Clinical Insights: June 4th, 2025
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
Tryptyr® (acoltremon) Ophthalmic Solution – New Drug Approval – May 28, 2025 - Alcon (SIX/NYSE: ALC), the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tryptyr® (acoltremon ophthalmic solution) 0.003%, formerly known as AR-15512, for the treatment of signs and symptoms of Dry Eye Disease (DED). Tryptyr® is a first-in-class TRPM8 receptor agonist (neuromodulator) that stimulates corneal sensory nerves to rapidly increase natural tear production. DED is a complex, multifactorial condition driven by a deficiency in natural tears, whether due to decreased tear production or increased tear evaporation. <Read More>
Yutrepia™ (treprostinil) Inhalation Powder - formerly LIQ861 – New Drug Approval – May 23, 2025 - Liquidia Corporation (NASDAQ: LQDA), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for patients with rare cardiopulmonary disease, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Yutrepia™ (treprostinil) inhalation powder, a prostacyclin analog for adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) to improve exercise ability. Yutrepia™ is the first and only prostacyclin dry-powder formulation enabled by Liquidia’s proprietary PRINT™ technology, which yields uniform, free-flowing particles designed to enhance deep-lung delivery via an easy-to-use, low-effort device requiring less inspiratory effort. <Read More>
Nuvaxovid™ (COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted) Injectable Suspension - formerly Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine – New Vaccine Approval – May 16, 2025 - Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Biologics License Application (BLA) for Nuvaxovid™ for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in adults 65 years and older and individuals 12 through 64 years who have at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 (e.g. asthma, cancer, diabetes, obesity, smoking).1 Achievement of the U.S. license approval has triggered a $175 million milestone payment from Sanofi. <Read More>
Emrelis™ (telisotuzumab vedotin-tllv) Lyophilized Powder for Injection - formerly Teliso-V – New Drug Approval – May 14, 2025 - AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced that Emrelis™ (telisotuzumab vedotin-tllv) has been granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with high c-Met protein overexpression (OE) who have received a prior systemic therapy. High c-Met protein overexpression is defined as ≥ 50% of tumor cells with strong (3+) staining as determined by an FDA-approved test. <Read More>
Brekiya® (dihydroergotamine mesylate) Injection – New Drug Approval – May 14, 2025 - Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMRX) (“Amneal” or the “Company”) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Brekiya® (dihydroergotamine mesylate) injection, the first and only dihydroergotamine (DHE) autoinjector for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura and the acute treatment of cluster headaches in adults. <Read More>
Avmapki™ Fakzynja™ Co-Pack (avutometinib and defactinib, co-packaged) Capsules/Tablets – New Drug Approval – May 8, 2025 - The Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to the combination of avutometinib and defactinib (Avmapki™ Fakzynja™ Co-pack, Verastem, Inc.) for adult patients with KRAS-mutated recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) who have received prior systemic therapy. Efficacy was evaluated in RAMP-201 (NCT04625270), an open-label, multicenter trial that included 57 adult patients with measurable KRAS-mutated recurrent LGSOC. <Read More>
Atzumi™ (dihydroergotamine mesylate) Nasal Powder - formerly STS101 – New Drug Approval – April 30, 2025 - Satsuma Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing novel treatments to people who suffer from migraine and other debilitating conditions, and its corporate parent, Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd. (TSE:2395), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a 505(b)(2) New Drug Application (NDA) for Atzumi™ (dihydroergotamine (DHE)) nasal powder for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Atzumi™ was previously known as STS101. <Read More>
Imaavy™ (nipocalimab-aahu) Injection – New Drug Approval – April 29, 2025 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Imaavy™ (nipocalimab-aahu), a human FcRn-blocking monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). The approval, which follows FDA Priority Review designation, offers a new treatment option in a proven class with the potential for lasting disease control in the broadest population of people living with gMG (adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who are anti-acetylcholine receptor [AChR] or anti-muscle-specific kinase [MuSK] antibody positive). <Read More>
Zevaskyn™ (prademagene zamikeracel) Gene-Modified Cellular Sheets – New Drug Approval – April 28, 2025 - Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ABEO) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zevaskyn™ (pronounced as ‘ZEE-vah-skin’) (prademagene zamikeracel) gene-modified cellular sheets, also known as pz-cel, as the first and only autologous cell-based gene therapy for the treatment of wounds in adult and pediatric patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a serious and debilitating genetic skin disease. There is no cure for RDEB and Zevaskyn™ is the only FDA-approved product to treat RDEB wounds with a single application. <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Nucala® (mepolizumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – May 22, 2025 – GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nucala® (mepolizumab) as an add-on maintenance treatment for adult patients with inadequately controlled COPD and an eosinophilic phenotype. FDA’s approval was based on data from the positive MATINEE and METREX phase III trials. Across these trials, mepolizumab showed a clinically meaningful and statistically significant reduction in the annualised rate of moderate/severe exacerbations versus placebo in a wide spectrum of COPD patients with an eosinophilic phenotype. <Read More>
Zoryve® (roflumilast) Cream and Foam – New Label Expansion – May 22, 2025 – Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQT), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing meaningful innovations in immuno-dermatology, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Zoryve® (roflumilast) topical foam 0.3% for the treatment of plaque psoriasis of the scalp and body in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. Zoryve® foam is a once-daily, steroid-free topical and is now widely available as a treatment for plaque psoriasis. <Read More>
Susvimo® (ranibizumab) Injection for Intravitreal Use via Ocular Implant – New Label Expansion – May 21, 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 Susvimo® (ranibizumab injection) 100 mg/mL for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a potentially blinding condition that affects almost 10 million people in the U.S. and more than 100 million people globally. It is the first and only FDA-approved continuous delivery treatment shown to maintain vision in people with DR with just one refill every nine months. <Read More>
Yuflyma® (adalimumab-aaty) Injection – New Label Expansion – May 21, 2025 – Celltrion, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an expanded interchangeable designation for Yuflyma® (adalimumab-aaty), now including prefilled syringe (40mg) and autoinjectors (40mg and 80mg) presentations. With this approval, Yuflyma® is now fully interchangeable with the reference product, Humira® (adalimumab), across all marketed dosage forms and strengths. Yuflyma® is a high-concentration, citrate-free biosimilar to Humira®, approved for multiple inflammatory indications including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), ulcerative colitis (UC), plaque psoriasis (Ps), hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and uveitis (UV) in adult patients; Crohn's disease (CD) in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older; and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in patients 2 years of age and older. <Read More>
Hadlima™ (adalimumab-bwwd) Injection – New Label Expansion – May 21, 2025 – Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. and Organon & Co. (NYSE: OGN) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated the Hadlima™ (adalimumab-bwwd) high- and low-concentration (40 mg/0.4 mL, 40 mg/0.8 mL) autoinjectors and high-concentration prefilled syringe as interchangeable biosimilars to Humira® (adalimumab). These interchangeability designations follow the interchangeability designation received for the HADLIMA low-concentration (40 mg/0.8 mL) prefilled syringe and single-dose vial in June 2024. With these additional interchangeability designations, Hadlima™ is now interchangeable with all presentations of the reference product. An interchangeability designation enables a pharmacist to substitute the reference product with a biosimilar without the need to consult the prescriber, depending on state pharmacy laws. <Read More>
Jivi® (antihemophilic factor [recombinant] PEGylated-aucl) Injection – New Label Expansion – May 19, 2025 – Bayer announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Jivi®, a recombinant DNA-derived, extended half-life factor VIII concentrate, for use in pediatric patients 7 years of age and older with hemophilia A (congenital Factor VIII deficiency). The approval is based on data from the Alfa-PROTECT and PROTECT Kids studies, demonstrating Jivi’s safety and efficacy in children aged 7 to under 12 years with severe hemophilia A. <Read More>
Zynyz® (retifanlimab-dlwr) Injection – New Label Expansion – May 15, 2025 – Incyte (Nasdaq:INCY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zynyz® (retifanlimab-dlwr), a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel (platinum-based chemotherapy) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with inoperable locally recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC). In addition, the FDA granted approval for Zynyz® as a single agent for the treatment of adult patients with locally recurrent or with metastatic SCAC with disease progression on or intolerance to platinum-based chemotherapy. <Read More>
Welireg® (belzutifan) Tablets – New Label Expansion – May 14, 2025 – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Welireg® (belzutifan), Merck’s oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma (PPGL). Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are rare tumors that come from the same tissue, but pheochromocytoma form in the adrenal gland and paraganglioma form outside the adrenal gland. These tumors can be caused by certain genetic syndromes or mutations. The approval is based on data from the single-arm LITESPARK-015 clinical trial, where the primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). <Read More>
Selarsdi™ (ustekinumab-aekn) Injection – New Label Expansion – April 30, 2025 – Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), and Alvotech (NASDAQ: ALVO) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Selarsdi™ (ustekinumab-aekn) injection as interchangeable with the reference biologic Stelara® (ustekinumab). As of April 30, 2025, Selarsdi™ is available and interchangeable in all presentations matching the reference product, including the treatment of adults and pediatric psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis, as well as Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. <Read More>
Otulfi® (ustekinumab-aauz) Injection – New Label Expansion – April 30, 2025 – Fresenius Kabi, an operating company of Fresenius, and Formycon AG, announced that the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated Otulfi® (ustekinumab-aauz) as an interchangeable biosimilar to the reference product Stelara® (ustekinumab). Depending on state pharmacy laws in the U.S., an interchangeable biosimilar can be dispensed at the pharmacy as a substitute for the reference product without requiring direct approval from the prescribing healthcare provider. Not all biosimilars receive interchangeability status. <Read More>
Rinvoq® (upadacitinib) Extended-Release Tablets – New Label Expansion – April 28, 2025 - AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rinvoq® (upadacitinib), 15 mg, once daily, for the treatment of adults with giant cell arteritis (GCA). This comes after the European Commission recently granted marketing authorization of Rinvoq® for the treatment of GCA in adult patients. The approvals are supported by results of the pivotal Phase 3 SELECT-GCA clinical trial, which met the primary endpoint of sustained remission. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
May 30, 2025
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
May 28, 2025
Desonide Cream (Discontinuation)
May 23, 2025
Minocycline Hydrochloride Capsule (Discontinuation)
Nortriptyline Hydrochloride Capsule (Discontinuation)
May 19, 2025
Potassium Chloride Capsule, Extended Release (Discontinuation)
May 14, 2025
Cholestyramine Powder (Discontinuation)
Oxybutynin Chloride Tablet (Discontinuation)
Propafenone Hydrochloride Capsule, Extended Release (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
May 28, 2025
Methylphenidate Film, Extended Release (Currently In Shortage)
May 23, 2025
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)
Furosemide Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lorazepam Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Mefloquine Hydrochloride Tablet (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)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Sodium Chloride 23.4% Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Sufentanil Citrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
May 22, 2025
Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection (Currently In Shortage)
May 21, 2025
Azacitidine Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Methamphetamine Hydrochloride Tablet (Currently In Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
May 20, 2025
Amino Acid Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Amphetamine Aspartate Monohydrate, Amphetamine Sulfate, Dextroamphetamine Saccharate, Dextroamphetamine Sulfate Tablet (Currently In Shortage)
Azacitidine Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 10% Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lactated Ringers Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently In Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently In Shortage)
Nitroglycerin Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Oxazepam Capsule (Currently In Shortage)
Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Sodium Chloride 0.9% Irrigation (Currently In Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently In Shortage)
Streptozocin Powder, For Solution (Currently In Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
No new update.
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
Tasigna® (nilotinib) Capsules – New Generic Approval – May 27, 2025 – Apotex Corp. announced the launch of nilotinib capsules, a generic version of Tasigna®, in the United States, with 180 days of exclusivity. Nilotinib is a kinase inhibitor indicated to treat certain types of leukemia, including newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia ("Ph+ CML") in chronic phase in adults and children aged 1 year and older. It is also indicated for adults and pediatric patients with chronic or accelerated phase Ph+ CML with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy, demonstrating higher efficacy compared with other available treatments. <Read More>
Starjemza® (ustekinumab-hmny) Injection – New Stelara® Biosimilar Approval – May 22, 2025 - Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd (688177:SH), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of biosimilars and innovative assets and Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, along with its wholly owned subsidiary Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Starjemza® (ustekinumab-hmny) Injection, a biosimilar referencing Stelara® (ustekinumab) Injection. Starjemza® is Bio-Thera’s third FDA approved product. <Read More>
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Recommendations for Nondrug Treatment – June 1, 2025 – First-line recommendations for chronic musculoskeletal pain include cognitive behavioral therapy, multicomponent self-management interventions, and, for specific areas, exercise and psychological therapies. Other treatments may be effective, but quality of evidence issues preclude making recommendations about those treatments. It is important for care to be patient-centered and use a shared decision-making model between providers and individuals experiencing chronic pain. <Read More>
Medical Errors are Still Harming Patients. AI Could Help Change That – May 25, 2025 – John Wiederspan is well aware of how things can go wrong in the high-pressure, high-stakes environment of an operating room. “During situations such as trauma or a patient doing poorly, there’s a real rush to try and get emergency drugs into the patient as fast as possible,” said Wiederspan, a nurse anesthetist at UW Medicine in Seattle. “And that’s when mistakes can occur, when you’re flustered, your adrenaline’s rushing, you’re drawing up drugs and you’re trying to push them.” <Read More>
New Migraine Recommendations Make Treatment Options More Accessible – May 21, 2025 – More than 15% of adults in the United States (that’s roughly 41 million Americans) experience migraine attacks. This neurologic condition—which may include blinding pain, nausea, a loss or distortion of vision, and a heightened sensitivity to light and sound—contributes to lost work and healthcare costs. But until recently, there were no official, evidenced-based recommendations for primary care physicians on how to treat these types of episodic (occurring less than 15 times a month) headaches. Now for the first time the American College of Physicians (ACP) has issued new treatment guidelines based on an extensive and independent review… <Read More>
Closing the Affordability Gap: How Automation is Advancing Biosimilar Adoption – May 19, 2025 – Millions of Americans are currently facing a difficult choice: either pay for expensive biologic medications or ration doses to afford basic needs. Cost-related nonadherence (CRN) is where patients either skip or delay their medication due to cost concerns, a challenge that is widespread throughout the U.S. The financial burden is even greater for those managing multiple chronic conditions, where prescription costs can quickly add up to unmanageable amounts. Despite the financial strain, biosimilars—lower-cost alternatives to expensive biologics—remain vastly underutilized. <Read More>
FDA Biosimilar Approvals set for Record-Breaking Year Amid US Pricing Reforms – May 16, 2025 – 2024 saw the highest number of biosimilars approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a calendar year, with this year set to break this record again, analysis suggests. The FDA approved 19 biosimilars last year, a sharp jump from the five greenlit by the agency in 2023. GlobalData’s Bio/Pharmaceutical Outsourcing Report notes that momentum for biosimilars is set to accelerate. A total of 18 biologics will lose patent protection in 2025, up from 14 in 2024. This includes blockbuster products such as Amgen’s Prolia® (denosumab) and Roche’s Perjeta® (pertuzumab). <Read More>
Trump's Drug Pricing Order Delivers Blow to Pharmacy Benefit Managers – May 12, 2025 -President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a blow to the private-sector middlemen who negotiate U.S. drug prices in his executive order on drug pricing, saying he would cut them out as part of a goal to bring the U.S. in line with other countries. The news drove their shares down even as pharmaceutical stocks rose in investor relief about the broad order. "We're going to cut out the middlemen and facilitate the direct sale of drugs at the most favored nation price, directly to the American citizen," Trump said during a press conference. <Read More>
340B in the News
Unpacking the 25% HHS Budget Cut Proposed by the Trump Administration – June 2, 2025 – A recent budget document prepared by the White House is giving new clarity over how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) could operate for fiscal year 2026. The document closely mirrored other budgetary insights from earlier this year. Under the wishes of President Donald Trump’s staff, the department’s discretionary budget would be nearly $95 billion, a $32 billion decrease amounting to a one-fourth slashing. Congress has final authority on submitting the budget, so some proposals may not be carried out, but the newest budget outline gives the clearest sense yet of the administration’s priorities. Committees on the Hill are expected to begin marking up the budget this week. <Read More>
Future of 340B Rebate Models Hinges on Regulatory Decision Point – May 20, 2025 – A federal judge has sided with a US government agency in a simmering battle over a federal drug discount plan, ruling that it has the right to first approve a controversial proposal by several pharmaceutical companies to use rebates – instead of upfront discounts – when selling medicines to hospitals. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is expected to take a more definitive move next month. The ruling came after some companies sought to change payment terms for transactions conducted as part of the 340B Drug Discount Program, which was created to make sure vulnerable patients have access to medicines. <Read More>
Judge Shuts Down Drugmakers’ 340B Rebate Plans, for now – May 19, 2025 – Drugmakers have to continue paying hospitals upfront discounts for drugs in the 340B program — at least in the near term — after a federal court ruled late last week against major manufacturers that wanted to issue rebates for 340B drugs instead. However, the D.C. district court didn’t entirely rule out drugmakers’ paying after-the-fact rebates in the future, instead determining that the companies would need to get prior approval from the Health Resources and Services Administration, the HHS subagency that oversees 340B. It also directed HRSA to reconsider a rebate plan from Sanofi that regulators had denied. <Read More>
