Drug Topics Top 10: Most Read Stories From August 2024

The 2024-2025 Flu Season: What to Expect

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According to the CDC, more than 44,900 people died from influenza complications during the 2023-2024 flu season. As it does every year, the CDC recommends everyone 6 months or older receive the updated flu vaccine, with rare exceptions.1 But this year, the influenza vaccine is different than it was last season: COVID-19 has become a major player alongside influenza, and patients may be asking about a new virus strain. Read on for the latest information.

Pharmacists’ Ability to Close Gap in Delivery of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy

Pharmacists’ ability to administer oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy highlights a significantly effective opportunity to close gaps in the delivery of prescriptions to treat the reduction of stroke risk in patients with actionable atrial fibrillation (AF). With no increase in adverse events or the use of health care services, the next step in pharmacists’ ability to deliver OAC prescriptions is measuring the scalability and sustainability in future studies, according to authors of a study published in JAMA Network Open.

Transforming Diabetes Interventions Into Sustainable Programs for Pharmacy

Jon Easter, Professor of Practice; Vice Chair, Practice Advancement at UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, sat down with Drug Topics at the 2024 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo to discuss the best ways to support community pharmacists in building effective, sustainable diabetes interventions in community pharmacy settings.

Get Into Politics or Get Out of Pharmacy

As a young pharmacist, Pete A. Kreckel, RPh, was given some sage advice: “Either get into politics or get out of pharmacy.” This was long before Medicare Part D, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), spread pricing, and direct and indirect remuneration fees.

Pancreatic Cancer Dendritic Cell Vaccine Receives FDA Fast Track Designation

A dendritic cell vaccine for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has received fast track designation from the FDA. The vaccine technology also previously received both fast track and orphan drug designations for glioblastoma multiforme.

A Deeper Understanding of GLP-1 Mechanism of Action Will Open Doors for Future Uses

The data are indisputable: across multiple phase 3 clinical trials, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies not only lead to weight loss, but can also confer protective effects against conditions such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases. For weight loss, GLP-1 medications suppress appetite and induce satiety; for cardiovascular disease, the mechanisms of action remain unknown.

Student, Staffing Shortages Continue to Impact Pharmacy Profession

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges to the health care industry and highlighted significant limitations in global medical care infrastructure. However, some of the most serious issues were the high rates of employee burnout and severe worker shortages seen throughout all sectors. Pharmacists and other pharmacy workers, who stepped up to aid both patients and colleagues during the public health crisis, were hit hard by physical and mental exhaustion. This led to a critical shortage in the pharmacy workforce, the repercussions of which continue to reverberate throughout the field.

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons: A Win-Win for Patients and Pharmacies Dispensing GLP-1s

With the growing popularity of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) medications for weight loss, pharmacies are being inundated with new prescriptions from current customers and constant calls from potential customers. Pharmacies dispensing GLP-1s face significant risks dispensing these medications due to the high cost of these branded drugs. Negative reimbursement and cash flow issues have led many independent pharmacies to refer their customers elsewhere, hoping to retain other aspects of their business.

Q&A: Unveiling the Current State of PBMs’ Role in Independent Pharmacy

In the past few months alone, the role of pharmacy benefit managers—or PBMs—in the drug supply chain has garnered an amount of attention that the public has never seen before. Along with educating the public on PBM practices, a specific population of independent pharmacists have been more outspoken than ever before, trying to shine a light on the issues affecting the pharmaceutical industry.

As FDA Decision on MDMA for PTSD Looms, What Would Approval Mean for Mental Health Treatment?

Sam Clark, MD, PhD, founder and CEO of Terran Biosciences, discusses the implications of a potential FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.

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