How a collaborative task force can assist in managing biotechnology products.

The rapid expansion of biotechnology-derived pharmaceuticals into the health care system presents new challenges and concerns in formulary selection, development of usage guidelines, and budgeting. A DUE/QA pharmacy network and a hospital association in a metropolitan area formed a Biotechnology Task Force, whose goals included: developing a forum for practitioners and administrators to exchange information; applying a strategy for evaluating and predicting usage patterns; promoting educational endeavors; and developing database technology to assist institutions with usage monitoring. The task force successfully educated health care professionals and administrators about the ramifications of biopharmaceuticals. Having this process defined will prove beneficial for future evaluation of other biopharmaceuticals.