Year in Review: 2021 Top News from Drug Topics®

This year, our Drug Topics® audience read more of our news than ever before. As we head into the New Year, take a look back at the top 15 articles we published this year.

15. American Pharmacists Month: 4 Pharmacists Helping Their Communities

In honor of American Pharmacists Month, here are 4 pharmacists making a significant difference in the communities they serve.

14. FDA OKs Shingrix for Immunocompromised Adults 18 Years and Older

The agency expanded the indication for the recombinant zoster vaccine, adjuvanted (Shingrix) to include the prevention of shingles in immunocompromised adults aged 18 and older.

13. Survey: Rise in Retail Health Services, Retail Pharmacy Customer Satisfaction

Retail pharmacies have proved successful in expanding their role in primary care services and patients are responding positively.

12. NCPA Encourages DOJ and HHS to Defend Price Transparency Rule

PBMs are fighting to keep patients and consumers in the dark on prescription drug costs and attempting to reverse a rule created to promote drug price transparency.

11. New Advances in Breast Cancer Therapy

Breast cancer continues to affect women globally, with approximately 13% developing invasive disease. New treatment regimens and options are on the horizon for breast cancer therapy.

10. CMS Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Staff Across Health Care Facilities

The vaccine mandate applies to employees at facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs.

9. Boost Revenue and Patient Satisfaction With Point-of-Care Testing

In a session from the PDS 2021 Virtual Super-Conference, experts discussed how POC testing capabilities enhance patient services and address antimicrobial resistance.

8. Video: Biosimilars and Women’s Health, Part 1: Expert Interview with Monica Mallampalli, MSc, PhD

Drug Topics® sat down with Mallampalli to discuss the importance of biosimilar education for women, empowering them to make better health care choices.

7. How Social Distancing Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Migraine Patients

Migraineurs reported worsened symptoms during social distancing, which may be attributed to reduced sleep quality and physical activity.

6. First Interchangeable Biosimilar Insulin Approved by FDA for Diabetes

The FDA has granted approval of the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin product, insulin glargine-yfgn (Semglee), for diabetes.

5. Pharmacists’ Public Health Role Grows as Birth Control Prescribing Authority Expands

An increasing number of pharmacists are now prescribing birth control, further expanding their role as public health service providers.

4.COVID-19 Vaccines Change the Role of Community Pharmacy

At some independent pharmacies, pharmacists are voluntarily working longer, unrecorded hours to provide patient care.

3. Evidence-Based Solutions for Stopping the Opioid Crisis

A coalition of 240 organizations came together to urge Congress to pass legislation to fight the opioid crisis.

2. Finerenone for Heart Failure and Kidney Disease Associated With Type 2 Diabetes

The FDA has approved finerenone (Kerendia) for the treatment of adults with CKD associated with type 2 diabetes.

1. The #PizzaIsNotWorking: It’s Time to Rethink Pay for Pharmacy Technicians

This occasional “reward” hardly makes up for the belligerent customers, insurance issues, and—yes—stressed-out pharmacists.