Oral Chemotherapy Access Legislation: Impact on Oncology Practices and Their Patients

In the past decade, there has been an explosion in the number of available oral therapies for patients with cancer. In contrast to conventional intravenous (IV) chemotherapies, many of the new oral oncology drugs target specific biologic processes in cancer cells and block cancer cell growth.¹ In addition to their specificity, which may translate into reduced toxicity and side effects, oral agents are convenient, especially for patients who travel long distances to reach their treatment facility.¹ This trend toward oral anticancer therapies is accelerating; 25% to 30% of the drugs in manufacturers