacting virtually every aspect of healthcare at McKesson.com and read Our Stories.

About McKesson Oncology and Specialty Solutions
It’s an unprecedented time for patients living with cancer as life sciences companies race to create new, cutting-edge therapies. With cancer care becoming more targeted, providers, life sciences companies, and payers face a multitude of challenges and complexity in the development of new treatments and making them accessible to patients in need. At McKesson, our unmatched portfolio of oncology businesses and partners provide research, insights, technologies, and services that are helping to address these hurdles and improve cancer and specialty care.

• McKesson is fueling discovery by helping patients participate in cutting-edge clinical trials closer to home through the joint venture between US Oncology Research and Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
• The US Oncology Network and McKesson Provider Solutions are advancing specialty care and high-quality cancer care in the communities where patients live by supporting the practices of thousands of independent, community-based providers.
• Ontada^®, a McKesson business dedicated to oncology, generates real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE), and provides clinical education and provider technology to inform and improve cancer care.
• As one of the largest distributors of oncology and specialty medicines, we are ensuring medicines make their way to those who are counting on them.
• And through CoverMyMeds, Biologics by McKesson, and GPO services, our work continues to help patients access, afford, and adhere to their medicines.

Media Contact
Claire Crye
claire.crye@mckesson.com
281-825-9927

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The Network welcomes globally recognized oncology physicians

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Dec. 19, 2023 — The US Oncology Network (The Network), the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, announced today that SCRI Oncology Partners has joined The Network. SCRI Oncology Partners, located in Nashville, Tenn., is a dedicated cancer treatment center led by globally recognized oncologists with disease expertise in cancer care and clinical research. This center offers patients state-of-the art personalized cancer care and opportunities to participate in clinical trials with innovative treatments.

“Increasing access to clinical trials and enhancing local cancer care are significant priorities for us,” said Jason Hammonds, president, The US Oncology Network. “Which is why we are thrilled to welcome some of the nation’s most respected oncology clinical researchers into The Network. These physicians provide comprehensive and personalized care with disease expertise, while also offering opportunities to participate in clinical research that help patients access newer options in care.”

SCRI Oncology Partners has experienced and internationally recognized research physician leaders, as well as dedicated staff who specialize in care and research. David R. Spigel, MD, Howard A. “Skip” Burris, III, MD, Denise A. Yardley, MD, Benjamin Garmezy, MD, Erika P. Hamilton, MD, Melissa L. Johnson, MD, Meredith A. McKean, MD, MPH, Meredith S. Pelster, MD, MSCI, Ishwaria M. Subbiah, MD, and Vivek Subbiah, MD, are now providing care at a new location at 335 24^th Ave. North in Nashville. They conduct clinical trials through their affiliation with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), a global leader in oncology research that has been offering and managing clinical trials in the community for over 30 years. Since its inception, SCRI has contributed to pivotal research that has helped advance the majority of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA today.

In 2022, SCRI formed a joint venture with former US Oncology Research, the research arm of The US Oncology Network, to expand clinical trial access across the country. Today, SCRI’s research network brings together more than 1,300 physicians who actively enroll patients into clinical research studies at more than 250 locations in 24 states across the U.S.

“It is exciting to collaborate with The US Oncology Network, an organization that is committed to advancing cancer care and clinical research,” said Dr. Spigel, chief scientific officer, SCRI, and founding partner, SCRI Oncology Partners. “We will continue to expand the SCRI network’s capabilities and undertake new groundbreaking studies that will lay the foundation for the advancement of cancer care. We are excited and committed to offer patients the opportunity to receive the best in care while also having access to the most innovative options in research in the communities where they live.”

With this addition, The Network continues its trajectory of strong growth with more than 2,400 providers in The Network treating over 1.4 million patients annually at approximately 600 sites of care in 30 states. For the past two decades, The Network has empowered the delivery of advanced integrated cancer care through a vast network of independent providers who share expertise and resources to provide quality, value-based care close to home.

About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps approximately 2,400 independent providers deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About McKesson Oncology and Specialty Solutions
It’s an unprecedented time for patients living with cancer as life sciences companies race to create new, cutting-edge therapies. With cancer care becoming more targeted, providers, life sciences companies, and payers face a multitude of challenges and complexity in the development of new treatments and making them accessible to patients in need. At McKesson, our unmatched portfolio of oncology businesses and partners provide research, insights, technologies, and services that are helping to address these hurdles and improve cancer and specialty care.

• McKesson is fueling discovery by helping patients participate in cutting-edge clinical trials closer to home through the joint venture between US Oncology Research and Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
• The US Oncology Network and McKesson Provider Solutions are advancing specialty care and high-quality cancer care in the communities where patients live by supporting the practices of thousands of independent, community-based providers.
• Ontada^®, a McKesson business dedicated to oncology, generates real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE), and provides clinical education and provider technology to inform and improve cancer care.
• As one of the largest distributors of oncology and specialty medicines, we are ensuring medicines make their way to those who are counting on them.
• And through CoverMyMeds, Biologics by McKesson, and GPO services, our work continues to help patients access, afford, and adhere to their medicines.

Media Contact
The US Oncology Network
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@usoncology.com

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The Network continues its strong growth trajectory and its mission to enhance community-based cancer care

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 13, 2023 — The US Oncology Network (The Network), the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, announced today that Nashville Oncology Associates (NOA) has joined The Network, effective October 1st.

“We are eager to have Nashville Oncology Associates join us on our mission to increase access to convenient, high-quality cancer care in the Nashville region,” said Jason Hammonds, president, The US Oncology Network. “As we welcome these highly skilled cancer specialists into The Network, we extend our reach of comprehensive community-based services into Tennessee for the first time. Our goal is that our support and resources will help enhance the high-quality care NOA provides to patients in the community.”

Nashville Oncology Associates provides comprehensive cancer treatment services and advanced technological options to patients from providers with extensive clinical expertise. The practice treats blood cancers and disorders, as well as bone, breast, lung, reproductive, skin, gastrointestinal, colorectal, and urinary tract cancers, nurturing an atmosphere of trust and compassion. The practice offers care from an advanced practice provider and two physicians, Karl M. Rogers, M.D., practice president and medical oncologist, and Carl R. Willis, M.D., medical oncologist.

“Joining The Network will provide access to a wealth of operational and clinical resources that will help us continue to deliver superior care while empowering us to remain independent in today’s challenging environment,” said Dr. Rogers.

The US Oncology Network continues to grow and be the source of best practices in the application of value-based, high-quality care. More than 2,400 providers in The Network treat over 1.4 million patients annually at approximately 600 sites of care in 30 states. This growing footprint greatly enhances the member practices’ ability to remain independent while increasing access to advanced cancer care in local and rural communities.

About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps approximately 2,400 independent providers deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About McKesson Oncology and Specialty Solutions
It’s an unprecedented time for patients living with cancer as life sciences companies race to create new, cutting-edge therapies. With cancer care becoming more targeted, providers, life sciences companies, and payers face a multitude of challenges and complexity in the development of new treatments and making them accessible to patients in need. At McKesson, our unmatched portfolio of oncology businesses and partners provide research, insights, technologies, and services that are helping to address these hurdles and improve cancer and specialty care.

• McKesson is fueling discovery by helping patients participate in cutting-edge clinical trials closer to home through the joint venture between US Oncology Research and Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
• The US Oncology Network and McKesson Provider Solutions are advancing specialty care and high-quality cancer care in the communities where patients live by supporting the practices of thousands of independent, community-based providers.
• Ontada^®, a McKesson business dedicated to oncology, generates real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) and provides clinical education and provider technology to inform and improve cancer care.
• As one of the largest distributors of oncology and specialty medicines, we are ensuring medicines make their way to the those who are counting on them.
• And through CoverMyMeds, Biologics by McKesson, and GPO services, our work continues to help patients access, afford, and adhere to their medicines.

Media Contact
The US Oncology Network
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@usoncology.com

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The practice strengthens its independence, enhancing care and operational efficiency, while The Network expands into a new service area

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 10, 2023 — The US Oncology Network (The Network), the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, announced today that Cancer Center of Kansas (CCK) has joined The Network, effective July 1, 2023, by entering into a new managed services partnership. This addition expands The Network’s service area into Kansas and continues its strong growth trajectory with nearly 240 providers joining The Network since the beginning of the calendar year.

“Cancer Center of Kansas has been a long-time McKesson customer, and we are excited to enhance our relationship with these highly-skilled cancer specialists by welcoming them into The Network,” said Jason Hammonds, president, The US Oncology Network. “The addition of the practice extends our reach of comprehensive services into Kansas while offering the practice innovative solutions, technologies, and expertise that will help them remain viable in today’s complex healthcare landscape.”

A leading cancer provider across Kansas for more than 40 years, CCK is and will remain the largest physician-owned, independent practice in the state with 13 physicians and six advanced practice providers delivering care from 20 sites of service. CCK brings high-quality cancer care to rural areas in Kansas through a committed and dedicated team of over 300 employees, including more than 90 nurses, so patients can receive the very latest advancements in cancer treatments and research in the communities where they live and work.

By becoming a member of The Network, CCK gains access to a wealth of resources that will strengthen its ability to deliver high-quality community cancer care while remaining independent. As part of The Network, the practice greatly increases opportunities for their patients to participate in clinical trials, as The Network is a worldwide leader in cancer research.

“The US Oncology Network is a perfect fit for us, as we have a shared commitment to clinical research,” said Shaker R. Dakhil, MD, FACP, practice president, Cancer Center of Kansas. “We will be collaborating with like-minded individuals in The Network who are dedicated to advancing cancer care with the goal of discovering new therapies for those facing this difficult disease.”

Cancer Center of Kansas can utilize the substantial resources of The Network, an integrated and supportive organization dedicated to helping providers maintain their independence and prosper in today’s challenging environment. Additionally, CCK’s clinical staff can collaborate with their colleagues across The Network, tapping into the collective knowledge and experience of more than 2,300 independent providers across the U.S.

“We are committed to continuing to bring the very latest cancer care and research to the state of Kansas,” said Dr. Dakhil. “Joining The Network provides us innovative clinical and business consulting services and advanced technologies that will help us succeed in today’s complex value-based environment.”

About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps more than 2,300 independent providers deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About Cancer Center of Kansas
For over 40 years, Cancer Center of Kansas (CCK) has provided the latest and highest quality cancer care to patients across Kansas. The practice specializes in the treatment of all types of cancer and blood disorders, offering comprehensive services including diagnosis and treatment, blood and marrow transplants, research and clinical trials, diagnostic imaging, and advanced laboratory work. To simplify the care process, CCK has established an oral medications center to dispense oral oncolytics and supportive medicines from one convenient location. With 13 physicians and six advanced practice providers, CCK serves patients from 20 sites of service across the state, providing world-class cancer care, close to home.

Media Contact
The US Oncology Network
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@usoncology.com

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The US Oncology Network shares additional research on how certain aspects of the Enhancing Oncology Model could offer community practices financial protection and how machine learning can increase access to care

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 5, 2023 — Principal investigators from The US Oncology Network (The Network), the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, presented findings at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting showing that dose rounding resulted in less drug waste and increased cost savings.

Waste from partially used single dose vials of expensive drugs is a leading contributor to avoidable total cost of care (TCOC) expenditures. In response, a dose-rounding program was adopted by many practices in The Network participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Oncology Care Model (OCM), a program aimed at providing higher quality and more coordinated care at the same or lower cost to Medicare. Investigators looked at data accumulated prior to and after the dose rounding program began in 2018 and researched the impact of the program targeting bevacizumab and its biosimilars (B+B) on TCOC and drug waste. They found:

• Drug waste led to $156 of additional TCOC per member episode per month prior to implementation of dose rounding.
• Dose rounding resulted in a TCOC reduction of approximately $100 per member episode per month for episodes with B+B administrations in the OCM.
• The highest waste reduction was seen with B+B administered for treatment of gastrointestinal cancers (colon, rectal, anal, gastroesophageal, or pancreatic cancers) compared to other cancer types (lung, brain, ovarian, etc.), and in administrations where drug waste was greater than 10% of the total dose.

“These findings provide tangible evidence and insights for community oncologists, so they can reduce avoidable waste and spending and deliver value-based care for their patients and their practices,” said lead author and presenter Puneeth Indurlal, MD, MS, MBBS, senior director of Care Transformation for The US Oncology Network. “It’s encouraging to see proof that feasible measures can be taken by practices that make a huge difference on the quality and cost of care.”

Beyond this research, The Network presented two additional studies at the meeting examining how the Enhancing Oncology Model could offer financial protection against increasing drug costs and how a machine learning model could improve a patient’s access to care.

Impacting Medicare Programs with a Cancer-Specific Novel Therapy Adjustment
The Network researchers presented a poster reviewing claims and performance data from 14 practices in The Network participating in the OCM. This review looked at data from ten performance periods in the OCM, and investigators found that applying a novel therapy adjustment (NTA) at a cancer type level, rather than a population-based level, would have resulted in more instances where practices would have qualified for an adjustment of their benchmark to appropriately align the use of novel therapies with cost. Novel therapies generally come with increased expense, leading to concerns that the EOM could discourage use of novel therapies. CMMI implemented a NTA to provide financial protection to help support appropriate use of these costly therapies.

“The Network undertook this research to support practices that were considering participation in the Enhancing Oncology Model,” said lead author and presenter Erica Feinberg, PharmD, BCPS, senior clinical data analyst for The US Oncology Network. “More than 900 physicians in The Network participated in the Oncology Care Model — one fourth of the entire population of physicians nationwide. Based on our analysis, we believe that the EOM approach to NTAs applied at a cancer type level is more favorable for practices and provides valuable financial protections when incorporating clinically appropriate novel therapies for cancer treatment. We commend CMMI for making improvements to the NTA risk adjustment methodology and think this information is very helpful for those practices as they assess joining the EOM.”

Predicting Treatment Initiation with a Machine Learning Model
This study found that a machine learning model, developed by The Network to predict intravenous IV treatment initiation among new patients, would allow for targeted interventions for key populations with the goal to improve access to care. Researchers built and applied a machine learning model on data from a cohort of new cancer patients from 27 practices in The Network to evaluate various patient characteristics and their impact on patients initiating IV treatment. Researchers found that clinical characteristics, including diagnosis and stage, are the most important features to predict the patient decision to initiate IV treatment, while noting patient age and gender features as areas for focused intervention. This study confirmed that a machine learning model could guide patient service and direct personalized care navigation to enhance patient access to treatment.

“Every day, The Network, a leader in value-based cancer care, helps more than 2,300 independent providers deliver high-quality, integrated care to patients—close to home,” said Lalan Wilfong, MD, senior vice president of Payer and Care Transformation for The Network who participated in an ASCO case-based panel on payment reform. “Value-based care is here to stay, and the smooth transition from a fee-for-service to a value-based model has become critical to the survival of the community oncology practice. The Network provides independent practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and actionable research, like that presented at this year’s ASCO, to help make that transition.”

About the studies
Dose rounding bevacizumab and its biosimilars to reduce drug waste in the oncology care model in a community oncology network (ASCO poster)
Claims data for 14 practices in The Network participating in the OCM were assessed. Drug administration data for B+B was used to evaluate drug waste, total dose, TCOC, dose rounding, and the financial impact of drug waste reduction on TCOC from 2017 to 2021.

The impact of a cancer-specific novel therapy adjustment (NTA) in Medicare value-based care programs: A simulation exercise (ASCO poster)
Claims and performance data from ten performance periods (PP) in the OCM (PP1 to PP10) for 14 practices in The US Oncology Network were reviewed. Descriptive statistics for the simulation were evaluated to determine changes from population-based NTA to cancer-based NTA. The OCM NTA methodology was deconstructed to apply the NTA at a cancer type level. Researchers performed a simulation exercise by applying cancer specific NTA methodology systematically to the claims and performance data. They then evaluated the impact of NTA on the EOM cancer types.

A machine learning model to predict treatment initiation among new patients in a community oncology network (ASCO publication)
A retrospective cohort was formed by identifying new patients with cancer from 27 practices in The Network between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. Structured data were extracted and processed from the electronic health records, claims, physician referrals, and the American Community Survey. Patient characteristics included demographics, clinical information, payor types, and socioeconomic status. The referral pattern and the geographic region of practices, and the provider workload were considered as well. Gradient-boosted decision trees, random forest, neural network, and logistic regression models were developed to predict the probability of starting IV treatment within 90 days of the first visit. Model performance was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve using cross-valuation and 4:1 training/validation random split. Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) values were applied to the model to explain feature importance.

About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps approximately 2,300 independent providers deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About McKesson Oncology and Specialty Solutions
It’s an unprecedented time for patients living with cancer as life sciences companies race to create new, cutting-edge therapies. With cancer care becoming more targeted, providers, life sciences companies, and payers face a multitude of challenges and complexity in the development of new treatments and making them accessible to patients in need. At McKesson, our unmatched portfolio of oncology businesses and partners provide research, insights, technologies, and services that are helping to address these hurdles and improve cancer and specialty care.

• McKesson is fueling discovery by helping patients participate in cutting-edge clinical trials closer to home through the joint venture between US Oncology Research and Sarah Cannon Research Institute.
• The US Oncology Network and McKesson Provider Solutions are advancing specialty care and high-quality cancer care in the communities where patients live by supporting the practices of thousands of independent, community-based providers.
• Ontada^®, a McKesson business dedicated to oncology, generates real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) and provides clinical education and provider technology to inform and improve cancer care.
• As one of the largest distributors of oncology and specialty medicines, we are ensuring medicines make their way to the those who are counting on them.
• And through CoverMyMeds, Biologics by McKesson, and GPO services, our work continues to help patients access, afford, and adhere to their medicines.

Media Contact
The US Oncology Network
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@usoncology.com

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Becoming a member of The Network enables growth opportunities for community practices, promoting high-quality, independent oncology care

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 6, 2023 — The US Oncology Network (The Network), the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, announced that Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) entered into a strategic relationship with The Network effective April 1, 2023. RCCA has more than 20 sites of service located throughout New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, and the Washington, D.C. area. The practice’s 94 physicians and 59 advanced practice providers (APPs) offer medical, radiation, and gynecologic oncology and hematology care in addition to genetic testing, specialty pharmacy services, and clinical trials.

“Regional Cancer Care Associates is a perfect fit for The US Oncology Network as both organizations seek to put the patient first,” said Jason Hammonds, president, The US Oncology Network. “With like-minded goals to enhance care and the patient experience, and grow the practice and its services, RCCA and The Network are enthusiastic about working together.”

RCCA will now have access to the substantial expertise and ample resources of The Network. The practice’s clinical staff will collaborate with their colleagues across The Network, adding to the collective knowledge and experience of more than 2,300 independent providers across the U.S. Additionally, RCCA will leverage The Network’s clinical and business consulting services and innovative technologies that support high-quality patient care, efficient drug management, and revenue cycle optimization.

“We take great pride in being an independent practice that provides cutting-edge treatments in a community setting,” said Terrill Jordan, president and chief executive officer, RCCA. “It’s important to our dedicated providers and staff to collaborate with an organization that can deliver the resources that help us grow, thrive, and succeed, all while empowering us to retain our independence. For two years, we worked with Cross Keys Capital, The Bloom Organization, and Arnold & Porter to conduct a comprehensive search to find a strategic partner that shares our vision and values. We confidently entered into partnership with The US Oncology Network and look forward to executing on our shared commitment to grow our services and footprint in order to bring quality care to more communities.”

The physicians and APPs of RCCA are among many who have recently joined The US Oncology Network. Within the last year, The Network, supported by McKesson Corporation, has welcomed more than 450 new providers into the organization. This continued growth trajectory is significantly increasing the availability of advanced cancer care in local communities from strong, viable, and independent practices.

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About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps approximately 2,300 independent providers deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About Regional Cancer Care Associates
Since 2012, Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA) has brought the latest in treatment for cancer and blood disorders to its community, where oncology and hematology specialists know and practice alongside the patient’s other doctors, and take the time needed to know the patient, to develop a highly individualized treatment plan, and to address all questions and concerns. With more than 20 locations throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C. area, RCCA’s cancer and blood disorder specialists offer world-class care close to home, so that patients can focus on the most important thing in the world – their health.

Eight custom measures receive approval, impacting value-based oncology care

IRVING, Texas, Feb. 15, 2023 — For the seventh consecutive year, McKesson has received approval from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) as a Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR). The designation enables iKnowMed℠ electronic health record (EHR) users to efficiently submit data directly to CMS without engaging a separate registry vendor, streamlining data submission and minimizing administrative burden.

As a CMS-approved QCDR, Practice Insights℠, a performance analytics tool powered by Ontada^®, can collect and report clinical data on behalf of clinicians for standard MIPS with the additional ability to report on custom QCDR quality measures to drive improvements in quality and cost of care.

“We are committed to delivering industry-leading solutions that enable community oncology to efficiently meet the challenges value-based care presents,” said Susan Shiff, president, Ontada. “Having Practice Insights named an approved QCDR is a critical part of this ongoing effort. This powerful analytics tool creates a holistic roadmap that supports the clinical, financial, and operational needs of practices, providing actionable insights that drive improved outcomes and enable them to assess performance across value-based initiatives.”

Six custom QCDR measures identified by physician leaders in The US Oncology Network (The Network) and submitted by McKesson were approved by CMS. Additionally, CMS approved two custom measures developed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) that will also be supported by McKesson’s QCDR. Combined, they include:

• Advance Care Planning in Metastatic Cancer Patients
• Hepatitis B Serology Testing and Prophylactic Treatment Prior to Receiving Anti-CD20 Targeting Drugs
• Mutation Testing for Stage IV Lung Cancer Completed Prior to the Start of Targeted Therapy
• Patient-Reported Pain Improvement
• Supportive Care Drug Utilization in Last 14 Days of Life
• Utilization of GCSF in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (Also included in the Advancing Cancer Care MVP)
• Antiemetic Therapy for Low- and Minimal-Emetic-Risk Antineoplastic Agents in the Infusion Center – Avoidance of Overuse (Developed by ASCO)
• Appropriate Antiemetic Therapy for High- and Moderate-Emetic-Risk Antineoplastic Agents in the Infusion Center (Developed by ASCO)

“While this is the seventh straight year McKesson has gained approval for its oncology-specific QCDR, this year is different from the past as McKesson collaborated with ASCO on several fronts to drive innovation and improved care for oncology patients,” said Erin Crum, director of Quality Portfolio Strategy, McKesson. “In addition to our collaboration on the QCDR measures, we also worked with ASCO to develop an oncology-specific MIPS Value Pathway (MVP) proposal to present to CMS. Collaborating with ASCO to send recommendations for CMS’s final 2023 Advancing Cancer Care MVP was a significant honor. We are proud of what we’ve been able to do together to push cancer care forward.”

Along with The US Oncology Network, McKesson also supports oncology practices through its Onmark^® group purchasing organization (GPO), and the QCDR measure approvals reflect the organization’s insight into the entire landscape of oncology care.

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About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation is a diversified healthcare services leader dedicated to advancing health outcomes for patients everywhere. Our teams partner with biopharma companies, care providers, pharmacies, manufacturers, governments, and others to deliver insights, products, and services to help make quality care more accessible and affordable. Learn more about how McKesson is impacting virtually every aspect of healthcare at McKesson.com and read Our Stories.

About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps more than 2,000 independent providers deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About Ontada
Ontada® is an oncology real-world data and evidence, clinical education and provider technology business dedicated to transforming the fight against cancer. Part of McKesson Corporation, we support science through our data, technology, and channels, which accelerate innovation for life science companies, support the education of community oncology providers and advance patient care. Together with our partners, we improve the lives of cancer patients. For more information, visit ontada.com or follow @OntadaOncology.

Media Contact
McKesson
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@mckesson.com

The Network enhances its commitment to providing better care close to home, while practices gain resources to advance quality care and operational efficiency

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 17, 2023 — The US Oncology Network (The Network), the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, continues to expand its footprint into local communities with the addition of two large multidisciplinary practices, Epic Care and Nexus Health, effective January 1, 2023. Epic Care currently has 21 sites of service located throughout the Northern California Bay Area, with 47 physicians, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, multispecialty surgeons, and other expert providers. Nexus Health has 9 physicians in Santa Fe, New Mexico, representing a wide range of specialties, with plans for expansion in progress.

“We are excited to welcome Epic Care and Nexus Health to The Network,” said Jason Hammonds, president, The US Oncology Network. “With the addition of these well-respected multidisciplinary practices, we are entering new communities and expanding our ability to empower high-quality care that benefits patients, as well as physicians. The wide range of specialties these practices offer enables more comprehensive care, helping to ensure patients can conveniently receive the care they need in their local areas during their entire healing journey.”

Epic Care and Nexus Health will now have access to the expertise and vast resources of The Network that empower practices to succeed during the challenging transition to value-based care. They can utilize The Network’s industry-leading clinical pathways that provide evidence-based treatment options based on efficacy, toxicity, and cost, reducing treatment variability while driving better outcomes and more predictable costs. Providers can also collaborate with their colleagues across The Network, tapping into the collective knowledge and experience of more than 2,000 providers and leverage The Network’s clinical and business consulting services and innovative technologies that support high-quality care, efficient drug management, and revenue cycle optimization.

“By uniting with The US Oncology Network, Epic Care will continue to deliver on our mission of providing a comprehensive patient experience close to home, but now with the backing of one of the largest community oncology networks in the nation,” said Uma Swamy, MD, chief executive officer, Epic Care. “Not only will we have more access to novel, cutting-edge treatments for our patients, we also will gain vast resources and expertise, enabling us to thrive and remain independent during these challenging times.”

Epic Care began more than 30 years ago as a small group of independent hematologists and oncologists and quickly grew into a dynamic, multispecialty organization of 47 physicians located throughout the Northern California Bay Area. Besides the practice’s widely known and highly respected medical oncology, radiation oncology, and hematology services, many other specialties are available, including family and internal medicine, breast health and surgery, general surgery, bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, endocrinology, infectious disease, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. Additionally, other services including lab, theranostics, and diagnostic imaging such as MRI and PET/CT are also available.

“By joining The Network, we strengthen our ability to deliver specialty services in a community setting, giving more patients convenient access to better care,” said Scott Herbert, MD, practice president, Nexus Health. “The organization’s clinical and business expertise, as well as The Network’s technologies, enable high-quality patient care that will help us succeed now and long into the future as we expand our service offerings.”

Nexus Health provides a wide range of specialty care, including oncology, orthopedics, infusion services, and lab operations with the goal of expansion. In 2023, Nexus Health plans to add urology, gynecology, hospitalist medicine, and radiation oncology to the group. The following year, other critical specialties are expected to be added, such as radiology, primary care, breast surgery, gastroenterology, cardiology, pulmonology, physical therapy, nephrology, neurosurgery, and gynecologic oncology. Nexus Health will also look to make visiting specialties, such as bone marrow and liver transplant services, available through the practice.

The physicians of Epic Care and Nexus Health are among many who have recently joined The US Oncology Network. In 2022, The Network, supported by McKesson Corporation, welcomed more than 280 new physicians and advanced practice providers into the organization, substantially increasing the availability of advanced cancer care in local communities while strengthening these providers’ ability to remain independent and viable. This trajectory of strong growth is expected to continue in 2023, driven by the increasing complexity of the value-based landscape.

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About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps approximately 1,400 independent physicians deliver value-based, integrated care to patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure, and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

Media Contact
McKesson
Claire Crye, Public Relations
281.825.9927 claire.crye@mckesson.com

More than 40 investigators from the newly combined research network to present data from clinical trials focused on treating blood cancer and other blood disorders

Nashville, Tenn. & The Woodlands, Texas (Dec. 9, 2022) – Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), US Oncology Research (USOR), and Ontada announced that collectively more than 65 affiliated abstracts and presentations will be highlighted at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition from Dec. 10-13. The meeting brings together thought leaders from across the globe to discuss innovative research in malignant and non-malignant blood cancers.

In November 2022, McKesson and HCA Healthcare formed a joint venture combining SCRI with USOR, the research arm of The US Oncology Network (The Network). The collaboration brings together physicians who are actively accruing patients to clinical trials at more than 250 locations in 26 states across the U.S. More than 40 investigators from the newly combined joint venture will present insights at this year’s Annual Meeting. Separately, Ontada, McKesson’s oncology real-world data and evidence, clinical education, and provider technology business, is also presenting a poster at the conference.

“We look forward to discussing meaningful advancements in blood cancer treatments, CAR T-Cell Therapy, immune effector cell and said Howard A. “Skip” Burris, III, MD, President, SCRI. “SCRI and USOR researchers have been collaborating on pivotal research studies for years, and we are excited to see the greater impact we can make together as one team.”

Featured presentations include:

Haydar Frangoul, MD, MS, Sarah Cannon Pediatric Hematology/Oncology & Cellular Therapy Program at TriStar Centennial Medical Center, will highlight “Efficacy and Safety of a Single Dose of Exagamglogene Autotemcel for Severe Sickle Cell Disease” through an oral presentation on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10:45 a.m. CST.

Ian Flinn, MD, PhD, SCRI at Tennessee Oncology, and Jason Melear, MD, Texas Oncology – a practice in The Network, are co-authors on an oral presentation titled, “Brentuximab Vedotin, Nivolumab, Doxorubicin, and Dacarbazine (AN+AD) for Advanced Stage Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma: Updated Efficacy and Safety Results from the Single-Arm Phase 2 Study (SGN35-027 Part B),” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 4:15 p.m. CST.

Jesus Berdeja, MD, SCRI at Tennessee Oncology, is senior author along with Tara Gregory, MD, Colorado Blood Cancer Institute, co-author, on an oral presentation titled, “Clinical Activity of BMS-986393 (CC-95266), a G Protein– Coupled Receptor Class C Group 5 Member D (GPRC5D)– Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy, in Patients with Relapsed and/ or Refractory Multiple Myeloma: First Results from a Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study,” taking place on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 4:45 p.m. CST.

A full list of presentations can be found here. Investigators highlighting research at this year’s ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition represent studies being conducted across SCRI, Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy Network, US Oncology Research, as well as partners from McKesson’s The US Oncology Network and Ontada.

About Sarah Cannon Research Institute
Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) is one of the world’s leading oncology research organizations conducting community-based clinical trials. In 2022, SCRI formed a joint venture with US Oncology Research to enhance clinical trial access and availability across the country. Focused on advancing therapies for patients over the last three decades, SCRI is a leader in drug development. It has conducted more than 600 first-in-human clinical trials since its inception and contributed to pivotal research that has led to the majority of new cancer therapies approved by the FDA today. SCRI’s research network brings together physicians who are actively accruing patients to clinical trials at more than 250 locations in 26 states across the U.S. Please click here to earn more about our research offerings.

About The Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy Network
The Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy Network offers adult and pediatric patients convenient and community-based access to treatments for blood cancer and blood and immune-related disorders, including hematopoietic cell transplantation and cellular therapy. Our Network of nine FACT/JACIE accredited transplant centers across the United States and United Kingdom treats more than 1,500 transplant and cellular therapy patients and 1,800 acute leukemia patient admissions annually. Emphasis is placed on providing high-quality research-based care with the opportunity for patients to enroll on innovative clinical trials. For more information about the Sarah Cannon Transplant & Cellular Therapy Network, visit sarahcannon.com.

About The US Oncology Network
Every day, The US Oncology Network (The Network) helps approximately 1,400 independent physicians deliver value-based, integrated care to patients – close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The Network provides practices with access to coordinated resources, best business practices, and the experience, infrastructure and support of McKesson Corporation. This collaboration allows the providers in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. The Network is committed to the success of independent practices, everywhere.

About Ontada
Ontada® is an oncology real-world data and evidence, clinical education and provider technology business dedicated to transforming the fight against cancer. Part of McKesson Corporation, we support science through our data, technology and channels, which accelerate innovation for life science companies, support the education of community oncology providers and advance patient care. Together with our partners, we improve the lives of cancer patients. For more information, visit ontada.com.

Media Contacts
Sarah Cannon Research Institute
Hayley Lyons
hayley.lyons@sarahcannon.com

The US Oncology Network, USOR, & Ontada
Claire Crye
Claire.Crye@mckesson.com
281.825.9927

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