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Articles

Zepbound from Eli Lilly is the first and only prescription medicine approved by the FDA for adults with obstructive sleep apnea and obesity.

FDA Approves Tirzepatide for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Obesity

Authors concluded that that the benefit of the vaccine in preventing long COVID is due mainly to the fact it mitigates the risk of infection.

Pfizer Vaccine Reduces Risk of Long COVID in Pediatric Patients

Lauren Biscaldi is the Managing Editor of Drug Topics. 

Although the drug fell short of its 25% expected weight loss, results are still promising for people with overweight or obesity. 

CagriSema Demonstrates Statistically Significant, Superior Weight Loss Vs Placebo

With pressure from the House GOP, expected PBM reform was not included in Congress’ end-of-year spending package.

PBM Reform Pulled Back in Late Change to Spending Package

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NCPA Annual Convention

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Clinical

Researchers assessed the importance of a nutritious diet and the role pharmacists play in providing dietary management services.

Pharmacists Play Vital Role in Dietary Management

The drugs were compared over a 72-week study period. 

Tirzepatide Bests Semaglutide in Relative, Average Weight Loss in Obesity, Overweight 

In a recent clinical trial, weekly semaglutide demonstrated promise as a nonsurgical, nonopioid intervention for reducing knee osteoarthritis pain.

Weekly Semaglutide Injection Reduces Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

A conversation with Melody Hartzler, PharmD, at the 2024 National Community Pharmacists Association Annual Convention and Expo.

Best Practices for Educating Patients on Holistic Weight Management Approaches | NCPA 2024

In the United States, 41.9% of adults over the age of 20 years have obesity and 73.6% have overweight.

 This represents a significant public health threat in the country, particularly as some estimates expect 1 in 2 adults to have obesity by 2030.

 As obesity is known to increase the risk of chronic disease and lead to poor life expectancy, implementing measures to mitigate the rise in obesity is a critical issue.

As the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists are well positioned to play key role in helping patients with weight management. Community pharmacists have the clinical knowledge and skills to effectively provide patients with weight loss solutions through counseling. Previous research has also shown that when pharmacists provide weight loss interventions, it results in significant improvements in body weight loss for patients.

At the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) 2024 Annual Convention and Expo, held October 26 to 29 in Columbus, Ohio, 

sat down with Melody Hartzler, PharmD, clinical pharmacist and CEO of PharmToTable and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy, to discuss some best practices pharmacists can use to educate patients on holistic approaches to weight management.

“What are the low hanging fruits,” Hartzler said. “Looking at drugs that people may be on and doing bag stuffers about what nutrient depletions are associated with x, y and z medications. Maybe it’s a package you’re offering. You’ve got a health coach involved and you have a class that’s a kickoff in your community. Finding out what the needs are in the community can also be really important.”

“I think it’s really understanding your demographic because this might look different in New York City versus rural Tennessee,” she added. “Who are you serving and what are their needs?”

1. Obesity and Overweight. Report. CDC. January 5, 2023. Accessed October 28, 2024. 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm

2. Ward ZJ, Bleich SN, Cradock AL, et al. Projected U.S. State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity. 

. 2019 Dec 19;381(25):2440-2450. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa1909301. PMID: 31851800.

3. Alhomoud IS, Cook E, Patel D, et al. Effect of pharmacist interventions on the management of overweight and obesity: A systematic review. 

 (2003). 2024 May-Jun;64(3):102058. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2024.102058. Epub 2024 Feb 27. PMID: 38417740.

Videos

A conversation with Melody Hartzler, PharmD, at NCPA 2024.

Tools Pharmacists Can Use to Identify, Address Common Metabolic Roadblocks to Weight Loss 

The prevalence of obesity remains high in the United States and is considered a significant public health issue. According to data from the CDC, over 40% of adults aged 20 and older and approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the country have obesity.

 Metabolic issues, including obesity and insulin resistance, can often make it harder for people to lose weight and also increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.

sat down with Melody Hartzler, PharmD, clinical pharmacist and CEO of PharmToTable and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy, to discuss some common metabolic roadblocks to weight loss that patients may face and what tools pharmacy teams can use to identify and address them.

“So much of the messaging surrounding nutrition depends on who you talk to,” Hartzler said. “’Which one is the best for me? Which exercise pattern should I use?’ People get really confused. I think that’s really where pharmacists can step in and just really help patients understand what core things [they] can do. If you’re the pharmacist in the center of your community and you’re serving these patients, [you] want them to be well, [you] want them to be thriving.”

Click here to follow along with our NCPA conference coverage.

Coverage of the National Community Pharmacists Association 2024 Annual Convention and Expo was supported by Red Sail, with independent editorial content creation on-site by the Drug Topics team.

1. Obesity and Overweight. Report. CDC. January 5, 2023. Accessed October 28, 2024. 

2. Childhood Obesity Facts. Report. CDC. April 2, 2024. Accessed October 28, 2024. 

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood-obesity-facts/childhood-obesity-facts.html

3. Diagnosed With Metabolic Syndrome? Why It’s a Call to Action You Should Take Seriously. News Release. Cleveland Clinic. October 16, 2018. Accessed October 28, 2024. 

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/diagnosed-with-metabolic-syndrome-why-its-a-call-to-action-you-should-take-seriously

Melody Hartzler, PharmD, discusses common metabolic roadblocks to weight loss and what tools pharmacy teams can use to identify and address them.

Tools Pharmacists Can Use to Identify, Address Metabolic Roadblocks to Weight Loss | NCPA 2024

Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD, discusses the dangers associated with sourcing GLP-1s from illegal online pharmacies.

Pharmacists Play Key Role in Warning Patients About Harms of Sourcing GLP-1s Online

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. The class of medications—which includes semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide—are approved to help manage type 2 diabetes. However, a rise in awareness of GLP-1s' weight-loss benefits began around late 2022 and significantly drove demand for the drugs, resulting in shortages and a proliferation of dangerous products being sold in illegal online pharmacies.

Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD, professor of global health at the University of California, San Diego and a member of the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies’ Academic Advisory Panel, published a study recently in 

with his colleagues that sought to determine the risk of sourcing semaglutide from online platforms.

search on Google and Bing to find websites advertising the sale of semaglutide without a prescription in July 2023. They chose 6 websites to purchase products from and performed visual and quality inspections to determine sterility, falsification risks, and microbiological contamination. Of the 6 websites that were chosen for the test buys, 3 delivered the product and 3 were nondelivery scams that requested additional payment.

The study found that compared to genuine semaglutide samples, which scored 22 points on the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s checklist, the purchased test products’ scores ranged from 8 to 9. These products had discrepancies in regulatory registration information and had evidence that they were likely unregistered or unlicensed. The semaglutide content in the test products also had significantly more than what was advertised on the labels, with some samples exceeding by 29% to 39%.

, Mackey discussed how the study was conducted and its key findings, why people are seeking GLP-1s online, the dangers associated with sourcing them from online pharmacies, what can be done to increase awareness about illegal online pharmacies, and the key role pharmacists play in warning patients about the dangers of sourcing GLP-1s from online platforms.

“Clinicians and pharmacists are interfacing with the patient directly and have an opportunity to talk about not just the health and risk benefits associated with GLP-1s, but the sourcing risks,” Mackey said. “Right now, so many people are looking for [GLP-1s] and there is a lot of sourcing risk…Pharmacists and clinicians may be the only really informed intermediaries to really make sure that this stuff is appropriately prescribed.”

1. Scannell C, Romley J, Myerson R, Goldman D, Qato DM. Prescription Fills for Semaglutide Products by Payment Method. 

 2024;5(8):e242026. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.2026

2. Ashraf AR, Mackey TK, Schmidt J, et al. Safety and Risk Assessment of No-Prescription Online Semaglutide Purchases. 

 2024;7(8):e2428280. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.28280

Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD, discusses the dangers associated with sourcing GLP-1s from illegal online pharmacies and the key role pharmacists play in warning patients.

Doug Long Scott Biggs IQVIA

Each year, attendees at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo look forward one particular presentation: IQVIA’s overview of pharmacy trends, issues, and forecasts for the current and upcoming year.

was joined by Scott Long, director of supplier services at IQVIA, and Doug Long, vice president of industry relations at IQVIA, ahead of their August 19 presentation.

glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications

—a category that includes blockbuster therapies semaglutide and tirzepatide (Ozempic and Wegovy, and Mounjaro and Zepbound, respectively)—is one of the biggest areas that pharmacy forecasters are keeping a weathered eye on. “It’s a very large category having some significant impacts on the sales side within [the pharmaceutical industry],” said Biggs. The shortages of these medications, due to heightened consumer interest and expanded access, are also worth watching.

Q&A: Understanding the Role of Tirzepatide, Semaglutide in Cardiovascular Disease

Even as drugmakers pledge millions to step up manufacturing capabilities, challenges around GLP-1s are anticipated to linger into future, particularly around profitability. “Generally, a pharmacy loses money on every GLP-1 prescription they dispense,” explained Long. “That kind of throws the whole business model; you can’t have that situation where they lose money on dispensing prescriptions.”

Ready to catch up on the rest of our conference coverage? 

 of the 2024 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, GLP-1 therapies are expected to continue making headlines within the industry. 

Total Pharmacy

IQVIA: GLP-1 Therapies, Health Care Cyber Attacks Among Top Industry Impacts in 2024

Robert Ostfeld MD ScM 2

Helping patients embrace a healthful diet—and the lifestyle changes that come with it—can be a challenge. “Society does not make…it easy for the healthy choice to be the easy choice,” said Robert Ostfeld, MD, ScM. “And behavior change, getting someone to change how they eat, how they live, can be very, very difficult. These are big hurdles that we face.”

Ostfeld is the director of preventive cardiology at the Montefiore Health System and a professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. He spoke with 

 ahead of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology Congress on CVD Prevention, held August 2 through August 4 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Although it may be difficult or overwhelming for an individual practitioner to feel they can overcome these barriers with their patients, the best they can do is try to start. One way to do that, Ostfeld explained, is by relying on the team around you: physicians, support staff, nurses, and registered dietitians, among others. Another way is drilling down to find a specific reason why a patient may be interested in living more healthfully. “Maybe they want to lose weight or improve their skin complexion, maybe they want to lower their blood pressure, lower their cholesterol, come off a medication… Whatever the case may be, I try to highlight how consistently eating more healthfully can address that particular issue,” Ostfeld noted.

For those patients where cost may be a hurdle, “we certainly don’t have to buy organic green juices,” he said. Instead, remind them that frozen 

, as well as bulk purchases of items like oatmeal, beans, and potatoes, can be less expensive, less overwhelming, and “more doable” for those looking to ease the way for change.

Ready to catch up on the rest of our conference coverage? Click 

 of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology Congress on CVD Prevention.

Sharing concrete steps and suggestions can help ease the way for patients looking to transition to a more healthful lifestyle.

Video: Top Tips for Patients to Encourage Healthful Diet and Lifestyle

Robert Ostfeld MD ScM 1

The average American can likely recall that fruits and vegetables form the foundation of a healthy diet. Medical societies are in broad agreement as well: American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American Society for Preventive Cardiology, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and the European Society of Cardiology are all broadly aligned on this point. The challenge, said Robert Ostfeld, MD, ScM, is that these recommendations don’t trickle down well—at least not in the United States.

“There’s a huge gap between where we are and where we could be,” Ostfeld said. A 2021 study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database evaluated data from just over 11,000 individuals and found that only 0.7% of people in the US have an “ideal” dietary pattern, consuming at least 4 and a half servings of fruits and vegetables and 3 servings of whole grains per day, 2 servings of fatty fish each week, and low sugar, sweetened beverage, and salt consumption. Investigators went on to model what would happen if everyone adopted an ideal dietary pattern—incorporating 4 or 5 of those 5 elements—for just 1 year. “It was estimated that cardiovascular event rates would fall by about 42%,” Ostfeld said. “The gap matters.”

—one that’s more plant-based and more closely aligned with American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association recommendations—can be helpful for managing conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. But, Ostfeld noted, “it’s not really that there’s 1 diet [for each of those conditions]. They’re broadly aligned that consuming more healthful, plant-based foods—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils—and less ultra-processed food and…red and processed meats is helpful” for both cardiovascular and cardiometabolic health.

Health care professionals all agree that a healthy diet is the foundation of cardiovascular and cardiometabolic health, but follow-through on the population level is lacking.

Healthful Diets Are Crucial, But Population-Level Follow-Through Remains a Challenge

Robert Kushner 1

Although anyone wishing to improve their health through weight loss can benefit from a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medication, individuals with overweight or obesity who have additional complications or comorbid conditions stand to derive the most benefits from GLP-1s or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 dual agonists, according to Robert Kushner, MD, MS.

Kushner is a professor of medicine and medicine education at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. He spoke with 

Head to Head Comparison of GLP-1 RAs for Weight Loss Tips Scales in Tirzepatide’s Favor

“We think about [these drugs] as a candidate for almost any individual,” he added. But for someone with comorbidities—a list that includes sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, and other cardiovascular risks—losing even 5% of body weight can lead to improved blood pressure and blood glucose levels. “That’s when these incretin-based medications come to mind as preferable agents over the earlier approved, centrally acting medications,” Kushner said.

Losing even 5% of body weight can improve comorbid conditions and other health complications for individuals with overweight and obesity. 

Obesity Management

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