News Roundup: July 10 to July 16
Your weekly roundup of the latest news from Drug Topics®.
Medicare Part D Spending Reaches $48 Billion on Top 10 Drugs
A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis found the 10 drugs accounted for more than half of the increase in gross Part D spending from 2018 to 2021.
Express Scripts Adds Cyltezo to National Preferred Formulary
The news comes almost 2 weeks after Cyltezo’s entrance into the US biosimilars market as the first commercially available and FDA-approved interchangeable adalimumab biosimilar.
FDA Approves First OTC Birth Control Pill in United States
The approval of norgestrel (Opill) is expected to help reduce barriers to access by allowing people to obtain the medication without needing to see a health care provider.
Last Chance: Register Now for the Total Pharmacy Solutions Summit
Join industry experts on Saturday, June 15, to completely transform and revolutionize how you approach front- and back-end solutions within your pharmacy.
Humira Biosimilars Cyltezo, Hyrimoz Added to Express Scripts Formulary
The company will also add Sandoz’s unbranded version of adalimumab to its National Preferred Formulary.
Moderna Announces Submission of BLA, Global Marketing Authorizations for RSV Vaccine
The Connection Between OUD and Contraceptive Use
A recent study shows decreased use of multiple types of contraception among patients struggling with OUD.
Alzheimer Drug Lecanemab Gets Full FDA Approval
The approval was based on a confirmatory trial that found the therapy slowed disease progression compared with placebo.
How Well Does Disease-Modifying Therapy Work for Older Adults with MS?
Researchers concluded that older patients with stable MS can stop taking disease-modifying therapy because risk of relapse is so small.
Press Release: CPESN® Networks Expands Patient Care Efforts with Commonwealth Care Alliance®
Staying Safe This Summer
Patient Treatment Costs to rise 7% in 2024, Report Finds
The increase is expected to be somewhat offset by the impact of biosimilars coming to market and more care being provided in outpatient settings.
Flip The Pharmacy July Schedule & Sign-Ups
What's on the agenda for FTP in the upcoming month?
News Roundup: June 19 to June 23
FDA Approves Odevixibat for ALGS Patients 12 Months And Up
Odevixibat can now be used to treat cholestatic pruritus in young patients with Alagille syndrome (ALGS).
The Effectiveness of Biologics in Preventing Penetrating Complications in Patients With CD
A study presented at Digestive Disease Week 2023 compared the effectiveness of different approaches to prevent complications in individuals with the common disease.
Early Factor VIII Prophylaxis Is Most Effective Long-Term Joint Treatment
Delayed prophylaxis start and intermediate dose intensity of factor VIII prevents bleeds, but at a cost of more joint damage and possibly a lower QOL.
News Roundup: June 12 to June 16
Recapping The First Two Days Of ASHP Summer Meetings 2023
What stood out on Sunday and Monday at the 2023 ASHP Summer Meetings in Baltimore?
News Roundup: June 5 to June 9
Morning RX: June 9, 2023
Advisers with the FDA endorse a monoclonal antibody treatment for RSV in children, AstraZeneca and Quell sign a $2 billion agreement, and HSS hopes to strengthen the pediatric workforce.
At-home COVID-19 Test Cue OTC Receives Marketing Authorization from FDA
The newly approved at-home test was effective in trials, correctly identifying 98.7% of negative and 92.9% of positive samples for individuals with symptoms of upper respiratory infection.
Mask Up: How To Protect Your Respiratory System From Wildfire Smoke
Which masks (if any) serve as the best protection against wildfire smoke, and what do experts say about home appliances like air conditioners?
Morning RX: June 8, 2023
A survey shows cancer centers are struggling, Google expands its generative AI into health care, and the WHO announces enhanced collaboration with the Global Fund.
The Price of New Cancer Drugs Continues To Rise
The median annual cost for new oncology medicines launched in 2022 was $260,000, up from $63,534 10 years ago, an IQVIA report finds.
Morning RX: June 7, 2023
Cue Health gets FDA’s first de novo approval for at-home COVID-19 test, Novavax says its new vaccine will fight new variants and HHS creates new cert standards for peer support workers.
Digital Health Leaders Propose New Guidelines For Product Evaluations
Existing evidence-evaluation frameworks are not sufficiently targeted toward the specific factors relevant to digital health products, they argue.
Morning RX: June 6, 2023
Merck sues the federal government, the FDA will allow cancer drug imports from China, and a drug from GSK shows promise for endometrial cancer treatment.
FDA Clears Prostate Cancer Treatment Lynparza
The combination of Lynparza and abiraterone reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 76% vs. abiraterone alone in patients with BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.