Clinical Insights: April 3, 2024
Welcome to Pillr Health’s Clinical Insights, designed to help pharmacy professionals stay up to date on the ever-changing pharmaceutical and pharmacy marketplace.
New Drug/Vaccine Approval
Voydeya™ (danicopan) Tablets – New Drug Approval – March 29, 2024 – Voydeya™ (danicopan) has been approved in the US as add-on therapy to ravulizumab or eculizumab for the treatment of extravascular haemolysis (EVH) in adults with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). Voydeya™ is a first-in-class, oral, Factor D inhibitor developed as an add-on to standard-of-care Ultomiris® (ravulizumab) or Soliris® (eculizumab) to address the needs of the approximately 10-20% of patients with PNH who experience clinically significant EVH while treated with a C5 inhibitor. <Read More> Vafseo® (vadadustat) Tablets – New Drug Approval – March 27, 2024 – Akebia Therapeutics®, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vafseo® (vadadustat) Tablets for the treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults who have been receiving dialysis for at least three months. Vafseo® is a once-daily oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitor that activates the physiologic response to hypoxia to stimulate endogenous production of erythropoietin to manage anemia. Vafseo® is now approved in 37 countries. <Read More> Winrevair™ (sotatercept) for Injection – New Orphan Drug Approval – March 26, 2024 – Merck (NYSE: MRK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved sotatercept-csrk (U.S. Brand Name: Winrevair™, for injection, 45mg, 60mg) for the treatment of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, World Health Organization [WHO] Group 1) to increase exercise capacity, improve WHO functional class (FC), and reduce the risk of clinical worsening events. Winrevair™ was previously granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA. Winrevair™ is the first FDA-approved activin signaling inhibitor therapy for PAH, representing a new class of therapy that works by improving the balance between pro- and anti-proliferative signaling to regulate vascular cell proliferation underlying PAH. <Read More> Opsynvi® (macitentan and tadalafil) Tablets – New Orphan Drug Approval – March 22, 2024 – Johnson & Johnson announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Opsynvi® – a single-tablet combination of macitentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA), and tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor – for the chronic treatment of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, World Health Organization [WHO] Group I) and WHO functional class (FC) II-III. Opsynvi® may be used in patients with PAH who are treatment-naïve or who are already on an ERA, PDE5 inhibitor or both. Opsynvi® may be used in patients who are currently treated concomitantly with stable doses of macitentan 10 mg and tadalafil 40 mg (20 mg x 2) as separate tablets. <Read More> Duvyzat™ (givinostat) Oral Suspension – New Orphan Drug Approval – March 21, 2024 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Duvyzat™ (givinostat) oral medication for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in patients six years of age and older. Duvyzat™ is the first nonsteroidal drug approved to treat patients with all genetic variants of DMD. It is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that works by targeting pathogenic processes to reduce inflammation and loss of muscle. <Read More> Tryvio™ (aprocitentan) Tablets – New Drug Approval – March 20, 2024 – Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tryvio™ (aprocitentan) for the treatment of hypertension in combination with other antihypertensive drugs, to lower blood pressure in adult patients who are not adequately controlled on other drugs. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. The recommended dosage of Tryvio™ is 12.5 mg orally once daily, with or without food. <Read More>
New Indication/Dosage/Formulation Approval
Vemlidy® (tenofovir alafenamide) Tablets – New Label Expansion – March 27, 2024 – Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for Vemlidy® (tenofovir alafenamide) 25 mg tablets as a once-daily treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in pediatric patients six years of age and older and weighing at least 25 kg with compensated liver disease. <Read More> Elahere® (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 22, 2024 – AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for Elahere® (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx) for the treatment of folate receptor alpha (FRα)-positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal adult cancer patients treated with up to three prior therapies. Patients with these cancers often present with late-stage disease, undergo surgery and are then treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. They may become resistant to this treatment and require another therapy, such as Elahere®. <Read More> Nexletol® (bempedoic acid) and Nexlizet® (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) Tablets – New Label Expansion – March 22, 2024 – Esperion (NASDAQ: ESPR) announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved broad new label expansions for Nexletol® (bempedoic acid) Tablets and Nexlizet® (bempedoic acid and ezetimibe) Tablets based on positive CLEAR Outcomes data that include indications for cardiovascular risk reduction and expanded LDL-C lowering in both primary and secondary prevention patients. In addition, the enhanced labels support the use of Nexletol® and Nexlizet® either alone or in combination with statins. They also include new indications for primary hyperlipidemia, alone or in combination with a statin, and are the only LDL-C lowering non-statin drugs indicated for primary prevention patients. <Read More> Ultomiris® (ravulizumab-cwvz) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 22, 2024 – Ultomiris® (ravulizumab-cwvz) has been approved in the United States (US) as the first and only long-acting C5 complement inhibitor for the treatment of adult patients with anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody-positive (Ab+) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was based on positive results from the CHAMPION-NMOSD Phase III trial, which were published in the Annals of Neurology. In the trial, Ultomiris® was compared to an external placebo arm from the pivotal Soliris PREVENT clinical trial. <Read More> Ixinity® (coagulation factor IX (recombinant)) for Injection – New label Expansion – March 22, 2024 – Medexus Pharmaceuticals (TSX: MDP) (OTCQX: MEDXF) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Medexus's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Ixinity® [coagulation factor IX (recombinant)] for the on-demand, prophylactic, and perioperative treatment of pediatric patients under 12 years of age with hemophilia B. Ixinity®, an intravenous recombinant factor IX therapeutic, is now approved for use in all patients with hemophilia B, a hereditary bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency of clotting factor IX in the blood. <Read More> Iclusig® (ponatinib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – March 19, 2024 – Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Iclusig® (ponatinib) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) in combination with chemotherapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative complete remission (CR) at the end of induction. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. This accelerated approval application was granted Priority Review and evaluated under the Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) program, an FDA initiative designed to expedite the delivery of cancer medicines by allowing components of an application to be reviewed before submission of the complete application. <Read More> Spevigo® (spesolimab-sbzo) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 18, 2024 – Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Spevigo® (spesolimab-sbzo) injection for the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 and above weighing ≥40 kg. This approval follows the Chinese National Medical Products Administration’s (NMPA) recent approval of Spevigo® for the reduction of occurrence of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in adolescents from 12 years of age with a body weight ≥40 kg and adults. Spevigo® is a novel, humanized selective IgG1 antibody that binds to interleukin-36 receptor (IL-36R), a key part of a signaling pathway within the immune system shown to be involved in the cause of GPP. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
March 28, 2024
Fluconazole Tablet (Discontinuation)
Linezolid Tablet (Discontinuation)
March 27, 2024
Insulin Lispro Injection (Discontinuation)
March 26, 2024
Azithromycin for Suspension (Discontinuation)
Barium Sulfate Cream (Discontinuation)
Carbidopa and Levodopa Tablet (Discontinuation)
March 25, 2024
Oxaliplatin Injection (Discontinuation)
March 22, 2024
Somatropin Injection (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
April 02, 2024
Epinephrine Injection, Syringes (Currently in Shortage)
April 01, 2024
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Erythromycin Ointment (Currently in Shortage)
Flurazepam Hydrochloride Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Chloride 0.9% Irrigation (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
Tirzepatide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
March 29, 2024
Cromolyn Sodium Concentrate (Currently in Shortage)
Gentamicin Sulfate Injection (Discontinuation)
March 28, 2024
Atropine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Cytarabine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Disopyramide Phosphate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Etomidate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Gentamicin Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Potassium Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Chloride 14.6% Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Chloride 23.4% Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic, Anhydrous, Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic, Monohydrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sulfasalazine Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
March 25, 2024
Vecuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
Atovaquone Oral Suspension, USP 750 mg/5 mL by AvKARE, LLC. – New Voluntary Recall – April 1, 2024 - AvKARE, LLC. is voluntarily recalling lot # AW0221A of Atovaquone Oral Suspension, USP 750mg/5mL to the Consumer/User level, due to the potential Bacillus cereus contamination in the product found during stability testing at a 3rd party lab. <Read More> Methocarbamol Injection, USP 1000 mg/10 mL (100mg/mL) (Single Dose Vial) by Eugia US LLC (f/k/a AuroMedics Pharma LLC) – New Voluntary Recall – March 28, 2024 – Eugia US LLC (f/k/a AuroMedics Pharma LLC) has initiated a voluntary recall of lot number 3MC23011 of Methocarbamol Injection, USP 1000 mg/10 mL (100mg/mL) (Single Dose Vial) - 10mL Vial to the consumer level due to a customer product complaint for the presence of white particles floating inside of the vial. <Read More> Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Oral Solution USP, 250mg/5mL by Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC. – New Voluntary Recall – March 27, 2024 – Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC. Bridgewater, New Jersey (Amneal), is voluntarily recalling 4 lots (see table below) of Vancomycin Hydrochloride for Oral Solution, USP, 250 mg/5mL packaged in 80 mL, 150 mL, or 300 mL pack sizes, to the Consumer Level. Some bottles may have been overfilled which can result in an over potent dosing regimen. The recommended maximum daily dose allowance for this product is up to 2gm/day and patients prescribed a dosing regimen of 500 mg/10mL would exceed this daily allowance, which may be harmful to patients with renal insufficiency. The error occurred during the manual bottle filling stage of manufacturing. <Read More>
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
No new update.
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Biden-Harris Administration Furthers Medicare Drug Price Negotiations, Releases New Data on How the President’s Historic Law Lowers Health Care Costs for Women – April 2, 2024 – The Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare drug price negotiations and other provisions will lower the cost of prescription drugs for millions of women. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released new research showing how key Inflation Reduction Act provisions will lower costs for women enrolled in Medicare, including nearly 30 million women enrolled in Part D. Also, HHS announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) responded to counteroffers from all manufacturers participating in Medicare drug price negotiations – which the Inflation Reduction Act made possible – and invited them to participate in further discussions. <Read More> Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection Reported in a Person in the U.S. – April 1, 2024 – A person in the United States has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus (“H5N1 bird flu”), as reported by Texas and confirmed by CDC. This person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses. The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering. The patient was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug for flu. This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low. <Read More> Study: ‘Gamechanger’ Diabetes Drugs Cost up to 400 Times More Than Needed – March 28, 2024 – Drug companies are pricing diabetes medicines at almost 400 times the level necessary to make a profit, according to a new study. Researchers said it would also be possible for modern insulin pens, which are safer and offer more accurate doses than vials and syringes, to be used even in low-income countries if pharmaceutical firms “put people before their astronomical profits”. A new generation of diabetes drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) include Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic® (semaglutide), taken by some celebrities as a weight-loss aid, and Eli Lilly’s Trulicity® (dulaglutide). They are now a standard part of treatment in high-income countries, but are unaffordable in many parts of the world despite rising rates of the condition. <Read More> ASCO Updates Guidelines on Vaccines in Patients with Cancer – March 27, 2024 – The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently issued a new clinical practice guideline, “Vaccinations of Adults with Cancer,” updating its recommendations for patients with cancer of which vaccines to receive. For adult patients of all ages, the guideline recommends: 1) Influenza vaccine annually, 2) COVID-19 vaccine according to the recommended CDC schedule, 3) Tdap or Td vaccine once, followed by a booster every 10 years, 4) Two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine at least 4 weeks apart, 5) One dose of PCV20 pneumococcal vaccine or 1 dose of PCV15 followed by PPSV23 8 weeks later. <Read More> The Truth About Compounded GLP-1s That Doctors Need to Know – March 26, 2024 – Meanwhile, the APC statement notes, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have sued compounding companies in several states, questioning, among other things, the purity and potency of some compounded products. There are different designations for compounding pharmacies: 503A and 503B. 503As are state-licensed pharmacies and physicians, and 503B pharmacies are federally regulated outsourcing facilities that are strictly regulated by the FDA. This regulation, established following a 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak linked to a compounding pharmacy, ensures higher-quality control and oversight, especially for medications intended for intravenous or epidural use. These standards exceed those required for subcutaneous injections like GLP-1 analogs. <Read More> FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid Certain Topical Pain Relief Products Due to Potential for Dangerous Health Effects – March 26, 2024 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use certain over-the-counter analgesic (pain relief) products that are marketed for topical use to relieve pain before, during or after certain cosmetic procedures, such as microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, tattooing and piercing. The agency issued warning letters to six companies for marketing these products in violation of federal law. Some of these products are labeled to contain ingredients, such as lidocaine, at concentrations that are higher than what is permitted for over-the-counter, topical pain relief products. <Read More>
340B in the News
Last Call for Comments on the Bipartisan Discussion Draft of the SUSTAIN Act: Shaping 340B for the Future. – March 26, 2024 – Only a few days remain for stakeholders—which includes drug manufacturers, patients, health care providers, pharmacies and others— to take advantage of a rare opportunity to influence the statutory contours of the 340B Drug Pricing Program (the “340B Program” or the “Program”). Specifically, industry stakeholders have until April 1st to submit comments to legislators regarding the Discussion Draft Explanatory Statement and Supplemental RFI (the “RFI”) of the “Supporting Underserved and Strengthening Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity Now and for the Future of 340B Act” (the “Sustain 340B Act”). This bipartisan legislative discussion draft was released by the Senate 340B Working Group (the “Working Group”) earlier this year, to update the 340B Program. <Read More>
Clinical Insights: April 16th, 2026
New Drug/Vaccine Approval
Foundayo™ (orforglipron) Tablets – New Drug Approval – April 1, 2026 - Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Foundayo™ (orforglipron) for adults with obesity, or overweight with weight-related medical problems. When used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, Foundayo™ helps individuals lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Foundayo™ will be available via LillyDirect®, with prescriptions accepted immediately and shipping beginning April 6, followed shortly after by broad availability through U.S. retail pharmacies and telehealth providers. <Read More>
Awiqli® (insulin icodec-abae) Injection – New Drug Approval – March 26, 2026 - Novo Nordisk announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Awiqli® (insulin icodec-abae) injection 700 units/mL, the first and only once-weekly, long-acting basal insulin, indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control (blood sugar) in adults living with type 2 diabetes. The approval offers the only once‑weekly basal insulin option, providing a new treatment solution that fits different patient routines and preferences for adults living with type 2 diabetes. <Read More>
Kresladi™ (marnetegragene autotemcel) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Drug Approval – March 26, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Kresladi™ (marnetegragene autotemcel), the first gene therapy for the treatment of severe Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type I (LAD-I). Kresladi™ is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency I (LAD-I) due to biallelic variants in ITGB2 without an available human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. <Read More>
Lifyorli™ (relacorilant) Capsules – New Drug Approval – March 25, 2026 - The Food and Drug Administration approved relacorilant (Lifyorli™, Corcept Therapeutics Inc.), a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, in combination with nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of adults with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have received one to three prior systemic treatment regimens, at least one of which included bevacizumab. <Read More>
Avlayah™ (tividenofusp alfa-eknm) Lyophilized Powder for Injection – New Drug Approval – March 24, 2026 - Denali Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DNLI) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for Avlayah™ (tividenofusp alfa-eknm), the first FDA-approved biologic specifically designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the whole body, including the brain. Avlayah™ is an enzyme replacement therapy indicated for the treatment of neurologic manifestations of Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II, or MPS II) when initiated in presymptomatic or symptomatic pediatric patients weighing at least 5 kg prior to advanced neurologic impairment. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. <Read More>
Lynavoy™ (linerixibat) Tablets – New Drug Approval – March 17, 2026 - GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lynavoy™ (linerixibat) for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in adult patients with PBC. Lynavoy™, an ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor that reduces multiple drivers of chronic itch, is the first medicine approved in the US for this indication. <Read More>
Icotyde™ (icotrokinra hydrochloride) Tablets – New Drug Approval – March 17, 2026 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Icotyde™ (icotrokinra), an interleukin-23 (IL-23) receptor antagonist for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Icotyde™ is the first and only targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the IL-23 receptor. <Read More>
Yuviwel® (navepegritide) Lyophilized Powder for Injection - formerly TransCon CNP – New Drug Approval – February 27, 2026 - Ascendis Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ASND) announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program for Yuviwel® (navepegritide; developed as TransCon® CNP), the first and only once-weekly treatment indicated to increase linear growth in children 2 years of age and older with achondroplasia with open epiphyses and the only one to provide continuous systemic exposure to CNP over the weekly dosing interval. Continued approval for this indication, which was based on an improvement in annualized growth velocity (AGV), may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s). <Read More>
Desmoda™ (desmopressin acetate) Oral Solution - formerly ET-600 – New Drug Approval – February 25, 2026 - Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc (“Eton” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: ETON), an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for rare diseases, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a New Drug Application (NDA) for Desmoda™ (desmopressin acetate) Oral Solution for the management of central diabetes insipidus, also known as arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D), as antidiuretic replacement therapy for patients of all ages. <Read More>
Loargys® (pegzilarginase-nbln) Injection – New Drug Approval – February 23, 2026 - Immedica Pharma announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Loargys® (pegzilarginase-nbln), an arginine specific enzyme indicated for the treatment of hyperargininemia in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with Arginase 1 Deficiency (ARG1-D), in conjunction with dietary protein restriction. <Read More>
Bysanti™ (milsaperidone) Tablets – New Drug Approval – February 20, 2026 - Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: VNDA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bysanti™ (milsaperidone) tablets, a first line therapy for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Eylea HD® (aflibercept) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Dosage Regimen: April 2, 2026 – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the extension of dosing intervals for Eylea HD® (aflibercept) up to every 20 weeks for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) following one year of successful response based on visual and anatomic outcomes. As part of the approval, the FDA has updated the Eylea HD® label to include 96-week (2-year) data from the pivotal PULSAR trial in wAMD and the pivotal PHOTON trial in DME, demonstrating sustained efficacy and safety through 2 years with extended dosing intervals. <Read More>
Tecartus® (brexucabtagene autoleucel) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: April 1, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted traditional (full) approval to Kite’s CAR T-cell therapy, Tecartus® (brexucabtagene autoleucel), for adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The full approval now includes efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic data from Cohort 3 of the ZUMA-2 study in patients who are R/R after one or more lines of therapy and who are Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi)-naïve. <Read More>
Spinraza® (nusinersen) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Dosage Regimen: March 27, 2026 - Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) announced that the High Dose Regimen of Spinraza® (nusinersen), which is comprised of 50 mg/5 mL and 28 mg/5 mL doses, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Backed by more than 10 years of clinical data supporting the Low Dose Regimen of Spinraza® (12 mg), High Dose Spinraza® was designed to deliver a higher concentration of drug through both the loading and maintenance dosing phases, to provide a new option in response to the ongoing needs of the community. <Read More>
Alyftrek® (deutivacaftor, tezacaftor and vanzacaftor) – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: March 27, 2026 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved expanded use of Alyftrek® (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor) for the treatment of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) ages 6 and older with a variant in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that is either responsive based on clinical and/or in vitro data or results in production of CFTR protein. Additionally, the U.S. FDA has also expanded the indication statement for Trikafta® (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor and ivacaftor) in patients ages 2 and older. <Read More>
neffy® (epinephrine) Nasal Spray – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: March 26, 2026 - ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRY), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and their caregivers to better protect patients from allergic reactions that could lead to anaphylaxis, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updating the neffy® 1 mg (epinephrine nasal spray) prescribing information to remove the age criteria so all children and adults who weigh 33 lbs. or more can utilize neffy® for the emergency treatment of Type 1 allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Prior to the update, pediatric patients needed to meet a weight requirement and be at least four years of age. <Read More>
Adstiladrin® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg) Suspension for Intravesical Use – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: March 23, 2026 - Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a label update for Adstiladrin® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg), enabling an accelerated water-bath thawing method, completed in about 25 minutes, to enhance efficient clinical preparation for healthcare teams. <Read More>
Opdivo® (nivolumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 20, 2026 - Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) announced that Opdivo® (nivolumab) has received approval for two new classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) indications in the U.S. and the European Union (EU). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval of Opdivo® in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (AVD) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with previously untreated, Stage III or IV cHL. <Read More>
Imcivree® (setmelanotide) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 19, 2026 - Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RYTM), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming the lives of patients living with rare neuroendocrine diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing the company’s supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Imcivreeâ (setmelanotide) seeking approval for the treatment of conditions associated with acquired hypothalamic obesity. <Read More>
Wegovy® (semaglutide) Injection and Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Dosage Form Approved: March 19, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new higher dose (7.2 mg) of Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection, called Wegovy® HD, for weight loss and long-term maintenance of weight loss for certain adult patients. The decision was granted just 54 days after filing and represented the fourth approval under the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) pilot program. <Read More>
Cosentyx® (secukinumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: March 13, 2026 - Novartis announced that Cosentyx® (secukinumab) received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treating pediatric patients 12 years and older with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), making it the only IL-17A inhibitor for this population. The approval of a distinct biologic option for pediatric patients living with HS allows treatment to be tailored to the individual and establishes Cosentyx® as a meaningful addition to the treatment landscape. <Read More>
Arexvy™ (respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted) Suspension for Intramuscular Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: March 12, 2026 - GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved age indication of Arexvy™ (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine, Adjuvanted) to adults aged 18 to 49 years at increased risk for lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV. Arexvy™ was previously approved in the US for the prevention of RSV-related LRTD in adults aged 60 and older, and adults aged 50–59 at increased risk for LRTD caused by RSV. This vaccine is not for use in pregnant individuals. <Read More>
Wellcovorin™ (leucovorin calcium) Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 9, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved expanded use of Wellcovorin™ (leucovorin calcium) tablets for the treatment of cerebral folate deficiency in adult and pediatric patients who have a confirmed variant in the folate receptor 1 gene (CFD-FOLR1). <Read More>
Pylarify™ (piflufolastat F 18) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Formulation Approved: March 6, 2026 - Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (“Lantheus”) (NASDAQ: LNTH), the leading radiopharmaceutical-focused company committed to enabling clinicians to Find, Fight and Follow disease to deliver better patient outcomes, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pylarify TruVu™ (piflufolastat F 18) injection, a new formulation of its F 18 prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) imaging agent. Pylarify TruVu™ is indicated for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positive lesions in men with prostate cancer with suspected metastasis who are candidates for initial definitive therapy or suspected recurrence based on elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. <Read More>
Sotyktu® (deucravacitinib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 6, 2026 - Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sotyktu® (deucravacitinib) for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Sotyktu®, an oral, selective tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, is the first TYK2 inhibitor to be approved for PsA. <Read More>
Tecvayli® (teclistamab-cqyv) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 5, 2026 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), a worldwide leader in multiple myeloma therapies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tecvayli® (teclistamab-cqyv) plus Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent. <Read More>
Palynziq® (pegvaliase-pqpz) Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 27, 2026 - BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Palynziq® (pegvaliase-pqpz) to include pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with phenylketonuria (PKU). Palynziq® is the only enzyme substitution therapy approved to reduce blood phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations in people with PKU. <Read More>
Sogroya® (somapacitan-beco) Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 27, 2026 - Novo Nordisk announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three new indications for once-weekly Sogroya® (somapacitan-beco) injection 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg, a long-acting growth hormone. Sogroya® is now indicated for children aged 2.5 years and older with Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), short stature born Small for Gestational Age (SGA) and with no catch-up growth by 2 years of age, or growth failure associated with Noonan Syndrome (NS). Sogroya® is also indicated for children aged 2.5 years and older and adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). <Read More>
Hernexeos® (zongertinib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 26, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Boehringer Ingelheim’s Hernexeos® (zongertinib tablets) for the treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have HER2 (ERBB2) tyrosine kinase domain activating mutations, as detected by an FDA-authorized test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on objective response rate and duration of response. <Read More>
Juxtapid® (lomitapide) Capsules – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 25, 2026 - Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, a business unit of the Chiesi Group established to deliver innovative therapies and solutions for people living with rare diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Juxtapid® (lomitapide) capsules for pediatric use in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) for children 2 years of age and older. Juxtapid® is a proven therapy that has been approved in the United States for adult patients with HoFH to be used along with diet and other lipid-lowering treatments, since 2012. <Read More>
Braftovi® (encorafenib) Capsules – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 24, 2026 - Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Braftovi® (encorafenib) in combination with cetuximab (marketed as Erbitux®) and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation based on results from the global Phase 3 BREAKWATER trial. <Read More>
Dupixent® (dupilumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 23, 2026 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Dupixent® (dupilumab) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) who have a history of sino-nasal surgery. The FDA evaluated Dupixent® under priority review for the treatment of AFRS, which is reserved for medicines that have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions. This approval expands our approved indications in sino-nasal diseases to now include AFRS, alongside chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. <Read More>
Elucirem™ (gadopiclenol) Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 20, 2026 - Guerbet, a global specialist in contrast media and solutions for medical imaging, is pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a labeling update for Elucirem™ (gadopiclenol) injection. The new indication includes approval for pediatric patients aged 0-2 years (including term neonates) for its macrocyclic high-relaxivity gadolinium-based contrast agent. <Read More>
Calquence® (acalabrutinib) Capsules and Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 19, 2026 - AstraZeneca’s Calquence® (acalabrutinib) in combination with venetoclax has been approved in the US as the first all-oral, fixed-duration regimen for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was based on positive results from the AMPLIFY Phase III trial, which were presented at the American Society of Hematology 2024 Annual Meeting and published in The New England Journal of Medicine. <Read More>
Wakix® (pitolisant) Tablets – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 13, 2026 - Harmony Biosciences (Nasdaq: HRMY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for Wakix® (pitolisant) tablets for the treatment of cataplexy in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with narcolepsy. Wakix® is now the first-and-only FDA-approved non-scheduled treatment for pediatric and adult narcolepsy patients with or without cataplexy. <Read More>
Rybrevant Faspro™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Dosage Regimen: February 13, 2026 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new, simplified monthly dosing schedule for Rybrevant Faspro™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj). When administered in combination with oral Lazcluze® (lazertinib) for the first-line treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), monthly dosing delivers consistent outcomes with the previously approved bi-weekly subcutaneous (SC) dosing schedule. <Read More>
Enzeevu® (aflibercept-abzv) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 12, 2026 - Sandoz (SIX:SDZ/OTCQX:SDZNY), the global leader in affordable medicines, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded label for Enzeevu® (aflibercept-abzv), to include multiple retinal indications. <Read More>
Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) for Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 10, 2026 - Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) and Keytruda QLEX™ (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph) plus paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, for the treatment of adults with PD-L1+ (Combined Positive Score [CPS] ≥1), as determined by an FDA-authorized test, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma, who have received one or two prior systemic treatment regimens. <Read More>
Yescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: February 5, 2026 - Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an update to the Yescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) prescribing information removing the previous Limitations of Use in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).
Ozempic® (semaglutide) Injection and Tablets – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: January 30, 2026 – Novo Nordisk announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic® (semaglutide) tablets 1.5 mg, 4 mg, and 9 mg as the name for oral semaglutide 1.5 mg, 4 mg, and 9 mg. The active ingredient remains the same semaglutide molecule, and the Ozempic® pill is FDA-approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar along with diet and exercise, and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for these events. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
April 10, 2026
Nitrofurantoin Oral Suspension (Discontinuation)
April 09, 2026
Azithromycin Tablet (Discontinuation)
April 08, 2026
Aprepitant Oral Powder for Suspension (Discontinuation)
Fosaprepitant Dimeglumine Injection (Discontinuation)
April 07, 2026
Idelalisib Tablet (Discontinuation)
April 06, 2026
Ursodiol Capsule (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
April 10, 2026
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
April 09, 2026
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Tablet, Chewable (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Technetium TC-99M Pyrophosphate Kit Injection (Currently in Shortage)
April 08, 2026
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bumetanide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
April 07, 2026
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Heparin Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
April 06, 2026
Bumetanide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
Wound Care Gel Products by Blaine Labs, Inc - New Voluntary Recall – April 8, 2026 - Blaine Labs, Inc. is voluntarily recalling three (3) lot numbers of Wound Care Gel products, 1 oz. & 3 oz. (0.1% Benzalkonium Chloride) to the consumer level due to microbial contamination. The affected product has been found to contain Lysinibacillus fusiformis, an environmental organism. <Read More>
Magnesium Sulfate in Water for Injection, USP 4 g/100mL (NDC 70121-1720-3) by Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC – New Voluntary Recall – March 24, 2026 - Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC is voluntarily recalling one lot of Magnesium Sulfate in Water for Injection, USP, 4g/100mL, IV bag, to the hospital level. A Magnesium Sulfate in Water for Injection pouch was found to contain an IV bag of Tranexamic Acid in 0.7% Sodium Chloride Injection, 10 mg/mL. <Read More>
Webcol™ Large Alcohol Prep Pad by Cardinal Health – New Voluntary Recall – March 19, 2026 - Cardinal Health has issued a voluntary recall for select lots of Webcol™ Large Alcohol Prep Pads (70% isopropyl alcohol) to the consumer level. The product is being recalled due to microbial contamination identified as Paenibacillus phoenicis. <Read More>
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
Ponlimsi™ (denosumab-adet) Injection – New Prolia® Biosimilar Approval – March 27, 2026 - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) announced milestones in its biosimilar portfolio, demonstrating continued momentum in the advancement of its Pivot to Growth strategy. The United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ponlimsiä (denosumab-adet) as a biosimilar to Prolia®. <Read More>
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Questioning the Prescription: Antidepressants and the Medicalization of Childhood – April 10, 2026 – This week Mad in America explores four recently published articles related to antidepressant use in children and adolescents. The first reports that although clinical trials have found little efficacy for the use of fluoxetine (Prozac®) as a treatment for depression in children, clinical guidelines still recommend it. The second finds that persistent antidepressant use is common and rising in Australian children… <Read More>
Under the Magnifying Glass: A Wave of Drug Price Transparency – April 1, 2026 - In the span of a single week in late January and early February 2026, 3 federal actions—by Congress, the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—brought transparency efforts to the forefront of drug pricing policy. Whereas recent reforms have centered on prices set by pharmaceutical companies, this new wave of provisions shifts the focus to the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). <Read More>
How Hospital Pharmacies Can Access Restrictive Specialty Networks – March 2, 2026 - As payors and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) narrow specialty pharmacy networks, health system pharmacies face increasing exclusion from dispensing high-cost therapies to their own patients. For many organizations, accessing these restrictive networks has become both a strategic imperative and an operational challenge. Signature Healthcare, a regional health system in southern Massachusetts, addressed this challenge by partnering with Clearway Health, a specialty pharmacy services organization that originated from Boston Medical Center Health System. Clearway Health now collaborates with hospitals nationwide to improve access to care for patients requiring complex, high-cost medications. <Read More>
As Rare Disease Drug Approvals Accelerate, Survey Highlights Gaps in Care Coordination – March 2, 2026 - As the pipeline for rare disease therapies continues to expand, new survey data suggest that the healthcare system is not keeping pace with the coordination demands required to deliver those treatments effectively. A national survey commissioned by PANTHERx Rare and conducted by Morning Consult found that patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals perceive wide gaps in rare disease care delivery, whereas payors view care coordination far more favorably. Among patients and caregivers, 76% rated the current rare disease care system as average, below average, or poor, with 44% describing it as poor. Healthcare professionals were even more critical: 86% rated the system as average or worse, and 50% described it as poor. In contrast, a majority of payors (58%) rated the system as good, revealing what the report describes as a stakeholder disconnect. <Read More>
Pharmacist Welcomes Bill Restricting Pharmacy Benefit Managers; CVS Projects Mass Closures – February 25, 2026 - Tennessee’s Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered a bill to place restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) on Wednesday. According to the American Medical Association, a pharmacy benefit manager is a middleman in the prescription drug supply chain. They manage prescription drug plan benefits for insurers and employers. PBMs negotiate rebates and discounts, put together networks, and conduct management tasks. Sen. Bobby Harshbarger (R-Kingsport), a pharmacist himself, proposed the bill known as the Fair Rx Act. Christian Tate, a pharmacist at Berry’s Pharmacy in Kingsport, said independent pharmacists just want an equal playing field, and the bill would be a step in the right direction. <Read More>
Bridging the Gap in Biosimilar Use and Uptake in Inflammatory Conditions – February 24, 2026 - Within the last 5 years, the FDA has approved several key biosimilars for inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatologic disorders. Infliximab biosimilars entered the market in 2016 as IV infusions only and are billed through the medical benefit. In 2023 and 2025, adalimumab and ustekinumab biosimilars were approved, respectively. Adalimumab has 10 biosimilars, and ustekinumab has 7 on the market. Given that self-administered adalimumab and ustekinumab are billed through the pharmacy benefit, they introduce a new set of challenges and opportunities. This article addresses barriers that arise for the prescribing provider and team, including specialty pharmacists who manage biologic access in collaboration with the clinic, and provides recommendations for future biosimilar utilization. <Read More>
ACC, AHA Release First-Ever Guideline for Treatment and Management of Acute PE – February 19, 2026 - The new “ACC/AHA Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE) in Adults” is a de novo document offering comprehensive, evidence‑based recommendations for the evaluation, management and follow‑up of adults with acute PE. Collaborated on and endorsed by an additional eight societies, the new guideline recognizes that management of patients with acute PE "is uniquely multidisciplinary and crosses emergency department, inpatient settings and outpatient clinics." <Read More>
House Members Push for PBM Changes, Question Trump Drug Plan – February 11, 2026 - Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on Wednesday came down hard on various sectors of the U.S. prescription drug supply chain during a hearing to shed light on the reasons for rising costs. At a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., touted changes in the fiscal 2026 spending package enacted this month to improve pharmacy-benefit manager pricing transparency and reduce incentives for PBMs to promote higher-priced drugs to Medicare Part D beneficiaries. But Guthrie stressed that further changes could be forthcoming. “Historic PBM reform is just the beginning,” said Guthrie, who chairs the full Energy and Commerce panel. “More needs to be done throughout the drug supply chain to improve affordability.” <Read More>
340B in the News
AbbVie Challenges 'Outdated' 340B Drug Discount Program Guidance in New Lawsuit – April 9, 2026 - AbbVie is spearheading a new battle in pharma’s long-running fight to reform the federal government’s 340B drug discount program with a lawsuit that challenges the definition of what it means to be a “patient” under the program's framework. AbbVie, a three-decade participant in the 340B system, leveled the suit to “restore integrity” to the drug discount program, the company explained in its 72-page complaint against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., plus the Department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and administrator Thomas Engels. <Read More>
Updates to 340B and What Pharmacists Need to Know – March 26, 2026 - The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a federally mandated drug pricing program created by Congress in 1992 that allows certain health care organizations (called covered entities) to purchase specific outpatient drugs at significantly discounted prices. The core intent is to help these providers “stretch scarce resources” so they can serve low-income and underserved patients, reach more patients, and provide more comprehensive services in their communities. However, despite its original intent, the program faces various challenges in the shape of manufacturer restrictions, legal and regulatory uncertainty, administrative burdens, and compliance risks. As restrictions, litigation, and reimbursement cuts stack up, 340B savings shrink. <Read More>
Association Between 340B Contract Pharmacy Growth and Payer-Specific Drug Coverage – February 27, 2026 - The 340B Drug Pricing Program entitles participating hospitals and clinics (called covered entities) to purchase outpatient drugs at a substantial discount from manufacturers. Covered entities either distribute 340B drugs at reduced prices to patients or generate a subsidy by charging insured patients market prices for discounted drugs. Drugs purchased through 340B accounted for $66 billion in 2023, with approximately one-fifth of this sum coming from sales through unaffiliated community retail pharmacies, called contract pharmacies. We linked data on contract pharmacy locations to Managed Market Surveyor data to describe the markets in which 340B covered entities locate contract pharmacies. <Read More>
Report Questions Drug Pricing as Supporters Defend 340B Program – February 19, 2026 - Hospitals and clinics in Michigan participating in a federal drug discount program are marking up medications and shifting costs onto public employee health plans, according to a new analysis. The report from IQVIA, a health data analytics and research company, found that providers participating in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program are buying medications at steep discounts and billing insurers at much higher rates – increasing costs for both state health plans and taxpayers. <Read More>
Trump Administration Restarts its Efforts to Pilot 340B Rebates – February 13, 2026 – Only a week after calling it quits on a court-halted pilot program, the Trump administration is already revving the engine on how it could test out a rebate model for the 340B Drug Discount program. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a request for information (RFI) asking stakeholders and the public for input on whether and how such a model should be implemented for 340B, which, for over 30 years, has required drug manufacturers to provide upfront discounts on their products to help subsidize safety-net care. <Read More>
Following Legal Setbacks, HHS Agrees to Toss 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program – February 6, 2026 - The Department of Health and Human Services has officially backed down on its halted 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, telling the courts this week that it plans to pull relevant notices and application approvals. Lawyers for the government and plaintiffs who sued to block the program—several hospitals and hospital groups including American Hospital Association (AHA)—filed Thursday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine a joint motion for vacatur and remand. <Read More>
Site-of-Care Shift for Physician-Administered Drug Therapies: 2026 Update – January 2026 - Using new Medicare data, this paper updates a prior analysis1 evaluating the site of care for all Medicare Part B drug therapies and finds that previously observed trends are continuing. Specifically, 340B Drug Pricing Program hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs)—including both HOPDs at the hospital itself and off-campus locations—continue to represent a growing share of outpatient drug administrations. This analysis also examines how these trends are reflected in top drugs used to treat breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple myeloma. <Read More>
Clinical Insights: April 16th, 2026
New Drug/Vaccine Approval
Foundayo™ (orforglipron) Tablets – New Drug Approval – April 1, 2026 - Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Foundayo™ (orforglipron) for adults with obesity, or overweight with weight-related medical problems. When used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, Foundayo™ helps individuals lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Foundayo™ will be available via LillyDirect®, with prescriptions accepted immediately and shipping beginning April 6, followed shortly after by broad availability through U.S. retail pharmacies and telehealth providers. <Read More>
Awiqli® (insulin icodec-abae) Injection – New Drug Approval – March 26, 2026 - Novo Nordisk announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Awiqli® (insulin icodec-abae) injection 700 units/mL, the first and only once-weekly, long-acting basal insulin, indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control (blood sugar) in adults living with type 2 diabetes. The approval offers the only once‑weekly basal insulin option, providing a new treatment solution that fits different patient routines and preferences for adults living with type 2 diabetes. <Read More>
Kresladi™ (marnetegragene autotemcel) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Drug Approval – March 26, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Kresladi™ (marnetegragene autotemcel), the first gene therapy for the treatment of severe Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type I (LAD-I). Kresladi™ is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency I (LAD-I) due to biallelic variants in ITGB2 without an available human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. <Read More>
Lifyorli™ (relacorilant) Capsules – New Drug Approval – March 25, 2026 - The Food and Drug Administration approved relacorilant (Lifyorli™, Corcept Therapeutics Inc.), a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, in combination with nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of adults with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have received one to three prior systemic treatment regimens, at least one of which included bevacizumab. <Read More>
Avlayah™ (tividenofusp alfa-eknm) Lyophilized Powder for Injection – New Drug Approval – March 24, 2026 - Denali Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: DNLI) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for Avlayah™ (tividenofusp alfa-eknm), the first FDA-approved biologic specifically designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the whole body, including the brain. Avlayah™ is an enzyme replacement therapy indicated for the treatment of neurologic manifestations of Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II, or MPS II) when initiated in presymptomatic or symptomatic pediatric patients weighing at least 5 kg prior to advanced neurologic impairment. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. <Read More>
Lynavoy™ (linerixibat) Tablets – New Drug Approval – March 17, 2026 - GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lynavoy™ (linerixibat) for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in adult patients with PBC. Lynavoy™, an ileal bile acid transporter (IBAT) inhibitor that reduces multiple drivers of chronic itch, is the first medicine approved in the US for this indication. <Read More>
Icotyde™ (icotrokinra hydrochloride) Tablets – New Drug Approval – March 17, 2026 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Icotyde™ (icotrokinra), an interleukin-23 (IL-23) receptor antagonist for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 40 kg who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Icotyde™ is the first and only targeted oral peptide that precisely blocks the IL-23 receptor. <Read More>
Yuviwel® (navepegritide) Lyophilized Powder for Injection - formerly TransCon CNP – New Drug Approval – February 27, 2026 - Ascendis Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ASND) announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program for Yuviwel® (navepegritide; developed as TransCon® CNP), the first and only once-weekly treatment indicated to increase linear growth in children 2 years of age and older with achondroplasia with open epiphyses and the only one to provide continuous systemic exposure to CNP over the weekly dosing interval. Continued approval for this indication, which was based on an improvement in annualized growth velocity (AGV), may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s). <Read More>
Desmoda™ (desmopressin acetate) Oral Solution - formerly ET-600 – New Drug Approval – February 25, 2026 - Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc (“Eton” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: ETON), an innovative pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing treatments for rare diseases, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a New Drug Application (NDA) for Desmoda™ (desmopressin acetate) Oral Solution for the management of central diabetes insipidus, also known as arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D), as antidiuretic replacement therapy for patients of all ages. <Read More>
Loargys® (pegzilarginase-nbln) Injection – New Drug Approval – February 23, 2026 - Immedica Pharma announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Loargys® (pegzilarginase-nbln), an arginine specific enzyme indicated for the treatment of hyperargininemia in adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with Arginase 1 Deficiency (ARG1-D), in conjunction with dietary protein restriction. <Read More>
Bysanti™ (milsaperidone) Tablets – New Drug Approval – February 20, 2026 - Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: VNDA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bysanti™ (milsaperidone) tablets, a first line therapy for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Eylea HD® (aflibercept) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Dosage Regimen: April 2, 2026 – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the extension of dosing intervals for Eylea HD® (aflibercept) up to every 20 weeks for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) following one year of successful response based on visual and anatomic outcomes. As part of the approval, the FDA has updated the Eylea HD® label to include 96-week (2-year) data from the pivotal PULSAR trial in wAMD and the pivotal PHOTON trial in DME, demonstrating sustained efficacy and safety through 2 years with extended dosing intervals. <Read More>
Tecartus® (brexucabtagene autoleucel) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: April 1, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted traditional (full) approval to Kite’s CAR T-cell therapy, Tecartus® (brexucabtagene autoleucel), for adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The full approval now includes efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic data from Cohort 3 of the ZUMA-2 study in patients who are R/R after one or more lines of therapy and who are Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi)-naïve. <Read More>
Spinraza® (nusinersen) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Dosage Regimen: March 27, 2026 - Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) announced that the High Dose Regimen of Spinraza® (nusinersen), which is comprised of 50 mg/5 mL and 28 mg/5 mL doses, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Backed by more than 10 years of clinical data supporting the Low Dose Regimen of Spinraza® (12 mg), High Dose Spinraza® was designed to deliver a higher concentration of drug through both the loading and maintenance dosing phases, to provide a new option in response to the ongoing needs of the community. <Read More>
Alyftrek® (deutivacaftor, tezacaftor and vanzacaftor) – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: March 27, 2026 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved expanded use of Alyftrek® (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor) for the treatment of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) ages 6 and older with a variant in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that is either responsive based on clinical and/or in vitro data or results in production of CFTR protein. Additionally, the U.S. FDA has also expanded the indication statement for Trikafta® (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor and ivacaftor) in patients ages 2 and older. <Read More>
neffy® (epinephrine) Nasal Spray – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: March 26, 2026 - ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRY), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to empowering at-risk patients and their caregivers to better protect patients from allergic reactions that could lead to anaphylaxis, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updating the neffy® 1 mg (epinephrine nasal spray) prescribing information to remove the age criteria so all children and adults who weigh 33 lbs. or more can utilize neffy® for the emergency treatment of Type 1 allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Prior to the update, pediatric patients needed to meet a weight requirement and be at least four years of age. <Read More>
Adstiladrin® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg) Suspension for Intravesical Use – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: March 23, 2026 - Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a label update for Adstiladrin® (nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg), enabling an accelerated water-bath thawing method, completed in about 25 minutes, to enhance efficient clinical preparation for healthcare teams. <Read More>
Opdivo® (nivolumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 20, 2026 - Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) announced that Opdivo® (nivolumab) has received approval for two new classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) indications in the U.S. and the European Union (EU). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval of Opdivo® in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (AVD) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with previously untreated, Stage III or IV cHL. <Read More>
Imcivree® (setmelanotide) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 19, 2026 - Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: RYTM), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming the lives of patients living with rare neuroendocrine diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing the company’s supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Imcivreeâ (setmelanotide) seeking approval for the treatment of conditions associated with acquired hypothalamic obesity. <Read More>
Wegovy® (semaglutide) Injection and Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Dosage Form Approved: March 19, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new higher dose (7.2 mg) of Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection, called Wegovy® HD, for weight loss and long-term maintenance of weight loss for certain adult patients. The decision was granted just 54 days after filing and represented the fourth approval under the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) pilot program. <Read More>
Cosentyx® (secukinumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: March 13, 2026 - Novartis announced that Cosentyx® (secukinumab) received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treating pediatric patients 12 years and older with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), making it the only IL-17A inhibitor for this population. The approval of a distinct biologic option for pediatric patients living with HS allows treatment to be tailored to the individual and establishes Cosentyx® as a meaningful addition to the treatment landscape. <Read More>
Arexvy™ (respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, adjuvanted) Suspension for Intramuscular Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: March 12, 2026 - GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approved age indication of Arexvy™ (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine, Adjuvanted) to adults aged 18 to 49 years at increased risk for lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV. Arexvy™ was previously approved in the US for the prevention of RSV-related LRTD in adults aged 60 and older, and adults aged 50–59 at increased risk for LRTD caused by RSV. This vaccine is not for use in pregnant individuals. <Read More>
Wellcovorin™ (leucovorin calcium) Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 9, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved expanded use of Wellcovorin™ (leucovorin calcium) tablets for the treatment of cerebral folate deficiency in adult and pediatric patients who have a confirmed variant in the folate receptor 1 gene (CFD-FOLR1). <Read More>
Pylarify™ (piflufolastat F 18) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Formulation Approved: March 6, 2026 - Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (“Lantheus”) (NASDAQ: LNTH), the leading radiopharmaceutical-focused company committed to enabling clinicians to Find, Fight and Follow disease to deliver better patient outcomes, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pylarify TruVu™ (piflufolastat F 18) injection, a new formulation of its F 18 prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) imaging agent. Pylarify TruVu™ is indicated for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positive lesions in men with prostate cancer with suspected metastasis who are candidates for initial definitive therapy or suspected recurrence based on elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. <Read More>
Sotyktu® (deucravacitinib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 6, 2026 - Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sotyktu® (deucravacitinib) for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Sotyktu®, an oral, selective tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, is the first TYK2 inhibitor to be approved for PsA. <Read More>
Tecvayli® (teclistamab-cqyv) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: March 5, 2026 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), a worldwide leader in multiple myeloma therapies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tecvayli® (teclistamab-cqyv) plus Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent. <Read More>
Palynziq® (pegvaliase-pqpz) Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 27, 2026 - BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: BMRN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Palynziq® (pegvaliase-pqpz) to include pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with phenylketonuria (PKU). Palynziq® is the only enzyme substitution therapy approved to reduce blood phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations in people with PKU. <Read More>
Sogroya® (somapacitan-beco) Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 27, 2026 - Novo Nordisk announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three new indications for once-weekly Sogroya® (somapacitan-beco) injection 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg, a long-acting growth hormone. Sogroya® is now indicated for children aged 2.5 years and older with Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS), short stature born Small for Gestational Age (SGA) and with no catch-up growth by 2 years of age, or growth failure associated with Noonan Syndrome (NS). Sogroya® is also indicated for children aged 2.5 years and older and adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). <Read More>
Hernexeos® (zongertinib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 26, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Boehringer Ingelheim’s Hernexeos® (zongertinib tablets) for the treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have HER2 (ERBB2) tyrosine kinase domain activating mutations, as detected by an FDA-authorized test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on objective response rate and duration of response. <Read More>
Juxtapid® (lomitapide) Capsules – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 25, 2026 - Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, a business unit of the Chiesi Group established to deliver innovative therapies and solutions for people living with rare diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Juxtapid® (lomitapide) capsules for pediatric use in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) for children 2 years of age and older. Juxtapid® is a proven therapy that has been approved in the United States for adult patients with HoFH to be used along with diet and other lipid-lowering treatments, since 2012. <Read More>
Braftovi® (encorafenib) Capsules – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 24, 2026 - Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Braftovi® (encorafenib) in combination with cetuximab (marketed as Erbitux®) and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation based on results from the global Phase 3 BREAKWATER trial. <Read More>
Dupixent® (dupilumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 23, 2026 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Dupixent® (dupilumab) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) who have a history of sino-nasal surgery. The FDA evaluated Dupixent® under priority review for the treatment of AFRS, which is reserved for medicines that have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of serious conditions. This approval expands our approved indications in sino-nasal diseases to now include AFRS, alongside chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. <Read More>
Elucirem™ (gadopiclenol) Injection – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 20, 2026 - Guerbet, a global specialist in contrast media and solutions for medical imaging, is pleased to announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a labeling update for Elucirem™ (gadopiclenol) injection. The new indication includes approval for pediatric patients aged 0-2 years (including term neonates) for its macrocyclic high-relaxivity gadolinium-based contrast agent. <Read More>
Calquence® (acalabrutinib) Capsules and Tablets – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 19, 2026 - AstraZeneca’s Calquence® (acalabrutinib) in combination with venetoclax has been approved in the US as the first all-oral, fixed-duration regimen for the treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was based on positive results from the AMPLIFY Phase III trial, which were presented at the American Society of Hematology 2024 Annual Meeting and published in The New England Journal of Medicine. <Read More>
Wakix® (pitolisant) Tablets – New Label Expansion – Patient Population Altered: February 13, 2026 - Harmony Biosciences (Nasdaq: HRMY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for Wakix® (pitolisant) tablets for the treatment of cataplexy in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older with narcolepsy. Wakix® is now the first-and-only FDA-approved non-scheduled treatment for pediatric and adult narcolepsy patients with or without cataplexy. <Read More>
Rybrevant Faspro™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Dosage Regimen: February 13, 2026 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new, simplified monthly dosing schedule for Rybrevant Faspro™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj). When administered in combination with oral Lazcluze® (lazertinib) for the first-line treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), monthly dosing delivers consistent outcomes with the previously approved bi-weekly subcutaneous (SC) dosing schedule. <Read More>
Enzeevu® (aflibercept-abzv) Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 12, 2026 - Sandoz (SIX:SDZ/OTCQX:SDZNY), the global leader in affordable medicines, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded label for Enzeevu® (aflibercept-abzv), to include multiple retinal indications. <Read More>
Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) for Injection – New Label Expansion – New Indication Approved: February 10, 2026 - Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) and Keytruda QLEX™ (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph) plus paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, for the treatment of adults with PD-L1+ (Combined Positive Score [CPS] ≥1), as determined by an FDA-authorized test, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma, who have received one or two prior systemic treatment regimens. <Read More>
Yescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: February 5, 2026 - Kite, a Gilead Company (Nasdaq: GILD), announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an update to the Yescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) prescribing information removing the previous Limitations of Use in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).
Ozempic® (semaglutide) Injection and Tablets – New Label Expansion – Labeling Revision Approved: January 30, 2026 – Novo Nordisk announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic® (semaglutide) tablets 1.5 mg, 4 mg, and 9 mg as the name for oral semaglutide 1.5 mg, 4 mg, and 9 mg. The active ingredient remains the same semaglutide molecule, and the Ozempic® pill is FDA-approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar along with diet and exercise, and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for these events. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
April 10, 2026
Nitrofurantoin Oral Suspension (Discontinuation)
April 09, 2026
Azithromycin Tablet (Discontinuation)
April 08, 2026
Aprepitant Oral Powder for Suspension (Discontinuation)
Fosaprepitant Dimeglumine Injection (Discontinuation)
April 07, 2026
Idelalisib Tablet (Discontinuation)
April 06, 2026
Ursodiol Capsule (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
April 10, 2026
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
April 09, 2026
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Tablet, Chewable (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Technetium TC-99M Pyrophosphate Kit Injection (Currently in Shortage)
April 08, 2026
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bumetanide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
April 07, 2026
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Heparin Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
April 06, 2026
Bumetanide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
Wound Care Gel Products by Blaine Labs, Inc - New Voluntary Recall – April 8, 2026 - Blaine Labs, Inc. is voluntarily recalling three (3) lot numbers of Wound Care Gel products, 1 oz. & 3 oz. (0.1% Benzalkonium Chloride) to the consumer level due to microbial contamination. The affected product has been found to contain Lysinibacillus fusiformis, an environmental organism. <Read More>
Magnesium Sulfate in Water for Injection, USP 4 g/100mL (NDC 70121-1720-3) by Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC – New Voluntary Recall – March 24, 2026 - Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC is voluntarily recalling one lot of Magnesium Sulfate in Water for Injection, USP, 4g/100mL, IV bag, to the hospital level. A Magnesium Sulfate in Water for Injection pouch was found to contain an IV bag of Tranexamic Acid in 0.7% Sodium Chloride Injection, 10 mg/mL. <Read More>
Webcol™ Large Alcohol Prep Pad by Cardinal Health – New Voluntary Recall – March 19, 2026 - Cardinal Health has issued a voluntary recall for select lots of Webcol™ Large Alcohol Prep Pads (70% isopropyl alcohol) to the consumer level. The product is being recalled due to microbial contamination identified as Paenibacillus phoenicis. <Read More>
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
Ponlimsi™ (denosumab-adet) Injection – New Prolia® Biosimilar Approval – March 27, 2026 - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) announced milestones in its biosimilar portfolio, demonstrating continued momentum in the advancement of its Pivot to Growth strategy. The United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ponlimsiä (denosumab-adet) as a biosimilar to Prolia®. <Read More>
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Questioning the Prescription: Antidepressants and the Medicalization of Childhood – April 10, 2026 – This week Mad in America explores four recently published articles related to antidepressant use in children and adolescents. The first reports that although clinical trials have found little efficacy for the use of fluoxetine (Prozac®) as a treatment for depression in children, clinical guidelines still recommend it. The second finds that persistent antidepressant use is common and rising in Australian children… <Read More>
Under the Magnifying Glass: A Wave of Drug Price Transparency – April 1, 2026 - In the span of a single week in late January and early February 2026, 3 federal actions—by Congress, the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)—brought transparency efforts to the forefront of drug pricing policy. Whereas recent reforms have centered on prices set by pharmaceutical companies, this new wave of provisions shifts the focus to the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). <Read More>
How Hospital Pharmacies Can Access Restrictive Specialty Networks – March 2, 2026 - As payors and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) narrow specialty pharmacy networks, health system pharmacies face increasing exclusion from dispensing high-cost therapies to their own patients. For many organizations, accessing these restrictive networks has become both a strategic imperative and an operational challenge. Signature Healthcare, a regional health system in southern Massachusetts, addressed this challenge by partnering with Clearway Health, a specialty pharmacy services organization that originated from Boston Medical Center Health System. Clearway Health now collaborates with hospitals nationwide to improve access to care for patients requiring complex, high-cost medications. <Read More>
As Rare Disease Drug Approvals Accelerate, Survey Highlights Gaps in Care Coordination – March 2, 2026 - As the pipeline for rare disease therapies continues to expand, new survey data suggest that the healthcare system is not keeping pace with the coordination demands required to deliver those treatments effectively. A national survey commissioned by PANTHERx Rare and conducted by Morning Consult found that patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals perceive wide gaps in rare disease care delivery, whereas payors view care coordination far more favorably. Among patients and caregivers, 76% rated the current rare disease care system as average, below average, or poor, with 44% describing it as poor. Healthcare professionals were even more critical: 86% rated the system as average or worse, and 50% described it as poor. In contrast, a majority of payors (58%) rated the system as good, revealing what the report describes as a stakeholder disconnect. <Read More>
Pharmacist Welcomes Bill Restricting Pharmacy Benefit Managers; CVS Projects Mass Closures – February 25, 2026 - Tennessee’s Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered a bill to place restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) on Wednesday. According to the American Medical Association, a pharmacy benefit manager is a middleman in the prescription drug supply chain. They manage prescription drug plan benefits for insurers and employers. PBMs negotiate rebates and discounts, put together networks, and conduct management tasks. Sen. Bobby Harshbarger (R-Kingsport), a pharmacist himself, proposed the bill known as the Fair Rx Act. Christian Tate, a pharmacist at Berry’s Pharmacy in Kingsport, said independent pharmacists just want an equal playing field, and the bill would be a step in the right direction. <Read More>
Bridging the Gap in Biosimilar Use and Uptake in Inflammatory Conditions – February 24, 2026 - Within the last 5 years, the FDA has approved several key biosimilars for inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatologic disorders. Infliximab biosimilars entered the market in 2016 as IV infusions only and are billed through the medical benefit. In 2023 and 2025, adalimumab and ustekinumab biosimilars were approved, respectively. Adalimumab has 10 biosimilars, and ustekinumab has 7 on the market. Given that self-administered adalimumab and ustekinumab are billed through the pharmacy benefit, they introduce a new set of challenges and opportunities. This article addresses barriers that arise for the prescribing provider and team, including specialty pharmacists who manage biologic access in collaboration with the clinic, and provides recommendations for future biosimilar utilization. <Read More>
ACC, AHA Release First-Ever Guideline for Treatment and Management of Acute PE – February 19, 2026 - The new “ACC/AHA Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE) in Adults” is a de novo document offering comprehensive, evidence‑based recommendations for the evaluation, management and follow‑up of adults with acute PE. Collaborated on and endorsed by an additional eight societies, the new guideline recognizes that management of patients with acute PE "is uniquely multidisciplinary and crosses emergency department, inpatient settings and outpatient clinics." <Read More>
House Members Push for PBM Changes, Question Trump Drug Plan – February 11, 2026 - Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle on Wednesday came down hard on various sectors of the U.S. prescription drug supply chain during a hearing to shed light on the reasons for rising costs. At a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., touted changes in the fiscal 2026 spending package enacted this month to improve pharmacy-benefit manager pricing transparency and reduce incentives for PBMs to promote higher-priced drugs to Medicare Part D beneficiaries. But Guthrie stressed that further changes could be forthcoming. “Historic PBM reform is just the beginning,” said Guthrie, who chairs the full Energy and Commerce panel. “More needs to be done throughout the drug supply chain to improve affordability.” <Read More>
340B in the News
AbbVie Challenges 'Outdated' 340B Drug Discount Program Guidance in New Lawsuit – April 9, 2026 - AbbVie is spearheading a new battle in pharma’s long-running fight to reform the federal government’s 340B drug discount program with a lawsuit that challenges the definition of what it means to be a “patient” under the program's framework. AbbVie, a three-decade participant in the 340B system, leveled the suit to “restore integrity” to the drug discount program, the company explained in its 72-page complaint against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., plus the Department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and administrator Thomas Engels. <Read More>
Updates to 340B and What Pharmacists Need to Know – March 26, 2026 - The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a federally mandated drug pricing program created by Congress in 1992 that allows certain health care organizations (called covered entities) to purchase specific outpatient drugs at significantly discounted prices. The core intent is to help these providers “stretch scarce resources” so they can serve low-income and underserved patients, reach more patients, and provide more comprehensive services in their communities. However, despite its original intent, the program faces various challenges in the shape of manufacturer restrictions, legal and regulatory uncertainty, administrative burdens, and compliance risks. As restrictions, litigation, and reimbursement cuts stack up, 340B savings shrink. <Read More>
Association Between 340B Contract Pharmacy Growth and Payer-Specific Drug Coverage – February 27, 2026 - The 340B Drug Pricing Program entitles participating hospitals and clinics (called covered entities) to purchase outpatient drugs at a substantial discount from manufacturers. Covered entities either distribute 340B drugs at reduced prices to patients or generate a subsidy by charging insured patients market prices for discounted drugs. Drugs purchased through 340B accounted for $66 billion in 2023, with approximately one-fifth of this sum coming from sales through unaffiliated community retail pharmacies, called contract pharmacies. We linked data on contract pharmacy locations to Managed Market Surveyor data to describe the markets in which 340B covered entities locate contract pharmacies. <Read More>
Report Questions Drug Pricing as Supporters Defend 340B Program – February 19, 2026 - Hospitals and clinics in Michigan participating in a federal drug discount program are marking up medications and shifting costs onto public employee health plans, according to a new analysis. The report from IQVIA, a health data analytics and research company, found that providers participating in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program are buying medications at steep discounts and billing insurers at much higher rates – increasing costs for both state health plans and taxpayers. <Read More>
Trump Administration Restarts its Efforts to Pilot 340B Rebates – February 13, 2026 – Only a week after calling it quits on a court-halted pilot program, the Trump administration is already revving the engine on how it could test out a rebate model for the 340B Drug Discount program. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a request for information (RFI) asking stakeholders and the public for input on whether and how such a model should be implemented for 340B, which, for over 30 years, has required drug manufacturers to provide upfront discounts on their products to help subsidize safety-net care. <Read More>
Following Legal Setbacks, HHS Agrees to Toss 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program – February 6, 2026 - The Department of Health and Human Services has officially backed down on its halted 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program, telling the courts this week that it plans to pull relevant notices and application approvals. Lawyers for the government and plaintiffs who sued to block the program—several hospitals and hospital groups including American Hospital Association (AHA)—filed Thursday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine a joint motion for vacatur and remand. <Read More>
Site-of-Care Shift for Physician-Administered Drug Therapies: 2026 Update – January 2026 - Using new Medicare data, this paper updates a prior analysis1 evaluating the site of care for all Medicare Part B drug therapies and finds that previously observed trends are continuing. Specifically, 340B Drug Pricing Program hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs)—including both HOPDs at the hospital itself and off-campus locations—continue to represent a growing share of outpatient drug administrations. This analysis also examines how these trends are reflected in top drugs used to treat breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple myeloma. <Read More>
Clinical Insights: February 6th, 2026
New Drug/Vaccine Approval
Yuvezzi™ (brimonidine tartrate and carbachol) Ophthalmic Solution - formerly Brimochol PF™ – New Drug Approval – January 28, 2026 – Tenpoint Therapeutics, Ltd., a global, commercial biotechnology company focused on developing groundbreaking treatments to improve vision in the aging eye, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Yuvezzi™ (carbachol and brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution) 2.75%/0.1%, previously known as Brimochol PF™, the first and only dual-agent eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia in adults. <Read More>
Zycubo™ (copper histidinate) Injection - formerly CUTX-101 – New Drug Approval – January 12, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Zycubo™ (copper histidinate) injection as the first treatment for Menkes disease in pediatric patients. “With today’s action, children with this devastating, degenerative disease will have an FDA-approved treatment option and the potential to live longer,” said Christine Nguyen, M.D., Deputy Director of the Office of Rare Diseases, Pediatrics, Urologic and Reproductive Medicine in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The FDA will continue to work with the rare disease community to advance drug development for patients with Menkes disease and other rare conditions.” <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) Injection – New Label Expansion – January 27, 2026 – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). D-VRd is the only anti-CD38 antibody-based regimen with approved indications across newly diagnosed patients, regardless of transplant eligibility. <Read More>
Afrezza® (insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder - New Label Expansion – January 23, 2026 – MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming chronic disease care through innovative, patient-centric solutions for cardiometabolic and orphan lung diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an update to the Prescribing Information for Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, revising recommendations for the starting mealtime dosage when patients switch from subcutaneous mealtime insulin regimens. <Read More>
Nexplanon® (etonogestrel) Implant - New Label Expansion – January 16, 2026 - Organon (NYSE: OGN), a global healthcare company with a mission to deliver impactful medicines and solutions for a healthier every day, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Nexplanon® (etonogestrel implant), which is indicated for use by women of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy. The sNDA extends the duration of use of Nexplanon® for up to five years, an extension of the previous three-year indication. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
January 30, 2026
Pindolol Tablet (Discontinuation)
January 28, 2026
Podofilox Topical Gel (Discontinuation)
January 27, 2026
Benztropine Mesylate Injection (Discontinuation)
Fluvastatin Sodium Tablet, Extended Release (Discontinuation)
January 20, 2026
Azithromycin Injection (Discontinuation)
Maraviroc Solution (Discontinuation)
Piperacillin and Tazobactam Injection (Discontinuation)
Riboflavin 5-phosphate Ophthalmic Solution (Discontinuation)
January 13, 2026
Adalimumab-adaz Injection (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
February 02, 2026
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydroxocobalamin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
January 27, 2026
Methamphetamine Hydrochloride Tablet (Resolved)
January 23, 2026
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Fentanyl Citrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
January 22, 2026
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bumetanide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Cefotaxime Sodium Powder, for Solution (Currently in Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Fentanyl Citrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Liraglutide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lorazepam Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Propranolol Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Remifentanil Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sufentanil Citrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Valproate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
January 21, 2026
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Tablet, Chewable (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Naltrexone Hydrochloride Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
Technetium TC-99M Pyrophosphate Kit Injection (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
No new update.
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Prior Authorization Ranked Top Barrier to Health Care Access After Cost – February 2, 2026 – While the cost of health care remains the dominant worry among Americans, the process of obtaining prior authorization from insurers has become the most burdensome noncost barrier for insured adults trying to access care, according to a new KFF Health Tracking Poll released today. The findings underscore growing public frustration with insurance-driven obstacles that can delay, alter, or even block necessary medical services, treatments, and medications. <Read More>
Why Pharmacy Transparency is Becoming a C-Suite Issue – January 29, 2026 – The U.S. healthcare industry is entering a pivotal moment in its debate over pharmacy benefit transparency, and HR executives—especially those overseeing self-insured health plans—are increasingly at the center of it. In Congress, lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at improving visibility into how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) operate and how prescription drug prices are set, while a growing number of lawsuits challenge opaque pricing practices, rebate arrangements and whether plan sponsors exercised appropriate oversight. Public scrutiny is rising as well, with high-profile business figures like Mark Cuban using conference stages, media interviews and social channels to urge employers to demand greater transparency (an argument that aligns with his business interest in reshaping how prescription drugs are priced and purchased). And that pressure has reached PBMs themselves: As of 2025, the CEOs of the three largest PBMs have all publicly stated that rebates would be returned to customers. <Read More>
US Labor Department Proposes Rule to Boost Transparency in Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fees – January 29, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration on Thursday issued a proposed rule aimed at increasing transparency around fees and compensation collected by pharmacy benefit managers. The move, which follows a directive under President Donald Trump's executive order on lowering drug prices, seeks to clarify PBM business practices that affect employer-sponsored health plans covering millions of Americans. <Read More>
US Vaccine Guideline Changes Challenge Clinical Practice, Insurance Coverage – January 27, 2026 – Recent changes to routine vaccine recommendations have created confusion and uncertainty regarding public health guidance. These changes may limit or restrict access to certain vaccines due to a lack of availability or insurance coverage, which could increase costs. Clinicians are advised to provide opportunities to discuss the underlying scientific evidence supporting recommended vaccines. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer endorses the immunization schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and strongly recommends the full set of immunizations. <Read More>
New Guideline Expands Stroke Treatment for Adults, Offers First Pediatric Stroke Guidance – January 26, 2026 – Expanded eligibility for advanced stroke therapies and new recommendations for diagnosing and treating stroke in children and adults are among the major updates in the new 2026 Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, published in the Association’s flagship journal Stroke. <Read More>
New Clinical Practice Guideline Recognizes Insomnia and Sleep Apnea Can Occur Together – January 22, 2026 – Getting regular restorative sleep on a regular basis is essential to good health — yet studies have shown that lack of sleep has left the military less combat ready. To address this urgent issue, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs revised the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Chronic Insomnia Disorder and Obstructive Sleep on July 29, 2025. The lack of restorative sleep is known as chronic insomnia disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by repetitive snoring, choking, and awakenings. These two conditions often go together, resulting in sleepiness that affects service member duty performance and overall readiness, and can lead to serious physical and mental health consequences. <Read More>
How Specialty Pharmacists Can Keep HIV Patients on ART – January 21, 2026 – A team of specialty pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons in Brooklyn successfully transitioned a small group of patients living with HIV from daily oral antiviral therapy (ART) to injectable long-acting antiretroviral therapy (LA-ART). The switch improved medication access and adherence, and optimized treatment outcomes for HIV management and PrEP, the team reported at the NASP 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo, in Denver (poster OPR17-OR). Treatment shortcomings of oral ART, according to the poster, include daily pill fatigue, social stigma, and inconsistent access to medication. <Read More>
FDA Schedules Review Meeting After Gene Therapy Shows Slowing of Huntington’s Progression – January 13, 2026 – The FDA has scheduled a Type A meeting with uniQure to discuss materials supporting a potential accelerated approval pathway for AMT-130, the company’s investigational gene therapy for Huntington’s disease, reopening regulatory engagement after a setback in late 2025. In an announcement on Jan. 9, 2026, uniQure said the meeting will focus on its data supporting accelerated approval of AMT-130. The company said it expects to issue a further update after receiving official minutes. <Read More>
340B in the News
A Win for Kids — And Why 340B Still Needs Defending – January 27, 2026 – Protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program remains a top priority for the Children’s Hospital Association, and recent developments underscore the importance of our advocacy. Working closely with our member hospitals, we have taken action to safeguard 340B and the children’s hospitals that rely on it. Our efforts helped halt a pilot rebate program that would fundamentally alter how 340B operates and place an unsustainable financial burden on children’s hospitals. In January, a federal appeals court paused the proposed rebate program that would provide money back to hospitals after drugs were purchased. The administration dropped an appeal of the courts’ decision, allowing upfront discounts to continue. With the pilot rebate program now on an indefinite pause, CHA is building on that momentum to continue protecting this vital program. <Read More>
Government Withdraws Appeal in 340B Rebate Pilot Program Litigation, Signaling Shift – January 27, 2026 – The recent litigation concerning the government’s 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program (the Rebate Program), as further described below, took an unexpected turn as the federal government recently signaled that it intended to revise its approach to the Rebate Program. This change in strategy was previewed by the government in a letter filed with the Court on January 12, 2026—the deadline for briefing regarding the preliminary injunction—stating that the government was considering “returning the approvals challenged [in the lawsuit] to [the Health Resources and Services Administration] for reconsideration,” and that the parties “plan to dismiss the appeal in short order.” The government formally moved to dismiss its appeal on January 16, 2026, and the First Circuit dismissed the appeal on January 20, 2026. <Read More>
AHA Urges HRSA to Stop Eli Lilly’s 340B Claims-Data Submission Policy from Going Into Effect – January 26, 2026 – The urged the Health Resources and Services Administration to take immediate action to stop a new Eli Lilly and Company policy from taking effect on Feb. 1, including by “assessing civil monetary penalties for intentionally overcharging 340B hospitals.” On Jan. 15, Lilly issued a notice to all 340B covered entities that the company was updating its data requirements for its 340B distribution program. The policy would require 340B covered entities to submit claims data for all dispensations of all Lilly drugs, regardless of setting. <Read More>
HRSA Announces 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program – January 23, 2026 – On August 1, 2025, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a federal register notice announcing its long-anticipated 340B rebate model guidance, which implements a relatively narrow pilot program focusing on drugs subject to Medicare drug price negotiations for 2026. While the pilot program is voluntary for manufacturers, covered entities will need to submit the required data to access the 340B price via rebate on selected drugs under approved manufacturer plans. The notice states the pilot model is intended to address the 340B and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) maximum fair price (MFP) deduplication. The model requirements mention that rebates should not be denied based on compliance concerns with diversion or Medicaid duplicate discounts. <Read More>
Clinical Insights: February 6th, 2026
New Drug/Vaccine Approval
Yuvezzi™ (brimonidine tartrate and carbachol) Ophthalmic Solution - formerly Brimochol PF™ – New Drug Approval – January 28, 2026 – Tenpoint Therapeutics, Ltd., a global, commercial biotechnology company focused on developing groundbreaking treatments to improve vision in the aging eye, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Yuvezzi™ (carbachol and brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution) 2.75%/0.1%, previously known as Brimochol PF™, the first and only dual-agent eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia in adults. <Read More>
Zycubo™ (copper histidinate) Injection - formerly CUTX-101 – New Drug Approval – January 12, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Zycubo™ (copper histidinate) injection as the first treatment for Menkes disease in pediatric patients. “With today’s action, children with this devastating, degenerative disease will have an FDA-approved treatment option and the potential to live longer,” said Christine Nguyen, M.D., Deputy Director of the Office of Rare Diseases, Pediatrics, Urologic and Reproductive Medicine in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The FDA will continue to work with the rare disease community to advance drug development for patients with Menkes disease and other rare conditions.” <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) Injection – New Label Expansion – January 27, 2026 – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). D-VRd is the only anti-CD38 antibody-based regimen with approved indications across newly diagnosed patients, regardless of transplant eligibility. <Read More>
Afrezza® (insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder - New Label Expansion – January 23, 2026 – MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming chronic disease care through innovative, patient-centric solutions for cardiometabolic and orphan lung diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an update to the Prescribing Information for Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, revising recommendations for the starting mealtime dosage when patients switch from subcutaneous mealtime insulin regimens. <Read More>
Nexplanon® (etonogestrel) Implant - New Label Expansion – January 16, 2026 - Organon (NYSE: OGN), a global healthcare company with a mission to deliver impactful medicines and solutions for a healthier every day, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Nexplanon® (etonogestrel implant), which is indicated for use by women of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy. The sNDA extends the duration of use of Nexplanon® for up to five years, an extension of the previous three-year indication. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
January 30, 2026
Pindolol Tablet (Discontinuation)
January 28, 2026
Podofilox Topical Gel (Discontinuation)
January 27, 2026
Benztropine Mesylate Injection (Discontinuation)
Fluvastatin Sodium Tablet, Extended Release (Discontinuation)
January 20, 2026
Azithromycin Injection (Discontinuation)
Maraviroc Solution (Discontinuation)
Piperacillin and Tazobactam Injection (Discontinuation)
Riboflavin 5-phosphate Ophthalmic Solution (Discontinuation)
January 13, 2026
Adalimumab-adaz Injection (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
February 02, 2026
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydroxocobalamin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
January 27, 2026
Methamphetamine Hydrochloride Tablet (Resolved)
January 23, 2026
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Fentanyl Citrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
January 22, 2026
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bumetanide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Cefotaxime Sodium Powder, for Solution (Currently in Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dopamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Fentanyl Citrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Liraglutide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lorazepam Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Propranolol Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Remifentanil Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sufentanil Citrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Valproate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
January 21, 2026
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Tablet, Chewable (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Naltrexone Hydrochloride Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
Technetium TC-99M Pyrophosphate Kit Injection (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
No new update.
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Prior Authorization Ranked Top Barrier to Health Care Access After Cost – February 2, 2026 – While the cost of health care remains the dominant worry among Americans, the process of obtaining prior authorization from insurers has become the most burdensome noncost barrier for insured adults trying to access care, according to a new KFF Health Tracking Poll released today. The findings underscore growing public frustration with insurance-driven obstacles that can delay, alter, or even block necessary medical services, treatments, and medications. <Read More>
Why Pharmacy Transparency is Becoming a C-Suite Issue – January 29, 2026 – The U.S. healthcare industry is entering a pivotal moment in its debate over pharmacy benefit transparency, and HR executives—especially those overseeing self-insured health plans—are increasingly at the center of it. In Congress, lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at improving visibility into how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) operate and how prescription drug prices are set, while a growing number of lawsuits challenge opaque pricing practices, rebate arrangements and whether plan sponsors exercised appropriate oversight. Public scrutiny is rising as well, with high-profile business figures like Mark Cuban using conference stages, media interviews and social channels to urge employers to demand greater transparency (an argument that aligns with his business interest in reshaping how prescription drugs are priced and purchased). And that pressure has reached PBMs themselves: As of 2025, the CEOs of the three largest PBMs have all publicly stated that rebates would be returned to customers. <Read More>
US Labor Department Proposes Rule to Boost Transparency in Pharmacy Benefit Manager Fees – January 29, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration on Thursday issued a proposed rule aimed at increasing transparency around fees and compensation collected by pharmacy benefit managers. The move, which follows a directive under President Donald Trump's executive order on lowering drug prices, seeks to clarify PBM business practices that affect employer-sponsored health plans covering millions of Americans. <Read More>
US Vaccine Guideline Changes Challenge Clinical Practice, Insurance Coverage – January 27, 2026 – Recent changes to routine vaccine recommendations have created confusion and uncertainty regarding public health guidance. These changes may limit or restrict access to certain vaccines due to a lack of availability or insurance coverage, which could increase costs. Clinicians are advised to provide opportunities to discuss the underlying scientific evidence supporting recommended vaccines. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer endorses the immunization schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and strongly recommends the full set of immunizations. <Read More>
New Guideline Expands Stroke Treatment for Adults, Offers First Pediatric Stroke Guidance – January 26, 2026 – Expanded eligibility for advanced stroke therapies and new recommendations for diagnosing and treating stroke in children and adults are among the major updates in the new 2026 Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, published in the Association’s flagship journal Stroke. <Read More>
New Clinical Practice Guideline Recognizes Insomnia and Sleep Apnea Can Occur Together – January 22, 2026 – Getting regular restorative sleep on a regular basis is essential to good health — yet studies have shown that lack of sleep has left the military less combat ready. To address this urgent issue, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs revised the Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Chronic Insomnia Disorder and Obstructive Sleep on July 29, 2025. The lack of restorative sleep is known as chronic insomnia disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by repetitive snoring, choking, and awakenings. These two conditions often go together, resulting in sleepiness that affects service member duty performance and overall readiness, and can lead to serious physical and mental health consequences. <Read More>
How Specialty Pharmacists Can Keep HIV Patients on ART – January 21, 2026 – A team of specialty pharmacists and pharmacy liaisons in Brooklyn successfully transitioned a small group of patients living with HIV from daily oral antiviral therapy (ART) to injectable long-acting antiretroviral therapy (LA-ART). The switch improved medication access and adherence, and optimized treatment outcomes for HIV management and PrEP, the team reported at the NASP 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo, in Denver (poster OPR17-OR). Treatment shortcomings of oral ART, according to the poster, include daily pill fatigue, social stigma, and inconsistent access to medication. <Read More>
FDA Schedules Review Meeting After Gene Therapy Shows Slowing of Huntington’s Progression – January 13, 2026 – The FDA has scheduled a Type A meeting with uniQure to discuss materials supporting a potential accelerated approval pathway for AMT-130, the company’s investigational gene therapy for Huntington’s disease, reopening regulatory engagement after a setback in late 2025. In an announcement on Jan. 9, 2026, uniQure said the meeting will focus on its data supporting accelerated approval of AMT-130. The company said it expects to issue a further update after receiving official minutes. <Read More>
340B in the News
A Win for Kids — And Why 340B Still Needs Defending – January 27, 2026 – Protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Program remains a top priority for the Children’s Hospital Association, and recent developments underscore the importance of our advocacy. Working closely with our member hospitals, we have taken action to safeguard 340B and the children’s hospitals that rely on it. Our efforts helped halt a pilot rebate program that would fundamentally alter how 340B operates and place an unsustainable financial burden on children’s hospitals. In January, a federal appeals court paused the proposed rebate program that would provide money back to hospitals after drugs were purchased. The administration dropped an appeal of the courts’ decision, allowing upfront discounts to continue. With the pilot rebate program now on an indefinite pause, CHA is building on that momentum to continue protecting this vital program. <Read More>
Government Withdraws Appeal in 340B Rebate Pilot Program Litigation, Signaling Shift – January 27, 2026 – The recent litigation concerning the government’s 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program (the Rebate Program), as further described below, took an unexpected turn as the federal government recently signaled that it intended to revise its approach to the Rebate Program. This change in strategy was previewed by the government in a letter filed with the Court on January 12, 2026—the deadline for briefing regarding the preliminary injunction—stating that the government was considering “returning the approvals challenged [in the lawsuit] to [the Health Resources and Services Administration] for reconsideration,” and that the parties “plan to dismiss the appeal in short order.” The government formally moved to dismiss its appeal on January 16, 2026, and the First Circuit dismissed the appeal on January 20, 2026. <Read More>
AHA Urges HRSA to Stop Eli Lilly’s 340B Claims-Data Submission Policy from Going Into Effect – January 26, 2026 – The urged the Health Resources and Services Administration to take immediate action to stop a new Eli Lilly and Company policy from taking effect on Feb. 1, including by “assessing civil monetary penalties for intentionally overcharging 340B hospitals.” On Jan. 15, Lilly issued a notice to all 340B covered entities that the company was updating its data requirements for its 340B distribution program. The policy would require 340B covered entities to submit claims data for all dispensations of all Lilly drugs, regardless of setting. <Read More>
HRSA Announces 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program – January 23, 2026 – On August 1, 2025, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a federal register notice announcing its long-anticipated 340B rebate model guidance, which implements a relatively narrow pilot program focusing on drugs subject to Medicare drug price negotiations for 2026. While the pilot program is voluntary for manufacturers, covered entities will need to submit the required data to access the 340B price via rebate on selected drugs under approved manufacturer plans. The notice states the pilot model is intended to address the 340B and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) maximum fair price (MFP) deduplication. The model requirements mention that rebates should not be denied based on compliance concerns with diversion or Medicaid duplicate discounts. <Read More>
Clinical Insights: January 15th, 2026
New Drug/Vaccine Approval
Nereus™ (tradipitant) Capsules – New Drug Approval – December 30, 2025 - Vanda – Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Vanda) (Nasdaq: VNDA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nereus™ (tradipitant), an oral neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist, for the prevention of vomiting induced by motion. This approval marks the first new pharmacologic treatment in motion sickness in over four decades, representing a significant advancement in the understanding and management of this debilitating physiologic response that affects a substantial portion of the population and has long been recognized as a factor affecting military operational readiness. <Read More>
Yartemlea® (narsoplimab-wuug) Injection - New Drug Approval – December 23, 2025 – Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Yartemlea® (narsoplimab-wuug) for the treatment of hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA), an often-fatal complication of stem-cell transplantation driven by activation of the lectin pathway of complement. Yartemlea® is the first and only approved lectin pathway inhibitor. <Read More>
Aqvesme™ (mitapivat) Tablets - New Drug Approval – December 23, 2025 – Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGIO), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on delivering innovative medicines for patients with rare diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Aqvesme™ (mitapivat), an oral pyruvate kinase (PK) activator, for the treatment of anemia in adults with alpha- or beta-thalassemia. <Read More>
Myqorzo™ (aficamten) Tablets - New Drug Approval – December 19, 2025 – Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Myqorzo™ (aficamten), 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg tablets for the treatment of adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) to improve functional capacity and symptoms. Myqorzo™ is an allosteric and reversible inhibitor of cardiac myosin motor activity. In patients with oHCM, myosin inhibition with Myqorzo™ reduces cardiac contractility and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. <Read More>
Rybrevant Faspro™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj) Injection - New Drug Approval – December 17, 2025 – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rybrevant Faspro™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj), the first and only subcutaneously (SC) administered therapy for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Rybrevant Faspro™ is approved across all indications of Rybrevant® (amivantamab-vmjw). <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Cablivi® (caplacizumab-yhdp) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 23, 2025 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Cablivi® (caplacizumab-yhdp) for injection to treat pediatric patients 12 years and older with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) in combination with plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapy. Cablivi® was originally approved in 2019 to treat adults with this condition. <Read More>
Furoscix® (furosemide) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 22, 2025 – MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) announced two business updates—approval of the Furoscix® (furosemide) On-body Infusor for pediatric patients and issuance of additional intellectual property protection for the investigational-stage Furoscix® ReadyFlow™ Autoinjector, which is currently under review by the U.S. FDA. <Read More>
Wegovy® (semaglutide) Injection and Tablets – New Label Expansion – December 22, 2025 – Wegovy® pill is now available, providing those seeking help with their weight the revolutionary science of GLP-1 medicine in a pill for the first time. This advancement opens new possibilities for the more than 100 million Americans living with obesity. Wegovy® pill was approved on December 22, 2025 and is used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for adults with obesity, or with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose weight and keep it off. <Read More>
ACCRUFeR® (ferric maltol) Capsules – New Label Expansion – December 19, 2025 – Shield Therapeutics plc (LSE: STX), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company specialising in iron deficiency, announces that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following a priority review of the clinical supplement, has approved the extension of the indication for ACCRUFeR® (ferric maltol) to include adolescents. ACCRUFeR® is now indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency in adult and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older. <Read More>
Lunsumio Velo™ (mosunetuzumab-axgb) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 19, 2025 – Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved CD20xCD3 bispecific Lunsumio Velo™ (mosunetuzumab-axgb), as a subcutaneous (SC) formulation, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy, based on results from the Phase I/II GO29781 study. <Read More>
Jascayd® (nerandomilast) Tablets – New Label Expansion – December 19, 2025 – Boehringer Ingelheim’s Jascayd® (nerandomilast) tablets has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) in adults. This represents a new treatment option in the U.S. for this debilitating lung condition, with Jascayd® being the first and only preferential phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitor with immunomodulatory and antifibrotic effects approved in this indication. <Read More>
Rubraca® (rucaparib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – December 17, 2025 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rucaparib (Rubraca®, pharmaand GmbH) for adults with a deleterious BRCA mutation (BRCAm) (germline and/or somatic)-associated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) previously treated with an androgen receptor-directed therapy. Patients should be selected for therapy using an FDA-approved companion diagnostic (CDx). Rucaparib was granted accelerated approval in 2020 for a similar indication. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
January 12, 2026
Caspofungin Acetate Injection (Discontinuation)
Doxycycline Hyclate Tablet (Discontinuation)
Neostigmine Methylsulfate Injection (Discontinuation)
January 09, 2026
Haloperidol Decanoate Injection (Discontinuation)
January 08, 2026
Imipenem and Cilastatin Injection (Discontinuation)
January 06, 2026
Everolimus Tablet (Discontinuation)
January 05, 2026
Diltiazem Hydrochloride Injection (Discontinuation)
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Tablet (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
January 09, 2026
Parathyroid Hormone Injection (Discontinuation)
Remifentanil Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
January 08, 2026
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydroxocobalamin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rifampin Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Streptozocin Powder, For Solution (Currently in Shortage)
January 06, 2026
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Heparin Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lorazepam Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Propranolol Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
January 05, 2026
Atropine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
January 04, 2026
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
No new update.
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
Boncresa™ (denosumab-mobz) Injection - New Prolia® Biosimilar Approval – December 19, 2025 – Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Amneal” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AMRX) and mAbxience, a Fresenius Kabi majority-owned group with partial ownership from Insud Pharma, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Biologics Licensing Applications (BLAs) for Boncresa™ (denosumab-mobz), a biosimilar referencing Prolia®. <Read More>
Oziltus™ (denosumab-mobz) Injection - New Xvega® Biosimilar Approval – December 19, 2025 – Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Amneal” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AMRX) and mAbxience, a Fresenius Kabi majority-owned group with partial ownership from Insud Pharma, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Biologics Licensing Applications (BLAs) for…Oziltus™ (denosumab-mobz), a biosimilar referencing Xgeva®. <Read More>
Nufymco® (ranibizumab-leyk) Injection - New Lucentis® Biosimilar Approval – December 18, 2025 – Formycon AG (FWB: FYB, Prime Standard, “Formycon”) and Bioeq AG (“Bioeq”) announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nufymco® (ranibizumab-leyk), an interchangeable biosimilar to Lucentis®. <Read More>
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Asthma Management Clinical Practice Guideline Revisions Include Single-Inhaler Approach – January 13, 2026 – The Clinical Practice Guideline for the Primary Care Management of Asthma from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense recommends using newer, fast-onset medications and one inhaler rather than two for maintenance and rescue needs. These combination medications are called Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy, or SMART or MART, explained Maj. (Dr.) Jonathan Schroeder. He is chief of pediatric pulmonology and medical director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. <Read More>
National Pharmacy Benefit Manager Implements Direct-to-Consumer Model – January 12, 2026 – As the healthcare landscape rapidly evolves, the direct-to-consumer (DTC) model is transforming how Americans access prescription medications, putting price transparency, convenience and control directly into patients’ hands, while also lowering costs patients pay for prescription medications. Recognizing this shift, a major Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) has taken a step by launching its own DTC Program Opportunity for network pharmacies. This initiative enables pharmacies to offer upfront, competitive DTC pricing at the point of sale, empowering patients to make informed choices about their healthcare while streamlining the prescription process for providers. By embracing this patient-centric model, the PBM is responding to changing consumer expectations. <Read More>
What to Expect in US Healthcare in 2026 and Beyond – January 12, 2026 – The US healthcare system continues to face considerable financial strain, although there are pockets of opportunity. Industry EBITDA as a percentage of national health expenditures (NHE) fell from 11.2 percent in 2019 to 8.9 percent in 2024. In 2027, the picture is expected to worsen slightly, with industry EBITDA as a percentage of NHE expected to drop to 8.7 percent. <Read More>
Industry Voices—Relational Technology: How FQHCs Bridge Specialty Care’s Missed Connections – January 9, 2026 – The challenge in community health isn’t just providing access to specialists; it’s also bridging the gap between primary and specialty care. Technology promises to transform clinical practice, but needs a human connection to produce transformative outcomes. To succeed at their mission, community health centers must embrace what I call relational technology—not tools but relationship multipliers that strengthen the bond between patient and provider. For the over 32 million federally qualified health center (FQHC) clients, largely from underserved populations, a referral to a specialist is often not a solution but rather the start of a confusing journey. <Read More>
FDA Grants First Priority Voucher Approval to Augmentin XR™ – January 9, 2026 – The FDA approved Augmentin XR™ (amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium) to be manufactured by USAntibiotics under the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) pilot program, marking the first time since the program was announced in June that a drug has been approved though the new review pathway. Augmentin XR™ is an oral antibacterial combination consisting of the semisynthetic antibiotic amoxicillin and the beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanate. The approval was completed in just two months, which the agency said “represent[s] a major reduction of the review timeline.” <Read More>
CMS Proposes GLOBE and GUARD Drug Pricing Models to Reduce Medicare Costs – January 8, 2026 – CMS has proposed two mandatory Medicare drug pricing models: the GLOBE Model (for Part B drugs) and the GUARD Model (for Part D drugs). Both models would link Medicare drug rebate calculations to international pricing benchmarks from “economically comparable” countries. If finalized, the GLOBE and GUARD Models would create new and potentially significant rebate obligations for drug manufacturers. <Read More>
WHO Releases Updated Recommendations on HIV Clinical Management – January 7, 2026 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated recommendations on HIV clinical management providing new and revised guidance on antiretroviral therapy, management of vertical HIV transmission, and tuberculosis (TB) prevention for people living with HIV. These recommendations support an evidence-based, cost-effective approach to improving treatment outcomes, reducing HIV-related mortality and accelerating progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat. <Read More>
GLP-1 Coverage Expansion Under Medicare: What Digital Health Companies Need to Know – January 7, 2026 – The Trump administration has announced a pricing initiative designed to reduce the cost of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drug products for certain Medicare enrollees. This policy represents a significant departure from the administration’s prior position that Medicare and Medicaid would not cover anti-obesity medications, including GLP-1 products. The change is expected to influence market dynamics for both consumers and industry stakeholders, particularly telehealth companies. Telehealth providers and other digital health companies that have relied on lower-priced GLP-1 offerings as a competitive differentiator may face new challenges as Medicare pricing becomes more attractive to patients, especially as new products enter the market, such as a recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral GLP 1 pill. <Read More>
Medical Experts Warn Federal Rollback of Childhood Vaccine Schedule Puts Children at Risk – January 7, 2026 – Medical and public health leaders expressed alarm after federal health officials announced sweeping changes to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule, an unprecedented move experts warn could accelerate the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases and dismantle decades of evidence-based vaccine policy. The Jan. 5 announcement by the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services to revise long-standing childhood vaccine recommendations was finalized without public comment, marking a sharp departure from the transparent, science-driven process that has historically governed U.S. immunization guidance. <Read More>
The 2026 Pharma Reset: How Industry Giants Are Navigating a New Era of Federal Price Controls – January 2, 2026 – January 1 marked the official commencement of the first-ever "Maximum Fair Prices" (MFPs) for ten of the most widely used drugs in the Medicare program, a direct result of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) negotiation provisions. This milestone represents a fundamental shift in the federal government’s role in drug pricing, moving from a passive payer to an active negotiator, and signaling the end of an era where manufacturers held unilateral pricing power for the duration of a drug's patent life. <Read More>
340B in the News
340B Rebate Pilot Remains on Hold in Win for Hospitals – January 8, 2026 – The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the halt of the 340B rebate pilot on Wednesday, meaning the contentious payment experiment remains on hold as hospitals’ lawsuit seeking to block it progresses. Judges called the district court’s decision to pause the pilot “careful and thorough” in their Jan. 7 order, while noting that the Trump administration had failed to convince them it would succeed on the merits of its case. <Read More>
Clinical Insights: January 15th, 2026
New Drug/Vaccine Approval
Nereus™ (tradipitant) Capsules – New Drug Approval – December 30, 2025 - Vanda – Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Vanda) (Nasdaq: VNDA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nereus™ (tradipitant), an oral neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist, for the prevention of vomiting induced by motion. This approval marks the first new pharmacologic treatment in motion sickness in over four decades, representing a significant advancement in the understanding and management of this debilitating physiologic response that affects a substantial portion of the population and has long been recognized as a factor affecting military operational readiness. <Read More>
Yartemlea® (narsoplimab-wuug) Injection - New Drug Approval – December 23, 2025 – Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ: OMER) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Yartemlea® (narsoplimab-wuug) for the treatment of hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA), an often-fatal complication of stem-cell transplantation driven by activation of the lectin pathway of complement. Yartemlea® is the first and only approved lectin pathway inhibitor. <Read More>
Aqvesme™ (mitapivat) Tablets - New Drug Approval – December 23, 2025 – Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGIO), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on delivering innovative medicines for patients with rare diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Aqvesme™ (mitapivat), an oral pyruvate kinase (PK) activator, for the treatment of anemia in adults with alpha- or beta-thalassemia. <Read More>
Myqorzo™ (aficamten) Tablets - New Drug Approval – December 19, 2025 – Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Myqorzo™ (aficamten), 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg tablets for the treatment of adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) to improve functional capacity and symptoms. Myqorzo™ is an allosteric and reversible inhibitor of cardiac myosin motor activity. In patients with oHCM, myosin inhibition with Myqorzo™ reduces cardiac contractility and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. <Read More>
Rybrevant Faspro™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj) Injection - New Drug Approval – December 17, 2025 – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rybrevant Faspro™ (amivantamab and hyaluronidase-lpuj), the first and only subcutaneously (SC) administered therapy for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Rybrevant Faspro™ is approved across all indications of Rybrevant® (amivantamab-vmjw). <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Cablivi® (caplacizumab-yhdp) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 23, 2025 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Cablivi® (caplacizumab-yhdp) for injection to treat pediatric patients 12 years and older with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) in combination with plasma exchange and immunosuppressive therapy. Cablivi® was originally approved in 2019 to treat adults with this condition. <Read More>
Furoscix® (furosemide) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 22, 2025 – MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) announced two business updates—approval of the Furoscix® (furosemide) On-body Infusor for pediatric patients and issuance of additional intellectual property protection for the investigational-stage Furoscix® ReadyFlow™ Autoinjector, which is currently under review by the U.S. FDA. <Read More>
Wegovy® (semaglutide) Injection and Tablets – New Label Expansion – December 22, 2025 – Wegovy® pill is now available, providing those seeking help with their weight the revolutionary science of GLP-1 medicine in a pill for the first time. This advancement opens new possibilities for the more than 100 million Americans living with obesity. Wegovy® pill was approved on December 22, 2025 and is used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for adults with obesity, or with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose weight and keep it off. <Read More>
ACCRUFeR® (ferric maltol) Capsules – New Label Expansion – December 19, 2025 – Shield Therapeutics plc (LSE: STX), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company specialising in iron deficiency, announces that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following a priority review of the clinical supplement, has approved the extension of the indication for ACCRUFeR® (ferric maltol) to include adolescents. ACCRUFeR® is now indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency in adult and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older. <Read More>
Lunsumio Velo™ (mosunetuzumab-axgb) Injection – New Label Expansion – December 19, 2025 – Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved CD20xCD3 bispecific Lunsumio Velo™ (mosunetuzumab-axgb), as a subcutaneous (SC) formulation, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) after two or more lines of systemic therapy, based on results from the Phase I/II GO29781 study. <Read More>
Jascayd® (nerandomilast) Tablets – New Label Expansion – December 19, 2025 – Boehringer Ingelheim’s Jascayd® (nerandomilast) tablets has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) in adults. This represents a new treatment option in the U.S. for this debilitating lung condition, with Jascayd® being the first and only preferential phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitor with immunomodulatory and antifibrotic effects approved in this indication. <Read More>
Rubraca® (rucaparib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – December 17, 2025 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rucaparib (Rubraca®, pharmaand GmbH) for adults with a deleterious BRCA mutation (BRCAm) (germline and/or somatic)-associated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) previously treated with an androgen receptor-directed therapy. Patients should be selected for therapy using an FDA-approved companion diagnostic (CDx). Rucaparib was granted accelerated approval in 2020 for a similar indication. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
January 12, 2026
Caspofungin Acetate Injection (Discontinuation)
Doxycycline Hyclate Tablet (Discontinuation)
Neostigmine Methylsulfate Injection (Discontinuation)
January 09, 2026
Haloperidol Decanoate Injection (Discontinuation)
January 08, 2026
Imipenem and Cilastatin Injection (Discontinuation)
January 06, 2026
Everolimus Tablet (Discontinuation)
January 05, 2026
Diltiazem Hydrochloride Injection (Discontinuation)
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate Tablet (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
January 09, 2026
Parathyroid Hormone Injection (Discontinuation)
Remifentanil Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
January 08, 2026
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydroxocobalamin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rifampin Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Streptozocin Powder, For Solution (Currently in Shortage)
January 06, 2026
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Heparin Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lorazepam Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Propranolol Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
January 05, 2026
Atropine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
January 04, 2026
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
No new update.
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
Boncresa™ (denosumab-mobz) Injection - New Prolia® Biosimilar Approval – December 19, 2025 – Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Amneal” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AMRX) and mAbxience, a Fresenius Kabi majority-owned group with partial ownership from Insud Pharma, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Biologics Licensing Applications (BLAs) for Boncresa™ (denosumab-mobz), a biosimilar referencing Prolia®. <Read More>
Oziltus™ (denosumab-mobz) Injection - New Xvega® Biosimilar Approval – December 19, 2025 – Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Amneal” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AMRX) and mAbxience, a Fresenius Kabi majority-owned group with partial ownership from Insud Pharma, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Biologics Licensing Applications (BLAs) for…Oziltus™ (denosumab-mobz), a biosimilar referencing Xgeva®. <Read More>
Nufymco® (ranibizumab-leyk) Injection - New Lucentis® Biosimilar Approval – December 18, 2025 – Formycon AG (FWB: FYB, Prime Standard, “Formycon”) and Bioeq AG (“Bioeq”) announce that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nufymco® (ranibizumab-leyk), an interchangeable biosimilar to Lucentis®. <Read More>
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Asthma Management Clinical Practice Guideline Revisions Include Single-Inhaler Approach – January 13, 2026 – The Clinical Practice Guideline for the Primary Care Management of Asthma from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense recommends using newer, fast-onset medications and one inhaler rather than two for maintenance and rescue needs. These combination medications are called Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy, or SMART or MART, explained Maj. (Dr.) Jonathan Schroeder. He is chief of pediatric pulmonology and medical director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. <Read More>
National Pharmacy Benefit Manager Implements Direct-to-Consumer Model – January 12, 2026 – As the healthcare landscape rapidly evolves, the direct-to-consumer (DTC) model is transforming how Americans access prescription medications, putting price transparency, convenience and control directly into patients’ hands, while also lowering costs patients pay for prescription medications. Recognizing this shift, a major Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) has taken a step by launching its own DTC Program Opportunity for network pharmacies. This initiative enables pharmacies to offer upfront, competitive DTC pricing at the point of sale, empowering patients to make informed choices about their healthcare while streamlining the prescription process for providers. By embracing this patient-centric model, the PBM is responding to changing consumer expectations. <Read More>
What to Expect in US Healthcare in 2026 and Beyond – January 12, 2026 – The US healthcare system continues to face considerable financial strain, although there are pockets of opportunity. Industry EBITDA as a percentage of national health expenditures (NHE) fell from 11.2 percent in 2019 to 8.9 percent in 2024. In 2027, the picture is expected to worsen slightly, with industry EBITDA as a percentage of NHE expected to drop to 8.7 percent. <Read More>
Industry Voices—Relational Technology: How FQHCs Bridge Specialty Care’s Missed Connections – January 9, 2026 – The challenge in community health isn’t just providing access to specialists; it’s also bridging the gap between primary and specialty care. Technology promises to transform clinical practice, but needs a human connection to produce transformative outcomes. To succeed at their mission, community health centers must embrace what I call relational technology—not tools but relationship multipliers that strengthen the bond between patient and provider. For the over 32 million federally qualified health center (FQHC) clients, largely from underserved populations, a referral to a specialist is often not a solution but rather the start of a confusing journey. <Read More>
FDA Grants First Priority Voucher Approval to Augmentin XR™ – January 9, 2026 – The FDA approved Augmentin XR™ (amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium) to be manufactured by USAntibiotics under the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher (CNPV) pilot program, marking the first time since the program was announced in June that a drug has been approved though the new review pathway. Augmentin XR™ is an oral antibacterial combination consisting of the semisynthetic antibiotic amoxicillin and the beta-lactamase inhibitor clavulanate. The approval was completed in just two months, which the agency said “represent[s] a major reduction of the review timeline.” <Read More>
CMS Proposes GLOBE and GUARD Drug Pricing Models to Reduce Medicare Costs – January 8, 2026 – CMS has proposed two mandatory Medicare drug pricing models: the GLOBE Model (for Part B drugs) and the GUARD Model (for Part D drugs). Both models would link Medicare drug rebate calculations to international pricing benchmarks from “economically comparable” countries. If finalized, the GLOBE and GUARD Models would create new and potentially significant rebate obligations for drug manufacturers. <Read More>
WHO Releases Updated Recommendations on HIV Clinical Management – January 7, 2026 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated recommendations on HIV clinical management providing new and revised guidance on antiretroviral therapy, management of vertical HIV transmission, and tuberculosis (TB) prevention for people living with HIV. These recommendations support an evidence-based, cost-effective approach to improving treatment outcomes, reducing HIV-related mortality and accelerating progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat. <Read More>
GLP-1 Coverage Expansion Under Medicare: What Digital Health Companies Need to Know – January 7, 2026 – The Trump administration has announced a pricing initiative designed to reduce the cost of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drug products for certain Medicare enrollees. This policy represents a significant departure from the administration’s prior position that Medicare and Medicaid would not cover anti-obesity medications, including GLP-1 products. The change is expected to influence market dynamics for both consumers and industry stakeholders, particularly telehealth companies. Telehealth providers and other digital health companies that have relied on lower-priced GLP-1 offerings as a competitive differentiator may face new challenges as Medicare pricing becomes more attractive to patients, especially as new products enter the market, such as a recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral GLP 1 pill. <Read More>
Medical Experts Warn Federal Rollback of Childhood Vaccine Schedule Puts Children at Risk – January 7, 2026 – Medical and public health leaders expressed alarm after federal health officials announced sweeping changes to the U.S. childhood immunization schedule, an unprecedented move experts warn could accelerate the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases and dismantle decades of evidence-based vaccine policy. The Jan. 5 announcement by the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services to revise long-standing childhood vaccine recommendations was finalized without public comment, marking a sharp departure from the transparent, science-driven process that has historically governed U.S. immunization guidance. <Read More>
The 2026 Pharma Reset: How Industry Giants Are Navigating a New Era of Federal Price Controls – January 2, 2026 – January 1 marked the official commencement of the first-ever "Maximum Fair Prices" (MFPs) for ten of the most widely used drugs in the Medicare program, a direct result of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) negotiation provisions. This milestone represents a fundamental shift in the federal government’s role in drug pricing, moving from a passive payer to an active negotiator, and signaling the end of an era where manufacturers held unilateral pricing power for the duration of a drug's patent life. <Read More>
340B in the News
340B Rebate Pilot Remains on Hold in Win for Hospitals – January 8, 2026 – The First Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the halt of the 340B rebate pilot on Wednesday, meaning the contentious payment experiment remains on hold as hospitals’ lawsuit seeking to block it progresses. Judges called the district court’s decision to pause the pilot “careful and thorough” in their Jan. 7 order, while noting that the Trump administration had failed to convince them it would succeed on the merits of its case. <Read More>
Ready to get started?
The Pillr Health team is here to empower your 340B program, and beyond. Reach out at the link below.
Ready to get started?
The Pillr Health team is here to empower your 340B program, and beyond. Reach out at the link below.
