Weekend ICYMI: August 19 to August 23

Q&A: Discussing the Dangers of Buying GLP-1s From Online Pharmacies

Shopping cart filled with medication / MysteryShot - stock.adobe.com

The rise in popularity of GLP-1s since 2022 has resulted in shortages of the drugs and a proliferation of dangerous products being sold through illegal online pharmacies. In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, investigators set out to determine the risk of sourcing semaglutide from online platforms. In an interview with Drug Topics, Timothy Mackey, MAS, PhD, author on the study, discussed the dangers associated with sourcing GLP-1s 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.

Pharmacy Deserts Prominent in Areas of High Social Vulnerability

In US counties where patients are experiencing high social vulnerability paired with a low PCP density, pharmacy deserts were significantly more prominent. “Nationally, 15.8 million (4.7%) of all people in the United States live in pharmacy deserts, spanning urban and rural settings in all 50 states. On average, communities that are pharmacy deserts have a higher proportion of people who have a high school education or less, have no health insurance, have low self-reported English ability, have an ambulatory disability, and identify as a racial or ethnic minority. While, on average, pharmacies are the most accessible health care setting in the United States, many people still do not have access to them,” wrote authors of a study published in Health Affairs Scholar.

Q&A: The Importance of Cooling Technology for Prescription Drugs

From EpiPens and insulin to GLP-1s and the COVID-19 vaccine, many are unaware of the major role refrigeration plays in the moving and storing of prescription drugs and pharmaceutical products. While most businesses use compressor-based refrigeration technology to store their prescriptions, Phononic—a technology company revolutionizing the way products are heated and cooled—has stood out in the industry with its solid state cooling technology. Dana Krug, senior vice president of cold chain fulfillment at Phononic, sat down with Drug Topics to discuss the importance of cooling refrigeration for pharmaceutical products patients use every day.

Disparities Hinder HPV Vaccine Goals in USAPI Jurisdictions

Although coverage with HPV vaccine is on track to meet 2030 goals in 2 jurisdictions in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region, disparities have contributed to lagging coverage in others, according to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In the USAPI, HPV vaccines were introduced between 2007 and 2016, primarily through school-based programs. In the first comprehensive report of trends in HPV vaccination coverage among adolescent girls since they were introduced, MMWR aimed to identify progress toward regional goals and identify populations and areas with low coverage.

Tirzepatide Demonstrates 94% Diabetes Reduction, 22% Weight Loss in SURMOUNT-1 Study

Eli Lilly and Company has announced positive topline results from its SURMOUNT-1 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide (Zepbound and Mounjaro) for weight management and delay in progression to T2D in adults with pre-diabetes and obesity or overweight. Most notably, tirzepatide reduced the risk of developing T2D by 94% and contributed to an average weight loss of more than 20% among participants taking the medication.

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