Drug Topics Top 10: Most Read Stories From May 2024

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose Beneficial to Immunocompromised Patients

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A COVID-19 vaccine booster dose can help immunocompromised patients generate a strong defense against the disease, according to research published in the journal the Lancet Rheumatology. The authors said the findings support strategies at the national and international level that promote booster doses.

Q&A: Inside the Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy-AstraZeneca Collaboration

In a presentation at AXS24, the Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit, Autumn Zuckerman, PharmD, BCPS, CSP, Director, Health Outcomes at Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy, and her colleagues shared the real-world results of a collaboration between their health system specialty pharmacy and AstraZeneca. Zuckerman sat down with Drug Topics to share additional insights from the collaborative program.

Ascension Hospitals Face Disruptions from Suspected Cyberattack

Ascension, one of the largest health care systems in the United States, detected disruptions in its technology network systems due to a suspected “cybersecurity event.” Although the extent of the disruption and its damage are currently unknown, the company was forced to shut down several of its systems across the country to ensure the safety of patient information.

Q&A: How Coffee Helped This Pharmacy Improve Front-End Sales

Over the past few years, a unique pharmacy operation has been making waves in the Pacific Northwest. Chris Schaffner is a pharmacist by trade, but he also serves as the owner of Apothecary Coffee, a co-located coffee shop attached to his other business, Schaffner Pharmacy.

FDA Approves IND for mRNA Vaccine for Epstein-Barr Virus-Related Cancer

The FDA approved the IND for WGc-043, the first and only Epstein-Barr virus-related mRNA cancer vaccine. This approval “represents a significant advance in cancer treatment, offering new hope to patients with advanced Epstein-Barr virus-related cancers,” noted a company press release.

FDA Delays Decision on Moderna’s RSV Vaccine

The FDA delayed its decision on Moderna’s investigational respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine due to administrative constraints, the biotechnology company announced in a release. The federal agency said that it expects to complete a review of the Biologics License Application (BLA) for mRNA-1345 by the end of May, instead of the original Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of May 12.

Q&A: Pharmacist Turned Coffee Shop Owner on the Current State of Independent Pharmacy

Chris Schaffner, PharmD, sat down with Drug Topics to talk about his joint business, which combines a coffee shop and a pharmacy. Owner of Schaffner Pharmacy and Apothecary Coffee, Schaffner discussed the current state of the independent pharmacy market and what independent pharmacies can do to face ongoing challenges within the industry.

Slideshow: The Gut-Skin Connection

In recent years, research has increasingly focused on the gut-skin axis, which describes the 2-way communication system between the gut and the skin. The connection hinges on the gut microbiome, a community of trillions of microorganisms that live in the intestines and are responsible for maintaining homeostasis throughout the body.

Examining Immune Response of Hepatitis B Vaccines in Patients With HCV

A significant association between immune response and administration of a standard or multi-dose hepatitis B vaccine was not observed in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to new research presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024, held May 18 to 21 in Washington, DC.

Insulin App Recall Prompts FDA Warning After More Than 200 Reported Injuries

Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc, a medical device manufacturer, has issued a voluntary recall of a mobile insulin management app due to a software malfunction. The glitch has led to more than 200 confirmed injuries and leaves thousands at risk of further harm.

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