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Aakash Desai: SC vs. IV in Immunotherapy – Are We Gaining Time but Losing Equity?

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Jul 17, 2025, 11:43

Aakash Desai: SC vs. IV in Immunotherapy – Are We Gaining Time but Losing Equity?

Aakash Desai, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Phase 1 and Precision Oncology Program at the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, shared a post on LinkedIn about recent article by Gogo-ogute Ibodeng et al., published on JCO Oncology Practice.

“Thrilled to share our latest research:

“Subcutaneous Immunotherapies in Solid Tumors: Are We Truly Expanding Access and Efficiency?” published in American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) JCO Oncology Practice.

In this article we explore a game-changing shift in Oncology: SC vs. IV: Subcutaneous (SC) delivery of immunotherapies offers comparable efficacy to IV.

Patient Benefits: Significantly reduces patient chair time (from hours to minutes!) and eliminates the need for ports, boosting convenience and satisfaction.
Clinic Efficiency: Streamlines clinic workflows, allowing centers to treat more patients and potentially improve access to care.
The Catch: Despite these advantages, we highlight critical financial and logistical barriers, including: Drug pricing and higher required doses, Lower reimbursement for SC administration and Upcoming competition from IV biosimilars.

This is a vital conversation for shaping the future of patient-centered Cancer Treatment. We need to ensure that efficiency gains translate into equitable access and sustainable practices.

Read the full publication and share your thoughts!”

Title: Subcutaneous Immunotherapies in Solid Tumors: Are We Truly Expanding Access and Efficiency?

Authors: Gogo-ogute Ibodeng, Chelsee Jensen, Scott A. Soefje, Aakash Desai

Read The Full Article at JCO Oncology Practice.

Aakash Desai: SC vs. IV in Immunotherapy - Are We Gaining Time but Losing Equity?