Operationalizing Bispecific Therapy Through Multidisciplinary Care

In this segment, the panel shifts focus to the operational requirements for safely implementing bispecific antibody therapy, emphasizing the critical role of multidisciplinary coordination across infusion centers, pharmacy services, nursing teams, and institutional leadership. The discussion highlights that successful integration of bispecific antibodies requires standardized institutional protocols, extensive staff training, and well-defined procedures for toxicity monitoring and emergency response.

The panel first addresses how infusion centers and nursing staff prepare for these therapies. Pharmacist Dr. Matthew Warwick explains that institutions must establish clear protocols that apply across all bispecific agents, rather than developing separate workflows for each product. Because prescribing information often defers monitoring recommendations to institutional practices, treatment teams must define their own procedures for step-up dosing, premedication schedules, and toxicity monitoring. Education is a major component of implementation, typically delivered through in-service training, competency modules, and protocol reviews to ensure both inpatient and outpatient staff are familiar with administration procedures and early toxicity recognition.

Nurse practitioner Pamela Dudkiewicz adds that nursing teams must be trained not only on dosing and administration but also on rapid identification and management of adverse events, particularly CRS and neurologic toxicity. Emergency preparedness is essential; infusion centers must have immediate access to medications, emergency response teams, and inpatient beds if patients require escalation of care. Documentation within the electronic medical record also plays a key role in maintaining continuity of monitoring as patients transition between outpatient and inpatient settings.

The segment also highlights the central role of pharmacists in ensuring safe therapy delivery. Pharmacists verify dosing accuracy, oversee drug preparation and compounding, coordinate premedication timing, and help implement safety checks for these complex and costly therapies. They also contribute to staff education and toxicity management protocols.

Finally, the panel discusses coordination between academic centers and community practices, emphasizing rapid referral pathways, shared monitoring protocols, and open communication to ensure patients can safely transition between treatment settings while maintaining continuity of care.