February, 2025

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Guest Perspective: Prioritize Innovative Care

PhRMA

Conversations and healthy debate about issues facing our industry and the health care system are critical to addressing some of today’s challenges and opportunities. The PhRMA blog welcomes guest contributors, including patients, stakeholders, innovators and others, to share their perspectives and point of view.

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COVID-19 Had Worst Disease Outcomes Among Respiratory Viruses

Drug Topics

In their exploration of 2 separate respiratory virus seasons, researchers examined the severity of illness for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus.

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STAT+: How much weight loss is too much? Pharma is pushing the limit with new obesity drugs

STAT

In ongoing trials of Eli Lilly’s next-generation obesity drug, several trial participants are running into an issue they never expected: They are losing too much weight. One participant lost 22% of her weight in nine months — substantially faster than the rate seen with approved GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound. Her weight dropped so much that researchers reduced her dose of the treatment, called retatrutide.

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Antibiotic Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations: Do You know These 6 Things About Them?

IDStewardship

In this article an infectious diseases pharmacist discusses important information to know about antibiotic minimum inhibitory concentrations. Authored By: Timothy P. Gauthier, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCIDP Article posted12 February 2024 An antibiotic’s minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) is the lowest drugconcentration that prevents visible growth of a standard inoculum of a microorganism after ~24 hours of incubation.

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From Diagnosis to Delivery: How AI is Revolutionizing the Patient Experience

Speaker: Simran Kaur, Founder & CEO at Tattva Health Inc.

The healthcare landscape is being revolutionized by AI and cutting-edge digital technologies, reshaping how patients receive care and interact with providers. In this webinar led by Simran Kaur, we will explore how AI-driven solutions are enhancing patient communication, improving care quality, and empowering preventive and predictive medicine. You'll also learn how AI is streamlining healthcare processes, helping providers offer more efficient, personalized care and enabling faster, data-driven

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Pharmacists’ Role in Optimizing Outcomes for Women With Complex Health Needs

Pharmacy Times

Panelists discuss how pharmacists play a crucial role in optimizing health outcomes for women with complex health needs through comprehensive medication management, personalized consultations, and interdisciplinary collaboration. They provide targeted medication therapy, monitor drug interactions, offer medication counseling, manage chronic conditions, support reproductive health, and help patients navigate complex treatment regimens with expertise and compassionate care.

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Kennedy’s MAHA agenda is tackling ‘conflicts of interest’ — and could take aim at FDA adcomms

PharmaVoice

Health agency job cuts and a newly-established MAHA commission leave many unanswered questions about potential reforms and impact on drug approvals.

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More Trending

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Buprenorphine Option Did Not Improve Pain, Reduce Opioid Dosage

Drug Topics

Patients prescribed high-dose opioids were given the option to switch to buprenorphine in hopes of improving pain and reducing opioid dosage.

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STAT+: FDA approves first xenotransplantation clinical trial, as United Therapeutics forges ahead

STAT

United Therapeutics said Monday that the Food and Drug Administration has cleared it to begin the first clinical trial testing whether organs from gene-edited pigs could provide a viable option for patients in dire need of an organ transplant. Over the last three years, United and a rival company, eGenesis, have transplanted genetically modified pig hearts or kidneys into several patients, but those procedures were done through compassionate use waivers from the FDA that allow doctors to treat i

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What happens if you miss a dose of blood thinner?

The Checkup by Singlecare

Blood thinners are prescription drugs that keep your blood from thickening or clumping, preventing potentially life-threatening blood clots. They include anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications like heparins , Coumadin ( warfarin ), and aspirin , as well as newer-generation anticoagulants like Eliquis (apixaban) and Xarelto (rivaroxaban). Although they dont actually make your blood thinner, these medications reduce your bodys normal blood clotting response to prevent existing blood clots from

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Reducing Costs with Medication Reconciliation: PharmD Live’s Proven Approach to Better Outcomes

PharmD Live

As healthcare shifts toward value-based care, medication reconciliation has become a critical focus for reducing costs and improving patient outcomes. Discrepancies in medication regimens, particularly during care transitions like hospital discharge, are a leading cause of adverse drug events (ADEs). These preventable issues result in significant financial burdens on healthcare systems while compromising patient safety and care quality.

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Position Your Pharmacy for Expansion

Speaker: Chris Antypas and Josh Halladay

Access to limited distribution drugs and payer contracts are key to pharmacy expansion. But how do you prepare your operations to take the next step? Meaningful data: Collect and share clinical data regarding outcomes, utilization, and more Reporting: Limited distribution models require efficient tracking and reporting systems Workflows: Align workflows with specific pharma and payer contractual requirements For in-depth, expert insights on pharmacy expansion, watch this webinar from Inovalon.

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The kids are alright: How pharma can make inroads with Gen Z

PharmaVoice

As drug development priorities shift, pharma companies need to understand younger patients to improve their reputation.

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FDA sends warning letter to KVK-Tech manufacturing facility

European Pharmaceutical Review

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent a warning letter to KVK-Techs drug manufacturing facility following an inspection in April 2019. The document identified significant violations of current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations for finished pharmaceuticals. The FDA issued the warning letter to KVK-Tech in February 2020, advising that due to these cGMP breaches, the companys products are adulterated according to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).

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The Current, Future Roles of AI within the Pharmacy Profession

Drug Topics

As artificial intelligence evolves from a novel technology to commonplace in health care, the pharmacy industry is adapting to its challenges and opportunities.

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Q&A: How gluten-free processed foods put people with celiac disease at risk

STAT

People with celiac disease face a food paradox. Gluten-free bagels, brownie mixes, and frozen burritos beckon from grocery store shelves. Yet despite this abundance, they can’t trust that these foods are actually safe to eat. The story of how the food industry went gaga for gluten-free products, putting the health of people with celiac at risk in the process, takes center stage in Emily Abel’s new book, “Gluten Free for Life: Celiac Disease, Medical Recognition, and the Food

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What the FDA's New Dosage Guidance Means for the Future of Clinical Research

Speaker: Dr. Ben Locwin - Biopharmaceutical Executive & Healthcare Futurist

What will the future hold for clinical research? A recent draft from the FDA provides valuable insight. In "Optimizing the Dosage of Human Prescription Drugs and Biological Products for the Treatment of Oncologic Diseases," the FDA notes that "targeted therapies demonstrate different dose-response relationships compared to cytotoxic chemotherapy, such that doses below the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) may have similar efficacy to the MTD but with fewer toxicities.

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How long does it take Linzess to work?

The Checkup by Singlecare

Linzess (linaclotide) is a brand-name medication that has long been FDA approved to treat chronic constipation from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). In 2023, the FDA also approved Linzess as the first treatment for pediatric functional constipation, a condition in children and adolescents that causes infrequent bowel movements and hard stools that are difficult to pass.

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Study Finds COVID-19 Infection Associated With More Severe Disease Compared With Flu, RSV

Pharmacy Times

Investigators noted that the differences between the 3 respiratory infections were not as pronounced during the 2023-2024 season.

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AI deals are surging, and Recursion’s ongoing Exscientia merger points to a new world of integration

PharmaVoice

Recursion CFO Ben Taylor discusses the state of AI M&A and what companies should look for as the industry moves to new data technologies and systems.

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Pharmaceutical training boost: how the growth and skills levy could shape industry development

European Pharmaceutical Review

The UK government has announced that the Apprenticeship Levy will be replaced by a new Growth and Skills Levy, a move designed to give employers greater control over workforce training. This change aims to address long-standing concerns that the previous system was too rigid, restricting funding primarily to apprenticeships and limiting investment in other essential training programmes.

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5 Reasons to Upgrade Your Pharmacy Management Software

Are you still using workarounds to manage your daily operations? To achieve peak performance, it's time to explore other options for specialty and infusion pharmacy software. Streamline pharmacy operations and improve clinical performance with automated processing, real-time data exchange, and electronic decision support. Download this helpful infographic to: Drive efficiency and patient adherence from referral receipt to delivery and ongoing care – all with our Pharmacy Cloud.

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Significant Gaps Identified in Access to OTC Naloxone, Nonprescription Syringes

Drug Topics

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the accessibility of over-the-counter naloxone and nonprescription syringes at community pharmacies.

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STAT+: FDA cancels vaccine advisory committee meeting

STAT

The Food and Drug Administration canceled an upcoming vaccine advisory committee meeting to discuss influenza virus strains, according to committee member Paul Offit.  The meeting was scheduled for March 13. Committee members received a cancellation email — which was first reported by Jeremy Faust of Inside Medicine — on Wednesday afternoon.

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4 foods to avoid while taking Bactrim

The Checkup by Singlecare

If you have a stubborn bacterial infection, your healthcare provider may prescribe a potent antibiotic like the brand-name medication Bactrim. Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim), which contains the same activ e ingredients as Septra, is a sulfonamide antibiotic commonly used to treat urinary tract infections, traveler’s diarrhea, middle ear infections, bronchitis, and severe forms of pneumonia known as pneumocystis jirovecii and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

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From Menarche to Post Menopause: The Vital Role of Pharmacists in Women’s Health

Pharmacy Times

Panelists discuss how menopause marks a significant life transition, characterized by hormonal decline, reproduction cessation, and unique physiological changes requiring medical and emotional support. Health care professionals guide women through lifes reproductive stages, providing comprehensive health care from menarche to post menopause, focusing on individualized prevention of symptom management, and holistic well-being across hormonal transitions.

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Salesforce or Veeva: How drugmakers can navigate the upcoming CRM split

PharmaVoice

The two companies will let their long-running contract expire this year, and drugmakers will need to decide which is the best platform for them in a changing marketplace.

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Fierce Healthcare - Untitled Article

Fierce Healthcare

Editor's Note: This is a developing story. If you are a dismissed or active federal worker with information to share, please reach out at ntong@questex.com. | The federal government is laying off thousands of health agency workers and others this week. Here's what we know so far.

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FDA Approves First Non-Hormonal Copper IUD in Over 40 Years

Drug Topics

Miudella achieves similar efficacy to other available copper IUDs with less than half the dose of copper.

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Opinion: The health policy cult’s misplaced faith in government

STAT

Mainstream policy analysts are convinced that government, and only government, can save us from the monster the U.S. health care system has become.  That’s why their recommended solutions to the system’s many problems all have government at their core.

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The real cost of denying access to medicines in Medicaid

PhRMA

Policies to contain health care costs by restricting access to medicines always come with the promise of making health care more affordable and reducing government spending. But what if they’re actually doing the opposite? A new study published in JAMA on Medicaid prescription denials exposes a harsh reality: denying access to medications doesn’t save Medicaid money, it’s shifting costs in a way that hurts both patients and taxpayers.

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Video: GLP-1 Medications Revolutionize Obesity and Diabetes Care, With Exciting Advances on Horizon

Pharmacy Times

Donna Ryan discusses the landscape of GLP-1 medications and the lineup of indications that the drug class has received indications for in recent years.

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Merck, Lilly launch manufacturing R&D consortium to help ‘bolster’ U.S. production

PharmaVoice

The Young Institute Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium will research and develop new production technologies.

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EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive may compromise EU medicine availability

European Pharmaceutical Review

New analysis by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has highlighted the EUs completely underestimated costs of the newly enforced Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Based on the new cost estimates, pharmaceutical manufacturers in Finland alone will be required to fund 280816 million of these expenses, The directive , enforced on 1 January 2025, imposes an extended manufacturer responsibility on the removal of micro-pollutants from wastewaters.

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FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Vatiquinone to Treat Friedreich Ataxia

Drug Topics

The FDA also granted priority review, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date of August 19, 2025.

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STAT+: DeepSeek signals China’s rising influence in AI — and AI drug development

STAT

Is China setting the global standard for AI-driven drug development? DeepSeek, a relatively unknown AI firm based in Hangzhou, China, shocked the industry last week with claims that its technology could rival the abilities of technologies developed by leading U.S. AI companies — and do so far more economically. The claims ignited debates not just about the implications for AI companies like OpenAI but for the U.S. drug industry, which is increasingly turning to AI in hopes of develop

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Fierce Healthcare - Untitled Article

Fierce Healthcare

Republican holdouts, who stated repeatedly they would not vote for the bill, ultimately opted to advance legislation which will require significant Medicaid cuts.

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