March, 2025

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Experts Warn Public to Prepare for Potential Bird Flu Pandemic

Drug Topics

Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations experts warned of the potential for bird flu to become a pandemic event if officials dont prepare quickly.

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Health care practitioners sound the alarm on middlemen-imposed barriers to patient care, need for policy change

PhRMA

Health care practitioners (HCPs), and patients too, are sounding the alarm on unnecessary barriers in the system that can negatively impact patients’ access to quality care according to a new survey of HCPs and patients. Specifically, HCPs raised concerns over how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers inappropriately use utilization management tools, like prior authorization, to deny or delay care, ultimately harming the patient and impacting patient access to care.

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Five Things For Pharmacists To Know About Measles in 2025

IDStewardship

In this article a clinical infectious diseases pharmacist reviews five things for pharmacists to know about measles in 2025. Authored By: Timothy P. Gauthier, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCIDP – – POST UNDER CONSTRUCTION – – Article posted 8 March 2025 This week on Tuesday night a few text messages came through on WhatsApp chats about how there was a measles case from a high school student here in the Miami area.

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Former CDC director Tom Frieden shares warning for RFK Jr. on measles outbreak

STAT

NEW YORK —   A former top federal health official is publicly warning Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that wavering on vaccines and slashing federal programs during a deadly measles outbreak could unleash the next public health disaster.  “The federal government might pause, but the measles virus doesn’t pause. Bacteria and viruses don’t pause.

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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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Brexit a key factor in worst UK medicine shortages in four years, report says

The Guardian - Pharmaceutical Industry

Nuffield Trust says supply chains have shifted, with drugs for epilepsy and cystic fibrosis among those now scarce Drug shortages in the UK have risen to their worst level for four years, official figures show, with Brexit considered a key reason so many medications are scarce. Drug companies notified the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) about disruptions to supply 1,938 times during last year the highest number since the 1,967 seen in 2021.

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What’s driving pharma’s layoffs in 2025

PharmaVoice

Familiar foes in the industry have claimed a slew of jobs in recent months.

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More Trending

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A closer look at how health care consolidation drives up patient costs, creates barriers to care

PhRMA

Half of every dollar spent on medicines goes to entities that don’t make medicine—like pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers who are aggressively consolidating their control over health care and hospitals, clinics and for-profit pharmacies in the 340B markup program. As entities in the supply chain that don’t make medicine are increasingly using medicines to subsidize other parts of their business, patients and employers face increasing costs and barriers to accessing c

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FDA approves generic Xarelto

The Checkup by Singlecare

On March 4, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of the first generic form of Xarelto (rivaroxaban), a popular anticoagulant medication. The approval is for the 2.5 mg tablets prescribed to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to reduce the risk of major thrombotic vascular events in adults with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

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Opinion: How to protect the American egg supply from avian flu  

STAT

Wholesale egg prices have dropped by more than 40% since late February, a decline that should soon translate into broader savings for consumers at grocery stores. This welcome respite has largely resulted from the lull in significant bird flu outbreaks in recent weeks, perhaps due to seasonal patterns in the virus’s transmission. North American flyways typically remain quiet in February as migratory birds have yet to start their journeys from their winter habitats.

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How and why pharmacists should get involved in clinical research

Hospital Pharmacy Europe

For pharmacists with the will, time and support to get involved in clinical research, the benefits are many not only for them, but also for their patients, teams and hospitals. Saa Jankovi shares an overview of the importance of pharmacists involvement in research, what ever form that takes, with top tips for getting started. With a workforce under pressure, getting involved in clinical trials and pilot research projects might be the last thing on hospital pharmacists minds.

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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 industry heavyweight behind Novavax’s push to bounce back

PharmaVoice

As it returns from the brink, the vaccine developer has brought in Dr. Ruxandra Draghia-Akli — and her industry and public health chops — to lead R&D.

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Bipartisan Bill Aims to Combat PBMs’ Medicaid Spread-Pricing

Drug Topics

US Senators on both sides of the aisle came together to announce the Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act.

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Congress Keeps PBMs in the Hot Seat

PhRMA

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are renewing a multi-year effort to crack down on drug middlemen, known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These middlemen control what patients pay at the pharmacy counter, where they can get their medicine, what medicines they can get and what hoops they must jump through. The effort in Congress reflects mounting pressure to hold PBMs accountable and help lower patients’ out-of-pocket costs.

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7 health benefits of raspberry leaf tea

The Checkup by Singlecare

Raspberries are vibrant, juicy, and somewhat tart berries known for their rich fiber and antioxidant content. The berries are plucked and enjoyed as a healthy snack or topping on oatmeal and yogurt. But did you know that the leaves of the raspberry plant ( Rubus idaeus ) may have health benefits, too? You may have heard of red raspberry leaf tea. It is a caffeine-free herbal tea made from the dried leaves of the fruit-bearing plant.

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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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Private equity ‘gobbling’ up care facilities for people with disabilities

STAT

Private equity firms are acquiring facilities that care for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities at an alarming rate, according to a new report released Tuesday. The care industry for this population has been historically owned and operated by nonprofits and faith-based institutions. However, between 2013 and 2023, private equity firms made over 1,000 acquisitions of disability and elder care providers — a likely undercount, according to the report published by the Priva

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Montelukast Causes The Prescribing Cascade – Case Study

Med Ed 101

SM is a 48-year-old female who has new-onset symptoms of restlessness, irritability, insomnia, and vivid nightmares. Over the past 3 months, she has also experienced increasing anxiety and mood swings. She reports a feeling of impending doom and difficulty concentrating, which has begun to affect her daily life and work performance. She has a past […] The post Montelukast Causes The Prescribing Cascade – Case Study appeared first on Med Ed 101.

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How pharma could feel the pain of a recession

PharmaVoice

Pharma has long been considered “recession proof,” but an economic downturn could still hurt the industry in numerous ways.

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Over 300 Pharmacy Closures Reported in the Last 3 Months

Drug Topics

A new report from the American Economic Liberties Project presents the continued challenges pharmacies face since Congress failure to pass PBM reform at the end of 2024.

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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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New Report Finds More Abuse of 340B Program by Hospitals and Drug Middlemen

PhRMA

A new report by the Wall Street Journal reveals abuse of the 340B hospital markup program is getting worse as hospitals and middlemen find new ways to profit off the program.

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Practical Insights for Pharmacists on ADC Administration, Patient Experience, and Supportive Care

Pharmacy Times

Panelists discuss how antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) often show more diverse outcomes in real-world settings compared with clinical trials, with varying efficacy and adverse effect profiles. Key practical considerations for pharmacists include appropriate dosing based on patient factors, managing drug interactions, implementing premedication protocols to minimize adverse reactions, and providing comprehensive supportive care.

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STAT+: Congress created a unique plan to save rural hospitals — but few are using it

STAT

When Ted Matthews came out of retirement in early 2023 to retake the helm of the rural Texas hospital where he’d started his health care career, it was something of a rescue mission. They were having bake sales to keep the place afloat. Staff were updating their resumes. At every board meeting, they’d decide which bills to pay.  “It was the consensus that we were going to be that twenty-seventh rural hospital in Texas to close,” said Matthews, interim CEO of Anso

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What to know about semaglutide weight loss

The Checkup by Singlecare

Weight loss pills have long been popular. More recently, there has been an unprecedented focus on new weight loss drugs with the same active ingredient: semaglutide. This glucagon-like peptide-1 ( GLP-1 ) receptor agonist is the active ingredient in Wegovy , Rybelsus, and Ozempic the last of which has become a household name after countless celebrities spread the word that it helped them lose weight.

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Transforming biopharma’s approach to patient engagement with direct-to-patient programs

PharmaVoice

Consumers want more from biopharma. Next-generation direct-to-patient programs can deliver.

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Effective Communication Can Bridge Gaps in Care | APhA 2025

Drug Topics

Sally Arif, PharmD, professor in the College of Pharmacy at Midwestern University, discusses how pharmacists can effectively communicate with diverse patients.

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Is my Pharma Marketing Job Going to Be Eliminated?

Pharma Marketing Network

Automation, AI, budget cuts, and evolving digital strategies have prompted a growing question among pharmaceutical marketing teams: Is my pharma marketing job at risk? As companies adapt to more agile workflows and redefine what modern commercialization looks like, the roles of marketing professionals are being evaluated more critically than ever before.

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Enhancing Adherence and Collaborative Care

Pharmacy Times

Panelists discuss how pharmacists employ multiple strategies to support medication adherence in older adults with TD, including simplifying dosing regimens, utilizing medication synchronization programs, providing medication packaging solutions, conducting regular follow-up calls, and collaborating closely with prescribers and care teams to develop and adjust personalized treatment plans that address individual patient needs and barriers to care.

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Opinion: Former chairs of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on the panel’s role

STAT

The recent postponement of a key federal advisory committee meeting is deeply alarming and signals that it may no longer be able to provide independent scientific guidance to federal agencies. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), has served the American people since 1964. ACIP advises the director of the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines in the U.S. population to prevent the spread of infections, such as measles, influenza, whooping cough, and

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Can you drink on Baclofen?

The Checkup by Singlecare

Baclofen is a muscle relaxant often prescribed to treat muscle spasms. Its often prescribed for people with muscle spasticity or tightness from multiple sclerosis , cerebral palsy, or certain types of spinal cord injuries. If you are taking baclofen, you might wonder whether its safe to drinkespecially if youre heading to an event where alcohol will be served.

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As tariffs loom over pharma manufacturing, a reshoring effort is underway — but not without challenges

PharmaVoice

Experts say cost and other barriers present challenges to returning to U.S. shores.

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Pharmacists’ Expertise in Contraceptive Counseling Amid Ongoing Challenges | APhA 2025

Drug Topics

Jasmine Cutler, PharmD, discussed the unique expertise pharmacists possess in order to counsel patients seeking any type of contraceptive product.

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Which Social Media Analytics Matter Most in Pharma Marketing

Pharma Marketing Network

Introduction Social media has become an essential tool for pharmaceutical marketing. However, simply posting content is not enough. To measure success and improve engagement, pharma marketing teams must focus on the right social media analytics. But which metrics truly matter? With increasing regulations, evolving digital trends, and shifting audience behaviors, pharma marketers need to analyze data that aligns with brand goals, compliance requirements, and engagement strategies.

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Patient Education When Initiating Treatment for Menopausal Symptoms

Pharmacy Times

Panelists note how medical professionals discuss menopause therapy, addressing symptoms, treatment options, safety concerns, adverse events, and personalized management strategies through patient-centered care. Professionals prioritize transparent communication, comprehensive risk assessment, and collaborative decision-making to ensure patient comfort and optimal management of menopausal transition.

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STAT+: Teenager who received Elevidys, Sarepta’s Duchenne gene therapy, dies 

STAT

Sarepta Therapeutics said Tuesday that a 16-year-old boy died after receiving Elevidys, its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the first known death linked to the treatment. The teenager suffered liver failure, a side effect that has been seen with other gene therapy treatments over the last two decades.  Sarepta said in its statement that a recent cytomegalovirus infection could have also contributed to the patient’s death, putting him at heightened risk.

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