New Drug/Vaccine Approval

Qfitlia™ (fitusiran) Injection – New Drug Approval – March 28, 2025 – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Qfitlia™ (fitusiran), the first antithrombin-lowering (AT) therapy for routine prophylaxis to prevent or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes in adult and pediatric patients (aged 12 or older) with hemophilia A or B with or without factor VIII or IX inhibitors. The approval is based on data from the ATLAS phase 3 studies that demonstrated clinically meaningful bleed protection as measured by annualized bleeding rates (ABR) across hemophilia patients with or without inhibitors. <Read More>

Vykat™ XR FDA Approval History – New Drug Approval – March 26, 2025 – Soleno Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLNO), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vykat XR™ (diazoxide choline) extended-release tablets, previously referred to as DCCR, for the treatment of hyperphagia in adults and children 4 years of age and older with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Soleno expects Vykat XR™ to be available in the U.S. beginning in April 2025. <Read More> 

Blujepa™ (gepotidacin) Tablets – New Drug Approval – March 25, 2025 – GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Blujepa™ (gepotidacin) for the treatment of female adults (≥40 kg) and paediatric patients (≥12 years, ≥40 kg) with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs) caused by the following susceptible microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii complex, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Enterococcus faecalis. Discovered by GSK scientists, Blujepa™ is a first-in-class oral antibiotic with a novel mechanism of action that is part of GSK’s infectious diseases portfolio. <Read More> 

Gozellix® (gallium Ga 68 gozetotide) Injection Kit – New Drug Approval – March 20, 2025 – Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Nasdaq: TLX, Telix, the Company) announces that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its New Drug Application (NDA) for Gozellix® (TLX007-CDx, kit for the preparation of gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide injection), Telix’s next-generation PSMA-PET imaging agent for prostate cancer. <Read More> 

Arbli™ (losartan potassium) Oral Suspension – New Drug Approval – March 13, 2025 – Scienture Holdings, Inc. NASDAQ: SCNX), a holding company for existing and planned pharmaceutical operating companies focused on providing enhanced value to patients, physicians and caregivers through developing, bringing to market, and distributing novel specialty products to satisfy unmet market needs, is pleased to announce the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SCN-102, one of the products being developed by Scienture, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Scienture Holdings, Inc., with the brand name Arbli™ (losartan potassium) Oral Suspension, 10 mg/mL. <Read More>

Encelto™ (revakinagene taroretcel-lwey) Intravitreal Implant - formerly NT-501 – New Drug Approval – March 5, 2025 – Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a private biotech company focused on developing transformative therapies for chronic eye diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has approved Encelto™ (revakinagene taroretcel-lwey) for the treatment of Macular Telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel). <Read More> 

New Indication / Dosage / Formulation Approval

Pluvicto® (lutetium lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 28, 2025 – Novartis announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pluvicto® (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) for patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have been treated with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) therapy and are considered appropriate to delay chemotherapy. <Read More> 

Imfinzi® (durvalumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 28, 2025 - AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi® (durvalumab) in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by Imfinzi® as adjuvant monotherapy after radical cystectomy (surgery to remove the bladder) has been approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). <Read More> 

Cabometyx® (cabozantinib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – March 26, 2025 - Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cabometyx® (cabozantinib) for the treatment of 1) adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET); and 2) adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, well-differentiated extra-pancreatic NET (epNET). <Read More> 

Egrifta WR™ (tesamorelin) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 25, 2025 - Theratechnologies Inc. (“Theratechnologies” or the “Company”) (TSX: TH) (NASDAQ: THTX), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Company’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the F8 formulation of tesamorelin for injection. The Company will commercialize the new formulation under the tradename Egrifta WR™. <Read More>

Amvuttra® (vutrisiran) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 20, 2025 - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), the leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for its RNAi therapeutic, Amvuttra® (vutrisiran), for the treatment of the cardiomyopathy of wild-type or hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) in adults to reduce cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular hospitalizations and urgent heart failure visits. <Read More> 

Fabhalta® (iptacopan) Capsules – New Label Expansion – March 20, 2025 - Novartis announced that oral Fabhalta® (iptacopan) has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of adults with C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), to reduce proteinuria, making it the first and only treatment approved for this condition. <Read More>

Tremfya® (guselkumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 20, 2025 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tremfya® (guselkumab), the first and only IL-23 inhibitor offering both subcutaneous (SC) and intravenous (IV) induction options, for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. <Read More> 

Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) for Injection – New Label Expansion – March 19, 2025 -  The Food and Drug Administration granted traditional approval to pembrolizumab (Keytruda®, Merck) with trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1). <Read More> 

Iluvien® (fluocinolone acetonide) Intravitreal Implant – New Label Expansion – March 12, 2025 - ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANIP) (ANI or the Company) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded label for Iluvien® (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant) that includes an indication for the treatment of chronic non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye (NIU-PS). The approval also includes other updates to the label including to the Warnings and Precautions section. <Read More> 

Furoscix® (furosemide) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 6, 2025 - scPharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: SCPH) (the “Company”), a pharmaceutical company committed to revolutionizing cardiorenal healthcare through patient-centric innovations, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Furoscix® to expand the indication to include treatment of edema in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). <Read More>

neffy® (epinephrine) Nasal Spray – New Label Expansion – March 5, 2025 - ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRY), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and caregivers to better protect themselves from allergic reactions that could lead to anaphylaxis, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved neffy® 1 mg (epinephrine nasal spray) for the treatment of Type I Allergic Reactions, including anaphylaxis, in children who are aged 4 years and older and weigh 15 to < 30 kilograms (33 to < 66 lb.). This approval represents the first significant innovation in the delivery of epinephrine for this patient population in more than 35 years. <Read More> 

Tevimbra® (tislelizumab-jsgr) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 4, 2025 – BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: ONC; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company that intends to change its name to BeOne Medicines Ltd., announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tevimbra® (tislelizumab-jsgr), in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (≥1). <Read More> 

New Drug Shortage

March 28, 2025

• Carboplatin Injection (Discontinuation)

• Ursodiol Tablet (Discontinuation)

March 24, 2025

• Hydrocortisone Cream (Discontinuation)

• Montelukast Sodium Granule (Discontinuation)

March 18, 2025

• Travoprost Solution/Drops (Discontinuation)

March 17, 2025

• Glipizide Tablet, Extended Release (Discontinuation)

March 5, 2025

• Ibandronate Sodium Injection (Discontinuation)

• Ibutilide Fumarate Injection (Discontinuation)

March 4, 2025

• Amlodipine Besylate; Benazepril Hydrochloride Capsule (Discontinuation)

Updated Drug Shortage

March 30, 2025

• Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Chloride 23.4% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

March 28, 2025

• Carboplatin Injection (Currently In Shortage)

March 27, 2025

• Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently In Shortage)

March 24, 2025

• Amino Acid Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dextrose Monohydrate 10% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dextrose Monohydrate 70% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lactated Ringers Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Chloride 0.9% Irrigation (Currently In Shortage)

• Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently In Shortage)

• Streptozocin Powder, For Solution (Currently In Shortage)

March 21, 2025

• Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently In Shortage)

• Nitroglycerin Injection (Currently In Shortage)

New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts

Levetiracetam in 0.75% Sodium Chloride Injection 1,000 mg/100 mL Dr. Reddy’s - New Voluntary Recall – March 13, 2025 – Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124, NSE: DRREDDY, NYSE: RDY, NSEIFSC: DRREDDY; along with its subsidiaries together referred to as “Dr. Reddy’s”), is recalling one Batch/Lot No: A1540076 of Levetiracetam in 0.75% Sodium Chloride Injection, 1,000 mg/100 mL (10 mg/mL) single-dose infusion bags to the consumer level, in the United States. The product is being recalled because the infusion bag is incorrectly labeled as Levetiracetam in 0.82% Sodium Chloride Injection 500 mg/100 mL single-dose bag, while the aluminum overwrap packaging correctly identifies the product as Levetiracetam in 0.75% Sodium Chloride Injection 1,000 mg/100 mL. <Read More>

New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch

Stoboclo® (denosumab-bmwo) Injection - formerly CT-P41 – New Proliaâ Biosimilar Approval – February 28, 2025 – Celltrion announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Stoboclo® (CT-P41, denosumab-bmwo) and Osenvelt® (CT-P41, denosumab-bmwo), biosimilars referencing Prolia® (denosumab) and Xgeva® (denosumab) respectively for all indications of reference products. <Read More> 

Osenvelt® (denosumab-bmwo) Injection - formerly CT-P41 – New Xvegaâ Biosimilar Approval – February 28, 2025 – Celltrion announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Stoboclo® (CT-P41, denosumab-bmwo) and Osenvelt® (CT-P41, denosumab-bmwo), biosimilars referencing Prolia® (denosumab) and Xgeva® (denosumab) respectively for all indications of reference products. <Read More>

Conexxence® (denosumab-bnht) Injection – New Prolia® Biosimilar Approval – March 25, 2025 – Fresenius announced that the Biologics License Application (BLA) for the denosumab biosimilars Conexxence® (denosumab-bnht) and Bomyntra® (denosumab-bnht) of its operating company Fresenius Kabi has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These denosumab biosimilars are approved for all indications of the reference products: Prolia® (denosumab) and Xgeva® (denosumab), respectively. In addition, Fresenius’ operating company has reached a Global Settlement with Amgen concerning its denosumab biosimilars. <Read More> 

Bomyntra® (denosumab-bnht) Injection – New Xvegaâ Biosimilar Approval – March 25, 2025 – Fresenius announced that the Biologics License Application (BLA) for the denosumab biosimilars Conexxence® (denosumab-bnht) and Bomyntra® (denosumab-bnht) of its operating company Fresenius Kabi has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These denosumab biosimilars are approved for all indications of the reference products: Prolia® (denosumab) and Xgeva® (denosumab), respectively. In addition, Fresenius’ operating company has reached a Global Settlement with Amgen concerning its denosumab biosimilars. <Read More>

Clinical and Pharmacy News

The Key to Solving Medication Errors is at the Intersection of Technology and Standards  – April 1, 2025 – By integrating industry standards into e-prescribing software, prescribing organizations can reduce errors to improve patient outcomes and lessen the burden of medication-related errors on healthcare systems. Here’s a look at the new National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) Sig Standard aimed at improving prescription accuracy. 1.5 million people are affected by medication errors each year, posing a significant risk to patients’ safety and increasing healthcare costs. While providers do everything in their power to prevent medication errors, interoperability and lack of visibility into a patient’s medication history can cause serious challenges. <Read More> 

Medical Gaslighting Tops List of Highest Patient Safety Risks – March 28, 2025 – The risks associated with medical professionals dismissing patient, family and caregiver concerns — also called “medical gaslighting” — ranked highest on an annual list of patient safety concerns compiled by the nonprofit organization ECRI. Insufficient governance of AI in health care, the viral spread of medical misinformation, and medical errors and delays in care resulting from cybersecurity breaches also were listed as significant concerns. <Read More>

AI Can Help Doctors Give Intravenous Nutrition to Preemies, Stanford Medicine Study Finds  – March 25, 2025 – An algorithm that learned from tens of thousands of nutrition prescriptions for premature babies could reduce medical errors and better identify what nutrients the smallest patients need. Artificial intelligence can improve intravenous nutrition for premature babies, a Stanford Medicine study has shown. The study, which published March 25 in Nature Medicine, is among the first to demonstrate how an AI algorithm can enable doctors to make better clinical decisions for sick newborns. <Read More> 

Pharmacy Benefit Managers Lining Pockets at Expense of Patients, Say Lawmakers – March 25, 2025 – Third-party companies known as pharmacy benefit managers, which administer prescription drug benefits for health insurance plans, employers, and other organizations including governments, are driving up prescription drug costs, putting small pharmacies out of business, and interfering in the relationship between doctors and their patients, says Sen. Rochelle Nguyen, a Democrat from Las Vegas and the sponsor of Senate Bill 316, a measure that seeks to reform PBMs.  Nevadans are being deprived of “life-changing and life-saving prescription drugs and often have to make difficult decisions based on what they can and cannot afford,” Nguyen told members of the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce during a hearing Monday, adding escalating prescription prices are just one component of high costs. “This isn’t a magic pill that’s going to solve all our health care problems.” <Read More> 

Spending Growth on GLP-1s Outpaces Specialty Drugs: Evernorth Study – March 25, 2025 – Spending on GLP-1 drugs continues to rise, after outpacing trends among specialty drugs for the first time in 2023, according to a new report from Evernorth. Pharmaceutical spending overall has grown significantly in recent years, but it has accelerated since semaglutide earned approval for chronic weight management in 2021. Afterward, the rate of annual growth rose from 2.1% in 2021 to 12.8% in 2024, according to the report. Specialty pharmacy has traditionally been the key source of growth in pharmacy spend. For comparison, in 2019, spending for traditional medications decreased by 5% while spending on specialty drugs grew by 11.5%. <Read More> 

How Health Systems Can Thrive in Navigating the Specialty Pharmacy Landscape  – March 24, 2025 – Specialty pharmacies must meet complex requirements, introducing administrative requirements that can be challenging for health systems to manage internally. Here some strategies that can be employed. The demand for specialty medications is on the rise in the United States as people living with complex health conditions increasingly rely on new treatments and therapies to manage their health. By partnering with an advisory service, health systems can take advantage of established expertise to evaluate and choose from among the breadth and complexity of potential solutions for operating and optimizing an integrated specialty pharmacy. <Read More>

DEA Warns of Electronic Prescription Fraud – March 21, 2025 – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently alerted healthcare providers to a concerning trend: hackers tapping into patient electronic health records (EHRs) to steal doctors’ DEA registration numbers. Armed with those numbers, the thieves have been able to generate tens of thousands of bogus prescriptions and sell them online, the agency explained in a YouTube video. “Electronic prescription fraud is a real emerging trend that we’re seeing all across the country,” said Erin Hager, a DEA diversion investigator in the Phoenix-Tucson Tactical Division Squad. “What’s happening is … bad actors … who have been conducting prescription drug fraud are now utilizing the internet and electronic health record platforms to create electronic prescriptions that they can then send nationwide.” <Read More> 

Ensitrelvir Reduced the Risk for COVID-19 by 67% – March 14, 2025 – Ensitrelvir, an antiviral being developed to prevent COVID-19, reduced the risk of developing the infection by 67% in uninfected people after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 compared with placebo at day 10, according to results presented at CROI 2025, held in San Francisco (abstract 200). The SCORPIO-PEP (Stopping COVID-19 pRogression with early Protease InhibitOr treatment–Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) trial assessed 2,387 study participants, who were 12 years of age and older with a negative screening test for SARS-CoV-2 infection and no symptoms at the time of enrollment. The participants were exposed to a person living in the household who developed symptomatic COVID-19. In this double-blind trial, study participants were randomly assigned to receive 125 mg of ensitrelvir or placebo, once daily, and began prophylaxis within 72 hours of symptom onset in the household member with COVID-19, according to Frederick Hayden, MD, a professor emeritus at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, in Charlottesville. <Read More> 

340B in the News

The Case for 340B Done Right – March 30, 2025 – The federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, which requires pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in Medicaid to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to healthcare organizations that care for many uninsured and low-income patients, is facing intense scrutiny and calls for reform. The program’s intent has always been to stretch limited federal resources to reduce the price of outpatient pharmaceuticals and expand health services to our most vulnerable communities. In too many cases, that’s just not what’s happening, and in recent weeks, the media has been shining a spotlight on some of the most cynical deployment of these funds towards profits over patients. <Read More>

HHS Files Brief in 340B Rebate Model Case – March 17, 2025 – The Department of Health and Human Services said its decision to prevent drug companies from implementing a 340B rebate model “was within its statutory authority,” according to a department brief filed March 17 with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In addition, the brief said the drug companies’ “proposed cash rebate models would have upended the way the 340B Program has operated for more than thirty years” and the agency’s decision to prevent the models from being implemented was “not arbitrary and capricious.” The HHS brief is in cases brought by Eli Lilly, Bristol Meyers Squibb and Novartis. <Read More> 

New Drug/Vaccine Approval

Journavx™ (suzetrigine) Tablets - formerly VX-548 – New Drug Approval – January 30, 2025 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Journavx™ (suzetrigine) 50 milligram oral tablets, a first-in-class non-opioid analgesic, to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Journavx™ reduces pain by targeting a pain-signaling pathway involving sodium channels in the peripheral nervous system, before pain signals reach the brain. Journavx™ is the first drug to be approved in this new class of pain management medicines. <Read More> 

Symbravo™ (meloxicam and rizatriptan) Tablets - formerly AXS-07 – New Drug Approval – January 30, 2025 - Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM), a biopharmaceutical company leading a new era in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Symbravo® (meloxicam and rizatriptan) for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Symbravo® represents a novel multi-mechanistic approach to treating migraine that targets multiple pathways underlying a migraine attack. <Read More> 

Grafapex™ (treosulfan) Lyophilized Powder for Injection – New Drug Approval – January 22, 2025 - Medexus Pharmaceuticals (TSX: MDP) (OTCQX: MEDXF) is pleased to provide a business update regarding the successful completion of the regulatory review process for Grafapex™ (treosulfan) for injection with the US Food and Drug Administration and, in addition, to announce preliminary estimates of the company's operating and financial results for the company's third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024 (which remain subject to completion of Medexus's financial closing procedures). All dollar amounts in this news release are in US dollars unless specified otherwise. <Read More> 

Datroway® (datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk) Lyophilized Powder for Injection – New Drug Approval – January 17, 2025 - The Food and Drug Administration approved datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk (Datroway®, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.), a Trop-2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate, for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (IHC 0, IHC1+ or IHC2+/ISH-) breast cancer who have received prior endocrine-based therapy and chemotherapy for unresectable or metastatic disease. <Read More> 

Opdivo® Qvantig™ (nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy) Subcutaneous Injection – New Drug Approval – December 27, 2024 - The Food and Drug Administration approved nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy (Opdivo® Qvantig™, Bristol Myers Squibb Company) for subcutaneous injection across approved adult, solid tumor nivolumab (Opdivo®, Bristol Myers Squibb Company) indications as monotherapy, monotherapy maintenance following completion of Opdivo® plus Yervoy® (ipilimumab) combination therapy, or in combination with chemotherapy or cabozantinib. <Read More> 

Alhemo® (concizumab-mtci) Injection – New Drug Approval – December 20, 2024 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Alhemo® (concizumab-mtci) for routine prophylaxis to prevent or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with hemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors or hemophilia B with factor IX inhibitors. Alhemo® is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) daily. <Read More> 

Alyftrek™ (deutivacaftor, tezacaftor and vanzacaftor) – New Drug Approval – December 20, 2024 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Alyftrek™ (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor), a once-daily next-in-class triple combination cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in people 6 years and older who have at least one F508del mutation or another mutation in the CFTR gene that is responsive to Alyftrek™. <Read More> 

Tryngolza™ (olezarsen) Injection – New Drug Approval – December 19, 2024 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Tryngolza™ (olezarsen), used with diet, to reduce triglycerides (TG) in adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS). This is a first-in-class approval, meaning Tryngolza™ uses a new mechanism of action, or works differently in the body, than other therapies currently used to treat FCS. Tryngolza™ is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once per month. <Read More> 

Symvess™ (acellular tissue engineered vessel-tyod) for Surgical Vascular Implantation – New Drug Approval – December 19, 2024 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Symvess™, the first acellular tissue engineered vessel indicated for use in adults as a vascular conduit for extremity arterial injury when urgent revascularization (restoration of blood flow) is needed to avoid imminent limb loss, and autologous vein graft is not feasible. Vascular trauma occurs when a blood vessel is injured such as a rupture of an artery in the extremities, which can lead to serious, life-threatening complications such as hemorrhage or blood clotting. <Read More> 

Ryoncil® (remestemcel-L-rknd) Cell Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Drug Approval – December 18, 2024 - The FDA approved remestemcel-L-rknd (brand name Ryoncil®), an allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell therapy, for steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease in pediatric patients 2 months of age and older. Ryoncil® is the first FDA-approved mesenchymal stromal cell therapy. <Read More> 

Ensacove™ (ensartinib) Capsules – New Drug Approval – December 18, 2024 - The Food and Drug Administration approved ensartinib (Ensacove™, Xcovery Holdings, Inc.) for adult patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not previously received an ALK-inhibitor. <Read More> 

Crenessity™ (crinecerfont) Capsules and Oral Solution – New Drug Approval – December 13, 2024 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Crenessity™ (crinecerfont) to be used together with glucocorticoids (steroids) to control androgen (a testosterone-like hormone) levels in adults and pediatric patients 4 years of age and older with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). <Read More>  

Unloxcyt™ (cosibelimab-ipdl) Injection – New Drug Approval – December 13, 2024 - The Food and Drug Administration approved cosibelimab-ipdl (Unloxcyt™, Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc.), a programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody, for adults with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (mCSCC) or locally advanced CSCC (laCSCC) who are not candidates for curative surgery or curative radiation. <Read More> 

Bizengri® (zenocutuzumab-zbco) Injection – New Drug Approval – December 4, 2024 - The Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to zenocutuzumab-zbco (Bizengri®, Merus N.V.) for adults with the following:  1) advanced, unresectable, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring a neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene fusion with disease progression on or after prior systemic therapy, or 2) advanced, unresectable, or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma harboring a NRG1 gene fusion with disease progression on or after prior systemic therapy. This represents the first FDA approval of a systemic therapy for patients with NSCLC or pancreatic adenocarcinoma harboring an NRG1 gene fusion. <Read More> 

Attruby™ (acoramidis) Tablets – New Drug Approval – November 25, 2024 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Attruby™ (acoramidis) to treat adults with cardiomyopathy (disorder that affects heart muscle) of wild-type or variant (hereditary) transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) to reduce death and hospitalization related to heart problems. ATTR-CM is a rare and serious disease that affects the heart muscle. In patients with ATTR-CM, there is a build-up of protein deposits in the heart, causing the walls of the heart to become stiff, and making the left ventricle unable to properly relax and fill with blood (called cardiomyopathy). As the condition progresses, the heart can become unable to pump blood out adequately, causing heart failure. <Read More> 

Imkeldi™ (imatinib mesylate) Oral Solution – New Drug Approval – November 22, 2024 - Shorla Oncology (‘Shorla’), a U.S.-Ireland specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the FDA has approved Imkeldi™ (imatinib) oral solution, the first oral liquid form of imatinib to treat certain forms of leukemia and other cancers. “We are thrilled to offer an oral solution option for patients with leukemia and other cancers, a meaningful advancement for thousands in need,” said Sharon Cunningham, chief executive officer of Shorla. “Oral solutions may ensure more precise and consistent dosing, offering a convenient alternative to compounding for patients who have difficulty swallowing or require dosing tailored to body surface area.” <Read More> 

Rapiblyk™ (landiolol) Lyophilized Powder for Injection – New Drug Approval – November 22, 2024 - AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals GmbH (AOP Health), based in Vienna, Austria, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted regulatory approval for Rapiblyk™ (landiolol) in the hospital critical care setting for the treatment of the severe heart condition supraventricular tachycardia (atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter). The approval is based on clinical studies which demonstrated that Rapiblyk™ (landiolol) enables rapid management of the heart rate with minimal reduction of blood pressure. The approval will provide patients in the U.S. with a new treatment option and is an important step for AOP Health in bringing its mission to help patients and make an impact on rare diseases and critical care to the United States for the first time. <Read More> 

New Indication/Dosage/Formulation Approval

Enhertu® (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) Injection – New Label Expansion – January 28, 2025 – AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) has been approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) or HER2-ultralow (IHC 0 with membrane staining) breast cancer, as determined by a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved test, that has progressed on one or more endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting. <Read More> 

Ozempic® (semaglutide) Injection – New Label Expansion – January 28, 2025 – Novo Nordisk announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic® to reduce the risk of kidney disease worsening, kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease), and death due to cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This approval, along with its existing indications for adults with type 2 diabetes to improve glycemic control and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults also with known heart disease, establishes Ozempic® (semaglutide) injection 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg as the most broadly indicated glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) in its class. <Read More> 

Leqembi® (lecanemab-irmb) Injection – New Label Expansion – January 27, 2025 – Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, “Eisai”) and Biogen Inc. (NASDAQ: BIIB, Corporate headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts, CEO: Christopher A. Viehbacher, “Biogen”) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for once every four weeks lecanemab-irmb (U.S. brand name: Leqembi®) intravenous (IV) maintenance dosing. Leqembi® is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia stage of disease (collectively referred to as early AD) in the U.S. After 18 months of once every two weeks initiation phase, a transition to the maintenance dosing regimen of 10 mg/kg once every four weeks may be considered or the regimen of 10 mg/kg once every two weeks may be continued. <Read More> 

Spravato® (esketamine) Nasal Spray – New Label Expansion – January 17, 2025 – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Spravato® (esketamine) CIII nasal spray, making this innovative treatment the first and only monotherapy for adults living with major depressive disorder (MDD) who have had an inadequate response to at least two oral antidepressants. <Read More> 

Lumakras® (sotorasib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – January 16, 2025 – The Food and Drug Administration approved sotorasib (Lumakras®, Amgen Inc.) with panitumumab (Vectibix®, Amgen Inc.) for adult patients with KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have received prior fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy. <Read More> 

Calquence® (acalabrutinib) Capsules and Tablets – New Label Expansion – January 16, 2025 – AstraZeneca’s Calquence® (acalabrutinib) in combination with bendamustine and rituximab has been approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who are ineligible for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The approval was granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after securing Priority Review. It was based on results from the ECHO Phase III trial which were presented at the European Hematology Association 2024 Congress. <Read More> 

Omvoh® (mirikizumab-mrkz) Injection – New Label Expansion – January 15, 2025 – Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Omvoh® (mirikizumab-mrkz) for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adults. Omvoh® is now approved in the U.S. for two types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), following its October 2023 approval as a first-in-class treatment for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults. <Read More> 

Niktimvo™ (axatilimab-csfr) Injection – New Label Expansion – January 15, 2025 – Incyte (NASDAQ:INCY) and Syndax Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:SNDX) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Niktimvo™ (axatilimab-csfr) in 9 mg and 22 mg vial sizes. The Companies expect product to be available for order in the U.S. in early February. Niktimvo™ is approved for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy in adult and pediatric patients weighing at least 40 kg (88.2 lbs). Niktimvo™ is the first and only FDA-approved prescription treatment for chronic GVHD that targets CSF-1R to reduce the drivers of inflammation and fibrosis. <Read More>

Tevimbra® (tislelizumab-jsgr) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 26, 2024 – BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company that intends to change its name to BeOne Medicines Ltd., announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tevimbra® (tislelizumab-jsgr), in combination with platinum and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (G/GEJ) in adults whose tumors express PD-L1 (≥1). <Read More> 

Zepbound® (tirzepatide) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 20, 2024 – Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zepbound® (tirzepatide) as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity. Zepbound® may help adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity improve their sleep disorder. It should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. <Read More>  

Braftovi® (encorafenib) Capsules – New Label Expansion – December 20, 2024 – Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Braftovi® (encorafenib) in combination with cetuximab (marketed as Erbitux®) and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test. <Read More> 

Trikafta® (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor and ivacaftor) Tablets and Oral Granules – New Label Expansion – December 20, 2024 – Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the expanded use of Trikafta® (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor and ivacaftor) for the treatment of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) ages 2 and older who have at least one F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene or a mutation that is responsive to Trikafta® based on clinical and/or in vitro data. In addition, safety information on liver injury and liver failure has been updated from warnings and precautions to a boxed warning. With this approval, 94 additional non-F508del CFTR mutations have been added to the Trikafta® label, and approximately 300 additional people with CF in the U.S. are now eligible for a medicine to treat the underlying cause of their disease for the first time. <Read More> 

Imcivree® (setmelanotide) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 20, 2024 – Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RYTM), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming the lives of patients living with rare neuroendocrine diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded indication for Imcivree® (setmelanotide) to include children as young as 2 years old. Imcivree® is indicated to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long-term in patients 2 years of age and older with syndromic or monogenic obesity due to Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) or genetically confirmed pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), including proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1), deficiency or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency. <Read More> 

Gemtesa® (vibegron) Tablets – New Label Expansion – December 18, 2024 – Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. (SMPA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Gemtesa® (vibegron), a beta-3 (β3) adrenergic receptor agonist, dosed once-daily (75 mg), for the treatment of men with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, such as urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency, who are receiving pharmacological therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This approval marks Gemtesa® as the first and only β3 agonist approved to treat patients living with OAB and being treated for BPH. It is currently available for prescription in the U.S. <Read More> 

Nemluvio® (nemolizumab) for Injection – New Label Expansion – December 13, 2024 – Galderma announced that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nemluvio® (nemolizumab) for the treatment of patients 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, in combination with topical corticosteroids (TCS) and/or calcineurin inhibitors (TCI) when the disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies. This follows the recent U.S. FDA approval of Nemluvio® for subcutaneous injection for the treatment of adults with prurigo nodularis in August 2024. <Read More> 

Vtama® (tapinarof) Cream – New Label Expansion – December 12, 2024 – Organon (NYSE: OGN), a global healthcare company with a mission to improve the health of women throughout their lives, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vtama® (tapinarof) cream, 1%, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, for an additional indication of the topical treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older. Organon received the FDA approval prior to its extended target action date (PDUFA) of March 12, 2025. <Read More> 

Imfinzi® (durvalumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 4, 2024 – AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi® (durvalumab) has been approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) whose disease has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The approval was granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after securing Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation. It was based on results from the ADRIATIC Phase III trial which were presented during the Plenary Session of the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and subsequently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. <Read More> 

Acetadote® (acetylcysteine) Injection – New Label Expansion – November 26, 2024 – Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: CPIX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on delivering high-quality products to improve patient care, announced the FDA has approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for its Acetadote® (N-acetylcysteine for injection) product. Acetadote® is an intravenous (IV) formulation of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) indicated to prevent or lessen liver injury after ingestion of potentially toxic quantities of acetaminophen. <Read More> 

Bimzelx® (bimekizumab-bkzx) Injection – New Label Expansion – November 20, 2024 – UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bimzelx® (bimekizumab-bkzx) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Bimekizumab-bkzx is the first and only approved medicine designed to selectively inhibit interleukin 17F (IL-17F) in addition to interleukin 17A (IL-17A). <Read More>  

New Drug Shortage

January 31, 2025

• Epoprostenol Sodium Injection (Discontinuation)

January 30, 2025

• Ramipril Capsule (Discontinuation)

January 28, 2025

• Donepezil Hydrochloride Tablet (Discontinuation)

• Lidocaine Ointment (Discontinuation)

• Lidocaine Ointment (Discontinuation)

• Teriflunomide Tablet (Discontinuation)

January 27, 2025

• Bendamustine Hydrochloride Injection (Discontinuation)

January 24, 2025

• Peginterferon alfa-2a Injection (Currently In Shortage)

Updated Drug Shortage

January 28, 2025

• Amoxapine Tablet (Resolved)

January 27, 2025

• Atropine Sulfate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dextrose 50% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Etomidate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Heparin Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lorazepam Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Acetate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Chloride 23.4% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sterile Water Injection (Currently In Shortage)

January 24, 2025

• Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently In Shortage)

• Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Etomidate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Fentanyl Citrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Leucovorin Calcium Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

January 23, 2025

• Amoxapine Tablet (Currently In Shortage)

• Amoxicillin Powder, For Suspension (Currently In Shortage)

• Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently In Shortage)

• Azacitidine Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Carboplatin Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Clonazepam Tablet (Currently In Shortage)

• Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently In Shortage)

• Mefloquine Hydrochloride Tablet (Currently In Shortage)

• Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently In Shortage)

• Oxazepam Capsule (Currently In Shortage)

• Streptozocin Powder, For Solution (Currently In Shortage)

January 22, 2025

• Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Vecuronium Bromide Injection (Resolved)

New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts

Fentanyl Transdermal System 25 mcg/h by Alvogen – New Voluntary Recall – January 31, 2025 - Alvogen, Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of Fentanyl Transdermal System 25 mcg/h transdermal patches to the consumer level. The reason for the recall is that there is a potential that patches could be multi-stacked, adhered one on top of the other, in a single product pouch. This transdermal system is manufactured by Kindeva Drug Delivery L.P., Northridge, CA and is distributed by Alvogen, Inc. as a private label distributor. <Read More>

Phenylephrine Hydrochloride Injection, USP, 10 mg/ mL (Pharmacy Bulk Package) by Provepharm Inc. – New Voluntary Recall – January 24, 2025 - Provepharm Inc. is voluntarily recalling lot number 24020027; Expiry Date December 2025 of Phenylephrine hydrochloride Injection, USP, 10 mg/ mL (Pharmacy Bulk Package) at the hospital/institutional level. This recall was initiated based on a customer complaint from a pharmacy after observing a visible black particulate matter found in a single-sealed vial of the product. <Read More> 

New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch

Avtozma® (tocilizumab-anoh) Injection – New Actemra® Biosimilar Approval – January 30, 2025 - Celltrion announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Avtozma® (CT-P47, tocilizumab-anoh) in both an intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) formulation as a biosimilar to Actemra®. Avtozma® is indicated for the treatment of multiple diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), giant cell arteritis (GCA), polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA), systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and coronavirus disease (COVID-19). <Read More> 

Steqeyma® (ustekinumab-stba) Injection – New Stelara® Biosimilar Approval – December 17, 2024 - Celltrion announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Steqeyma® (ustekinumab-stba), a biosimilar to Stelara® (ustekinumab), for subcutaneous injection or intravenous infusion in adult and pediatric patients with plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as adult patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. <Read More>  

Yesintek™ (ustekinumab-kfce) Injection – New Stelara® Biosimilar Approval – November 29, 2024 – Biocon Biologics Ltd (BBL), a fully integrated global biosimilars company and subsidiary of Biocon Ltd (BSE code: 532523, NSE: BIOCON), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Yesintek™ (ustekinumab-kfce), a biosimilar to the reference product, Stelara® (ustekinumab). <Read More> 

Clinical and Pharmacy News

Guidelines Call for Widespread Type 1 Diabetes Screening in Children – February 4, 2025 – A University of Florida Health physician-scientist led an international team of Type 1 diabetes experts who recently developed new treatment guidelines emphasizing wider screening for the disease among children and adolescents in the general population before symptoms arise. That would include screening the young relatives of those with Type 1 diabetes, such as siblings, because they are at higher genetic risk of developing diabetes. The effort was led by Michael Haller, M.D., chief of pediatric endocrinology in the UF College of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics and a member of the UF Diabetes Institute. The guidelines cover screening, staging, and strategies to preserve beta cell function in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. <Read More> 

Trump Tariffs Will Escalate Costs and Disrupt the Medical Supply Chain, Industry Execs Warn – February 3, 2025 – Double-digit tariffs, if they take effect as proposed, threaten to escalate healthcare costs, disrupt supply chains and create affordability challenges for patients, healthcare executives say. President Donald Trump on Saturday signed executive orders intending to impose sweeping tariffs on the country’s three largest trading partners. The Trump administration imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico plus a 10% tariff on Chinese imports. <Read More> 

Automated Follow-up Alerts Pharmacists to Cancer Patients’ Needs – January 28, 2025 – Early automated follow-up of cancer patients can help pharmacists more efficiently manage side effects of oral oncolytic medications, according to data presented at the ASHP Midyear 2024 Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, in New Orleans (poster 4-058). To improve adverse event (AE) detection and prevention, a team from Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Specialty Pharmacy, in Nashville Tenn., sent an electronic early monitoring questionnaire to patients who were starting oral anticancer treatment. The questionnaire, distributed via the patient portal inbox, “resulted in higher [rates of], and faster time to, pharmacists identifying and addressing AEs from newly initiated oral anticancer therapy in patients who responded compared to those who did not respond or were in the usual-care arm,” explained presenter Brooke Looney, PharmD, CSP, the oncology/hematology clinical lead at Vanderbilt. <Read More> 

AI’s Potential in Women’s Health Exciting, Says Gates Foundation Leader – January 21, 2025 – The health disparity between women and men is a pressing global challenge, experts highlighted in a discussion at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025 in Switzerland. Despite comprising half the global population, women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared to men, according to a 2024 report by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey Health Institute. Addressing this gap could not only improve millions of lives, but also add at least $1trn to the global economy annually by 2040, said Anita Zaidi, president of gender equality at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, quoting the report. Innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), digital health tools, and cross-sector collaboration are expected to help bridge this disparity. <Read More> 

Will PBM Reform Save Pharmacies From Closing? – January 15, 2025 – In May 2024, nearly 90% of pharmacies were closed for a day as thousands of pharmacists protested over “over drug shortages, pharmacy closures and fears medications could be sold online, as well as higher pay.” More recently in November 2024, pharmacy owners voted in favor of cutting hours and stopping home deliveries in a protest over funding. Given multiple recent news articles saying that pharmacies are struggling amid problems caused by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) , you might not be surprised by these examples. However, these two news stores are not from the U.S. They are from France and the United Kingdom — two countries that do not have the large PBMs that are frequently criticized in America. <Read More> 

Despite Risks and Scant Evidence, Muscle Relaxants Still Used to Treat Chronic Pain – January 14, 2025 – The CDC has guidelines recommending that clinicians avoid using opioids to manage chronic noncancer pain. Now data published in JAMA Network Open indicate that as physicians heed opioid guidelines, prescriptions for skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs) for chronic pain have risen—despite risks posed by SMRs and a lack of evidence supporting their long-term use (JAMA Network Open 2024;7[9]:e2434835). “This means that, when thinking about using muscle relaxants for chronic pain conditions, we should be vigilant and cautious,” said study author Benjamin J. Oldfield, MD, an internal medicine/pediatric specialist at the Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Conn. “As physicians, it may not be the right option to prescribe, and to continue to refill, muscle relaxants for the majority of chronic pain conditions.” <Read More> 

Drugmakers Hiked Prices for Hundreds of Drugs in Early January – January 14, 2025 – Drugmakers raised the list prices on 575 name-brand drugs in just the first two days of the new year, according to drug price research firm 46brooklyn. Drugs for diabetes, HIV, cancer saw price hikes, among others. For years a 10% annual price hike was fairly normal, but they've started coming down in recent years. This year's median price hike so far is only 4%, says Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46brooklyn. "While it's early, if that number held throughout the year, that would make it the lowest median price increase in over a decade," says Ciaccia. January is typically a popular time to raise prices on brand name drugs, but companies can raise them throughout the year. There could even be more later this month, he says. <Read More> 

Clearing the Path for New Uses for Generic Drugs – January 9, 2025 – Repurposing generic drugs as new treatments for life-threatening diseases is an exciting yet largely overlooked opportunity due to a lack of market-driven incentives. The low profit margins for generic drugs mean that pharmaceutical companies rarely invest in research, regulatory efforts, and marketing for new uses. Nonprofit organizations and other non-commercial non-manufacturers are increasing efforts to repurpose widely available generic drugs and rapidly expand affordable treatment options for patients. <Read More> 

Pharmacological Treatment in Autism: A Proposal for Guidelines on Common Co-Occurring Psychiatric Symptoms – January 7, 2025 – The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has surged, with an estimated 1 in 36 eight-year-olds in the United States meeting criteria for ASD in 2020. Autistic individuals face elevated rates of co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and behavioral conditions compared to non-autistic individuals. The rising ASD-patient demand is increasingly outpacing the capacity of ASD-specialty clinics, resulting in urgent need for autism-competent providers in general practice settings. This work aims to empower healthcare providers, especially primary care providers (PCPs), with guidelines for the recognition and safe pharmacologic management of common co-occurring psychiatric and behavioral conditions in ASD. <Read More> 

Senate Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Ban Co‑ownership of Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefits Managers – December 13, 2024 – Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced in the Senate the Patients Before Monopolies Act (PBM Act), a bill “[t]o prohibit pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacies from being under common ownership, and for other purposes.” The PBM Act would make it unlawful for any person to “own, operate, control, or direct the operation of” any type of pharmacy if that person also “own[s], operate[s], or control[s]” an insurance company or pharmacy benefits manager (PBM). This bill follows nearly a year of heightened government scrutiny of PBMs and allegations of harm resulting from vertical integration and price fixing. If passed, the PBM Act would prevent PBMs and payors from being in a position of control over pharmacies through which they can affect the competitive harms alleged. <Read More> 

Drugmakers and Pharmacists Battle Over Who Gets to Make Obesity Drugs – December 12, 2024 – Ozempic® and similar drugs for Type 2 diabetes and weight loss are in such high demand that the drugmakers have had a hard time keeping up. So compounding pharmacies stepped in to fill the gap, making their own versions of the drugs for more than two years. The compounded versions are especially popular as cheaper alternatives for people whose insurance doesn't cover them. But now the brand name manufacturers are pushing the compounding pharmacies to stop. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are moving to end compounding of their medicines for good. <Read More> 

Pharmacists’ Key Role in the Management of Humira Biosimilars – November 27, 2024 – The introduction of adalimumab (Humira®, AbbVie) biosimilars to the US market in 2023 brought significant changes for providers, patients, and pharmacies. Since its introduction in 2002, Humira has been one of the world’s bestselling drugs for treating inflammatory conditions…Pharmacists have been challenged in managing the complexity of switching patients from the reference product to various biosimilars, including navigating clinical appropriateness, education, insurance, affordability, and several practical hurdles. We aim to provide an update on what is new, what we have learned over the past 12 months, and what we are anticipating in the Humira biosimilar market. <Read More> 

ASTRO Releases Updated Guidelines for Treating Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer – November 25, 2024 – The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued an updated clinical guideline for physicians who use radiation therapy to treat patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. This update incorporates new data on patient selection and best practices from several practice-changing clinical trials published since the prior guideline was issued in 2020. The updated ASTRO guideline is published in Practical Radiation Oncology. <Read More> 

Top Three Pharmacy Benefit Managers Will Face FTC in Joint Trial for Insulin Rebate Cases – November 20, 2024 – Administrative Law Judge D. Michael Chappell ordered that the country’s largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have to face the FTC together in an administrative case. The case alleges that the three largest PBMs―Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRX―used unfair rebate schemes to artificially inflate the price of insulin. In mid-October, the PBMs each moved for separate proceedings, arguing that a consolidated trial could create confusion. The judge held that the factual differences in each of the cases were “minimal and manageable.” Judge Chappell noted that many of the respondents’ arguments regarding confusion of the evidence cited to authority regarding jury trials, but the current case is a bench trial. <Read More> 

Market Trends to Watch for Health Systems and Their Specialty Pharmacies – November 18, 2024 – The overall market for specialty medications has grown dramatically over the past decade, and that trend is expected to continue for at least the next five years. Health systems, patients and pharmacies will experience shifting market dynamics that add challenges to providing specialty care, including price increases, an aging population driving increased utilization and a growing wave of innovative therapies that add new patients to the specialty pool. In response, health systems have sharpened their focus on integrating specialty pharmacy care to now include pharmacy needs within their hospitals to help improve patient outcomes and experiences. <Read More> 

Management of Stage III Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: ASCO Guideline Rapid Recommendation Update Clinical Insights – November 18, 2024 – Stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly heterogeneous disease with a range of treatment options that have been highlighted in the ASCO guidelines (Figs 1 and 2).1-3 Historically, treatment was largely determined by resectability and nodal extent, without personalization on the basis of molecular subtype. Several recent trials favor molecular profile–guided precision therapy of both resectable and unresectable stage III NSCLC: highlighting the need for guideline-concordant biomarker testing for all patients with stage III NSCLC. In addition, new data address incorporation of perioperative immunotherapy, expanding treatment options for patients with resectable disease. This article provides additional context and insight into common clinical situations encountered by oncologists with a review of recent trials that update the standard of care for both resectable and unresectable stage III NSCLC. <Read More>

340B in the News

New Administration’s Impact on 340B Program: TBD – January 16, 2025 – How could the second Trump administration affect the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program? It’s yet to be determined, according to policy experts. Predicting how the election could ultimately affect the program “is above my pay grade,” joked Maureen Testoni, JD, the president and CEO of 340B Health, a nonprofit organization representing more than 1,500 hospitals and health systems that participate in the 340B program. However, during President-elect Donald Trump’s prior term, “we didn’t see a lot of action on 340B,” she said in a Nov. 19 press briefing. Early on in that administration, Medicare cut its reimbursement for Part B 340B drugs by nearly 30% and redistributed the money through higher payments for nondrug services to all hospitals paid under the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System, Ms. Testoni said. But hospital associations sued over the cuts, and the U.S. Supreme Court overturned them in 2022. <Read More> 

New Drug/Vaccine Approval

Revuforj™ (revumenib) Tablets – New Drug Approval –November 15, 2024 – The Food and Drug Administration approved revumenib (Revuforj™, Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), a menin inhibitor, for relapsed or refractory acute leukemia with a lysine methyltransferase 2A gene (KMT2A) translocation in adult and pediatric patients 1 year and older. Efficacy was evaluated in a single-arm cohort of an open-label, multicenter trial (SNDX-5613-0700, NCT04065399; AUGMENT-101) in 104 adult and pediatric patients (at least 30 days old) with relapsed or refractory (R/R) acute leukemia with a KMT2A translocation. <Read More> Kebilidi™ (eladocagene exuparvovec-tneq) Suspension for Intraputaminal Infusion - New Drug Approval – November 13, 2024 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Kebilidi™ (eladocagene exuparvovec-tneq), an adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. Kebilidi™ is the first FDA-approved gene therapy for treatment of AADC deficiency. <Read More> Aucatzyl™ (obecabtagene autoleucel) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Orphan Drug Approval –November 8, 2024 – The Food and Drug Administration approved obecabtagene autoleucel (Aucatzyl™, Autolus Inc.), a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy, for adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Efficacy was evaluated in FELIX (NCT04404660), an open-label, multicenter, single-arm trial that enrolled adults with relapsed or refractory CD19-positive B-cell ALL. Enrolled patients were required to have relapsed following a remission lasting 12 months or less, relapsed or refractory ALL following two or more prior lines of systemic therapy, or disease that was relapsed or refractory 3 or more months after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. <Read More> Danziten™ (nilotinib tartrate) Tablets – New Drug Approval – November 7, 2024 – Azurity Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Danziten™, the first and only nilotinib with no mealtime restrictions indicated for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase and adult patients with chronic phase (CP) and acute phase (AP) resistant or intolerant to prior therapy that included imatinib. “Danziten™ offers a new nilotinib treatment option with the equivalent efficacy to Tasigna®, but without the fasting requirements of Tasigna®,” said Richard Blackburn, CEO of Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. <Read More> Emrosi™ (minocycline hydrochloride) Extended-Release Capsules - formerly DFD-29 – New Drug Approval – November 4, 2024 – Journey Medical Corporation (Nasdaq: DERM) (“Journey Medical”), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company that primarily focuses on selling and marketing U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”)-approved prescription pharmaceutical products for the treatment of dermatological conditions, announced that the FDA has approved Emrosi™ (Minocycline Hydrochloride Extended Release Capsules, 40 mg), formerly referred to as DFD-29, for the treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea in adults. Emrosi™ was developed in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. <Read More>

New Indication/Dosage/Formulation Approval

Scemblix® (asciminib) Tablets – New Label Expansion –October 29, 2024 - Novartis announced that Scemblix® (asciminib) was granted accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (Ph+ CML-CP). The accelerated approval is based on major molecular response rate (MMR) at week 48 from the ASC4FIRST Phase III trial that compared once daily Scemblix® to all other investigator-selected (IS) standard of care (SoC) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) (imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib, and bosutinib). In the study, Scemblix® demonstrated superior MMR rates in both primary endpoints at week 48 vs. IS SoC TKIs and imatinib alone. Continued approval for the newly diagnosed indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit from confirmatory evidence. <Read More> RoxyBond™ (oxycodone hydrochloride) Tablets – New Label Expansion – October 29, 2024 – Protega Pharmaceuticals Inc., an innovative specialty pharmaceutical company focused on responsible pain management and the development of novel abuse-deterrent products, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Roxybond™ (oxycodone hydrochloride) immediate-release (IR) CII 10 mg tablet for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. Roxybond™ is the first and only FDA-approved abuse-deterrent IR 10 mg oxycodone formulation that is expected to reduce abuse by intranasal and intravenous routes. <Read More> Jylamvo™ (methotrexate) Oral Solution – New Label Expansion – October 29, 2024 – Shorla Oncology (‘Shorla’), a U.S.-Ireland specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Jylamvo™ (methotrexate) to include the treatment of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). With this approval, Jylamvo™ is currently the only oral liquid methotrexate on the market approved for both adult and pediatric indications. <Read More>

New Drug Shortage

November 18, 2024

• Metronidazole Injection (Currently In Shortage)

November 13, 2024

• Flurbiprofen Tablet (Discontinuation)

• Isosorbide Mononitrate Tablet (Discontinuation)

November 7, 2024

• Aminocaproic Acid Tablet (Discontinuation)

November 4, 2024

• Albuterol Sulfate Syrup (Discontinuation)

• Hydroxocobalamin Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Ondansetron Hydrochloride Tablet (Discontinuation)

November 1, 2024

• Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

Updated Drug Shortage

November 18, 2024

• Technetium Tc-99m Sodium Pertechnetate Generator (Resolved)

November 14, 2024

• Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently In Shortage)

October 18, 2024

• Amino Acid Injection (Currently in Shortage)

• Dextrose Monohydrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)

• Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)

• Sterile Water Injection (Currently in Shortage)

November 12, 2024

• Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sodium Chloride 23.4% Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Somatropin Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Sterile Water Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Technetium Tc-99m Pyrophosphate Kit Injection (Currently In Shortage)

November 7, 2024

• Lactated Ringers Injection (Currently In Shortage)

November 6, 2024

• Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Lorazepam Injection (Currently In Shortage)

• Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)

New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts

Clonazepam Orally Disintegrating Tablets, USP (C-IV) by Endo - Voluntary Recall Expansion – November 18, 2024 – Endo, Inc. (OTCQX: NDOI) (“Endo”) announced that one of its operating subsidiaries, Endo USA, Inc., is expanding its previously announced voluntary recall of Clonazepam Orally Disintegrating Tablets, USP (C-IV) due to potential product carton strength mislabeling. Specifically, Endo’s ongoing investigation has identified the possibility that the Clonazepam product lots listed below contain a limited number of cartons printed with the incorrect strength and National Drug Code (NDC) code due to an error by a third-party packager. The blister strips and tablets inside the product pack reflect the correct strength for the lot. <Read More>

New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch

No new update.

Clinical and Pharmacy News

Biosimilars: Expanding Options for Inflammatory Disease Treatment – November 15, 2024 – Biologics are mainstays of treatment for many chronic inflammatory conditions. Unfortunately, these drugs often come with high price tags due to the significant costs associated with their development and manufacturing. In recent years, several biosimilar products have been developed, with the goal of increasing competition in the biologics market and reducing the cost of care. The FDA defines a biosimilar product as a biologic medication that is highly similar to and has no clinically meaningful differences from an existing FDA-approved biologic. Biosimilars are approved under an abbreviated licensure pathway created by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009. <Read More> Future of Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Murky Under Trump – November 15, 2024 – The future of one of President Joe Biden’s key domestic policy achievements — getting Medicare to negotiate drug prices — could either become part of the Biden administration’s legacy, get rolled back by the incoming Congress or be weakened by President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Trump has remained relatively mum about the drug pricing provisions of the 2022 reconciliation bill and its future appears even murkier now that Republicans will control both the House and Senate. “The Trump campaign articulated no position on drug price negotiation specifically, but congressional Republicans are not fans of this program and introduced legislation to repeal the IRA in its entirety,” said Juliette Cubanski, deputy director of the program on Medicare policy at KFF, a health research organization, referring to the law by its nickname, an abbreviation for the Inflation Reduction Act. <Read More> Amazon Introduces Low Upfront Pricing for a Telehealth Visit With Treatment Plan and Fast, Free Medication for Men's Hair Loss, Eyelash Growth, Anti-Aging, ED, and Motion Sickness for Prime Members – November 14, 2024 – Amazon One Medical Pay-per-visit telehealth service offers customers convenient, high-quality health care for 30+ common conditions (such as pink eye, the flu, or a sinus infection) with on-demand messaging visits (where available) for $29 and video visits for $49 payable by credit card or using a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account card. Following the visit, the clinician sends the customer a personalized treatment plan and prescription (if needed), which customers can fulfill at the pharmacy of their choice. Building on this foundation, Amazon is introducing low, clear upfront pricing for a clinical visit, treatment plan, and fast, free medication delivery for Prime members for a range of common health, beauty, and lifestyle concerns, including anti-aging skincare treatment, men’s hair loss, erectile dysfunction, eyelash growth, and motion sickness. <Read More> AI Poised to Improve Trial Recruitment and Drug Adherence in Specialty Pharmacy – November 14, 2024 – The growing potential roles of artificial intelligence, including large-language models and generative AI, were a major topic of discussion at the 2024 NASP Annual Meeting & Expo, in Nashville, Tenn., with applications in clinical trial recruitment and patient engagement among the many uses cited. In specialty pharmacy, AI can potentially enhance patient engagement by personalizing communication and support, leading to improved adherence and satisfaction, suggested Michael Gannon, the senior director of product management for Loopback Analytics. The technology could facilitate clinical trial development by streamlining patient screening, identifying suitable candidates more efficiently and accelerating the approval of new therapies, Mr. Gannon noted. <Read More> New UTI Guidelines Offers Treatment Clarity, Reveals Gaps in Knowledge – November 12, 2024 - New recommendations from the WikiGuidelines Group offer strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children and adults. While the guideline covers a range of clinical topics, including prophylaxis and antimicrobial stewardship, many key clinical questions remain unanswered due to a lack of high-quality evidence, according to lead author Zachary Nelson, PharmD, MPH, of HealthPartners and Park Nicollet Health Services, St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and colleagues. “This guideline fills a critical gap by providing pragmatic, broadly applicable recommendations tailored for generalist care and systems-based practice,” Nelson and colleagues wrote in JAMA Network Open. <Read More> Off-Label Semaglutide Linked to Deaths, Hospitalizations Calling for Compounding Regulation – November 8, 2024 – Approximately 10 deaths and 100 hospitalizations in the United States have been linked to use of off-brand, compounded semaglutide (Ozempic®; Novo Nordisk), according to the drug’s manufacturer Novo Nordisk. The report comes after the company called on the FDA to prohibit compounding of semaglutide in October 2024, citing significant safety concerns around use of off-brand products. “Semaglutide products belong on these lists due to the complexities associated with their formulations, delivery mechanisms, dosage forms, achievement of bioavailability, compounding processes, and physicochemical and analytical testing,” the company stated. “We request that FDA convene and consult an advisory committee on compounding to discuss the addition of semaglutide products to both DDC [Demonstrable Difficulties for Compounding] Lists and promulgate regulations adding semaglutide products to the DDC Lists.” <Read More> How Pharmacy Benefit Managers Are Harming Patients—and What Policymarkers Can Do About It – November 7, 2024 – Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it had begun taking legal action against the three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the third-party companies that manage prescription drug benefits for health insurance companies and employers. In its filing, the FTC accused these PBMs of abusing their market power to inflate the price of insulin and make it harder for patients to afford it. The three PBMs named by the FTC—Caremark Rx, Express Scripts (ESI), and OptumRx—control about 80 percent of the market. The FTC’s action responds to a very real threat: around 30 percent of the U.S. population struggles to afford prescription drugs, and the burden of unaffordable prescription drug prices does not fall equally. <Read More> Study Finds GLP-1s Safe and Effective for Managing Obesity in Patients with IBD – November 6, 2024 – Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are well tolerated and effective for weight loss in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, with a safety profile similar to that observed in the general population prescribed these medications, according to data presented at DDW 2024 by a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. Researchers also saw a reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, although they said more data are needed to fully explain this change. Experts said this study is particularly relevant given that obesity now affects 15% to 40% of people with IBD (Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017;14[2]:110-121). <Read More>

340B in the News

California Votes to Impose 340B Spending Restrictions on Targeted 340B Providers – November 14, 2024 – California is poised to pass a ballot measure aimed at imposing 340B spending restrictions for certain healthcare entities participating in the 340B Program who have historically engaged in spending that is not directly related to patient care and have also owned or operated multifamily dwellings with significant safety issues. <Read More> J&J Sues Federal Government for Halting 340B Rebate Plan – November 13, 2024 – Johnson & Johnson is suing the Biden administration for blocking a controversial change to how the pharmaceutical company divvies out drug discounts to hospitals in a federal savings program. This summer, J&J unveiled a plan to give hospitals after-the-fact rebates for two medications in the program, called 340B, instead of upfront discounts, but paused implementation following threats of government sanctions. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in a district court seeks a ruling finding J&J’s plan legal and allowing the drugmaker to roll out the model. <Read More>