Clinical Insights: May 1st, 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
Penpulimab-kcqx Injection – New Drug Approval – April 23, 2025 – The Food and Drug Administration approved penpulimab-kcqx (Akeso Biopharma Co., Ltd.) with cisplatin or carboplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of adults with recurrent or metastatic non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). FDA also approved penpulimab-kcqx as a single agent for adults with metastatic non-keratinizing NPC with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other prior line of therapy. Efficacy of penpulimab-kcqx with cisplatin or carboplatin and gemcitabine was evaluated in Study AK105-304 (NCT04974398), a randomized, double-blind, multi-center trial in 291 patients with recurrent or metastatic NPC who had not received previous systemic chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease. <Read More>
Vanrafia® (atrasentan) Tablets – New Drug Approval – April 2, 2025 – Novartis announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for Vanrafia® (atrasentan), a potent and selective endothelin A (ETA) receptor antagonist, for the reduction of proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) at risk of rapid disease progression. This is generally defined as a urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) ≥1.5 g/g. Vanrafia® is a once-daily, non-steroidal, oral treatment that can be added onto supportive care, including a renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor with or without a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. <Read More>
New Indication / Dosage / Formulation Approval
Camzyos® (mavacamten) Capsules – New Label Expansion – April 17, 2025 – Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated the U.S. Prescribing Information for Camzyos® (mavacamten, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg capsules), simplifying treatment for patients and physicians by reducing the required echo monitoring for eligible patients in the maintenance phase and expanding patient eligibility by reducing contraindications. Camzyos® is the first and only FDA-approved cardiac myosin inhibitor for the treatment of adults with symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-III obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) to improve functional capacity and symptoms. <Read More>
Dupixent® (dupilumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – April 17, 2025 – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Dupixent® (dupilumab) for the treatment of adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who remain symptomatic despite histamine-1 (H1) antihistamine treatment. <Read More>
Valtoco® (diazepam) Nasal Spray – New Label Expansion – April 16, 2025 – Neurelis, Inc., announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Valtoco® (diazepam nasal spray) for short-term treatment of seizure clusters (also known as “acute repetitive seizures”) that are different from a person’s normal seizure pattern in people 2 years of age and older. Valtoco® is a proprietary formulation which utilizes an absorption enhancement technology, Intravail®, to enable the noninvasive, enhanced intranasal delivery of diazepam. The intranasal formulation of Neurelis’ Valtoco® was previously recognized by the FDA as clinically superior to the rectal gel formulation of diazepam resulting in its orphan drug exclusivity designation. <Read More>
Isturisa® (osilodrostat) Tablets – New Label Expansion – April 15, 2025 – Recordati announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for Isturisa® (osilodrostat) for the treatment of endogenous hypercortisolemia in adults with Cushing’s syndrome for whom surgery is not an option or has not been curative. This is an expansion of the previous indication for the treatment of patients with Cushing’s disease, which is a sub-type of Cushing’s syndrome. <Read More>
Livmarli® (maralixibat) Oral Solution and Tablets – New Label Expansion – April 14, 2025 – Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIRM) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new tablet formulation of Livmarli® (maralixibat) for the treatment of cholestatic pruritus in patients with Alagille syndrome (ALGS) and Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC). <Read More>
Opdivo® (nivolumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – April 11, 2025 – The Food and Drug Administration approved nivolumab (Opdivo®, Bristol Myers Squibb Company) with ipilimumab (Yervoy®, Bristol Myers Squibb Company) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Efficacy was evaluated in CHECKMATE-9DW (NCT04039607), a randomized (1:1), open-label trial in 668 adults with unresectable or metastatic HCC. Patients had histologically confirmed HCC, Child Pugh Class A, ECOG performance status 0 or 1, and no prior systemic therapy for advanced disease. <Read More>
Vyvgart® Hytrulo (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) Injection – New Label Expansion – April 10, 2025 – argenx SE (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX), a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new option for patients to self-inject Vyvgart® Hytrulo with a prefilled syringe (efgartigimod alfa and hyaluronidase-qvfc) for the treatment of adult patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive and adult patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). <Read More>
Vitrakvi® (larotrectinib) Capsules and Oral Solution – New Label Expansion – April 9, 2025 – Bayer announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval for Vitrakvi® (larotrectinib), a first-in-class TRK inhibitor for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors that have a neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have no satisfactory alternative treatments or that have progressed following treatment. Vitrakvi® has demonstrated clinically meaningful and durable responses across a range of NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors. Vitrakvi® was first granted accelerated approval by FDA in November 2018. <Read More>
Opdivo® (nivolumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – April 8, 2025 – the Food and Drug Administration approved nivolumab (Opdivo®, Bristol Myers Squibb Company) with ipilimumab (Yervoy®, Bristol Myers Squibb Company) for adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). The FDA also converted the accelerated approval to regular approval for single agent nivolumab for adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with MSI-H or dMMR metastatic CRC, that has progressed following fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. <Read More>
Yuflyma® (adalimumab-aaty) Injection – New Label Expansion – April 7, 2025 – Celltrion, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated Yuflyma® (adalimumab-aaty), as an interchangeable biosimilar to Humira® (adalimumab). Yuflyma® is an FDA-approved, high-concentration (100mg/mL) and citrate-free formulation of Humira® biosimilar, approved for multiple inflammatory indications. <Read More>
Uplizna® (inebilizumab-cdon) Injection – New Label Expansion – April 3, 2025 – Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Uplizna® as the first and only treatment for adults living with Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD). IgG4-RD is a chronic and debilitating immune-mediated inflammatory condition that can affect multiple organs. The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to UPLIZNA for the treatment of IgG4-RD, recognizing the high unmet medical need in this serious condition and the medicine's potential to benefit patients. <Read More>
Tryvio™ (aprocitentan) Tablets – New Label Expansion – April 2, 2025 – Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) announced that – effective immediately – the US FDA has fully released Tryvio™ (aprocitentan) from its REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) requirement. Tryvio™ is Idorsia’s dual endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) indicated for the treatment of systemic hypertension in combination with other antihypertensives to lower blood pressure in patients who are not adequately controlled on other drugs. The US FDA has determined that a REMS is no longer necessary to ensure the benefits of Tryvio™ outweigh the risk of embryo-fetal toxicity and that labeling is sufficient for conveying the safety information. The FDA have therefore removed the requirement to minimize the burden on the healthcare delivery system of complying with the REMS. <Read More>
Jynneos® (smallpox and mpox vaccine) Injection – New Label Expansion – March 31, 2025 – Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the freeze-dried formulation of Jynneos® (Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine, Live, Non-replicating) for prevention of smallpox and mpox disease in adults 18 years of age and older. This approval will provide additional flexibility for stockpiling against a smallpox event or mpox outbreak. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
April 28, 2025
Divalproex Sodium Tablet, Delayed Release (Discontinuation)
Memantine Hydrochloride Tablet (Discontinuation)
Midodrine Hydrochloride Tablet (Discontinuation)
Nystatin Topical Powder (Discontinuation)
April 25, 2025
Liraglutide Injection (Currently In Shortage)
April 24, 2025
Topiramate Capsule, Extended Release (Discontinuation)
April 23, 2025
Baclofen Tablet (Discontinuation)
April 22, 2025
Oxaliplatin Injection (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
April 24, 2025
Atropine Sulfate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Fentanyl Citrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Heparin Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Rocuronium Bromide Injection (Currently In Shortage)
April 23, 2025
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 50% Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Epinephrine Bitartrate, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Etomidate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Heparin Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Sodium Acetate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Sufentanil Citrate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
April 22, 2025
Amoxicillin Powder, For Suspension (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)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently In Shortage)
Mefloquine Hydrochloride Tablet (Currently In Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently In Shortage)
Oxazepam Capsule (Currently In Shortage)
Streptozocin Powder, For Solution (Currently In Shortage)
April 21, 2025
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently In Shortage)
Naltrexone Hydrochloride Tablet (Currently In Shortage)
Sodium Acetate Injection (Currently In Shortage)
April 18, 2025
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
Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection, USP 500mg/100mL by Amneal Pharmaceutical LLC - New Voluntary Recall – April 18, 2025 - Bridgewater, NJ, Amneal Pharmaceutical LLC, is recalling two lots of Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection, USP, 500mg/100mL, Infusion bags to the hospital/user level as the products may contain an inert fiber identified as polypropylene fibers from the IV bag. <Read More>
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
Jobevne™ (bevacizumab-nwgd) Injection – New Avastin® Biosimilar Approval – April 9, 2025 – Biocon Biologics Ltd (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd (BSE code: 532523, NSE: BIOCON), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) has approved Jobevne™ (bevacizumab-nwgd), a biosimilar Bevacizumab for intravenous use. Jobevne™, a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody used to treat several different types of cancer, is a biosimilar to the reference product Avastin® (bevacizumab). Jobevne™ is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor that binds with VEGF and blocks the interaction with its receptors to prevent angiogenesis – combating cancer by restricting blood supply to the tumor. <Read More>
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Eli Lilly Sues Companies Selling Alternative Versions of its Weight Loss Drug – April 23, 2025 – Eli Lilly, the drugmaker behind the blockbuster weight loss drug Zepboundâ, is suing four telehealth companies for allegedly selling illegal copies of the drug made by compounding pharmacies. Compounded drugs aren't generics. Rather, they are essentially copies that are allowed to be made by special pharmacies called compounding pharmacies during drug shortages. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Lilly's Zepboundâ and Mounjaroâ for Type 2 diabetes, was in shortage for two years until Dec. 19, 2024. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration required an end to making the copies by mid-March, but pharmacies could sell stock already produced until it ran out or expired. And compounders can generally make custom drugs for patients with a doctor's prescription as they do for patients with allergies to certain preservatives in medications, for example. <Read More>
Rethinking Psoriasis Severity for Better Treatment Access – April 21, 2025 – Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects nearly 8 million adults in the U.S. and significantly impacts both physical and mental health. Early and aggressive treatment can greatly improve symptom relief, but many people with moderate to severe psoriasis do not receive this due to rigid treatment criteria. A new study is challenging the way doctors determine who qualifies for systemic treatment—and it could lead to better care for patients whose disease goes underestimated. <Read More>
Machine Learning Improves Fluid Overload Prediction in ICU – April 17, 2025 – A machine learning (ML)-identified medication cluster more accurately predicts fluid overload (FO) in ICU patients than traditional models, according to a new study from the MRC-ICU Investigator Team, a multicenter group of researchers focused on data-driven, optimal pharmacotherapeutic care for critical care patients (Pharmacotherapy 2025;45[2]:76-86). This result also suggests that artificial intelligence could be used to identify other medication-related predictive risk factors in critical care that may be less straightforward than FO, the investigators noted. <Read More>
State Bans PBMs From Owning Pharmacies – April 17, 2025 – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed legislation Wednesday prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers from owning or operating pharmacies, becoming the first state to enact such a restriction. The measure comes as other states are considering restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers, which run prescription drug coverage for big clients that include health insurers and employers that provide coverage. Supporters of the restrictions have said pharmacy benefit managers are forcing independent pharmacies, especially in rural areas, out of business. <Read More>
Leaked HHS Budget Reveals 30% Cuts, Elimination of Many Core Services – April 17, 2025 – A 64-page leaked budget proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reveals more than $40 billion in cuts to various programs, including the total elimination of some and the consolidation of others. The unfinalized plan, first reported by the Washington Post, shows that the proposed cuts extend beyond the termination of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Services related to teen pregnancy prevention, lead safety, rural development, energy assistance, and Head Start have all been completely zeroed out in the proposed budget, along with research initiatives focused on Lyme disease, autism, and firearm-related deaths. <Read More>
Trump Order Seeks Changes to Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, PBM Reform – April 16, 2025 – President Donald Trump has signed an executive order looking to modify the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA's) drug price negotiation program, among other policy shifts. The wide-ranging order requires the Department of Health and Human Services to seek public comment on the drug price negotiation program, which effectively requires manufacturers to agree to lower prices for certain drugs, for potential changes in upcoming years. “The guidance shall improve the transparency of the Medicare drug price negotiation program, prioritize the selection of prescription drugs with high costs to the Medicare program and minimize any negative impacts of the maximum fair price on pharmaceutical innovation within the United States,” the order reads. <Read More>
IL-6 Promising Biomarker for Diagnosing Sepsis Early – April 16, 2025 – Because it rises early after an infectious insult, interleukin-6 (IL-6) may be an effective biomarker for predicting sepsis in high-risk patients, including neonates, children and pregnant women, said Seán O. Whelan, MB, BAO, BCh, BSc, MSc, MRCPI, at ESCMID Global 2025, in Vienna (abstract O0177). Managing sepsis is a race against time, so the clinical diagnosis of sepsis is always a challenge, but especially in these three groups, because physiologic changes can obscure its early signs, explained Dr. Whelan, a clinical microbiology trainee in Dublin. Specific challenges include “difficulties with consensus definitions for what sepsis means in each of these populations; the presence of confounding co-pathologies that closely mimic sepsis and may be far more common than sepsis, which are difficult to try to differentiate; and then the poor performance of our currently used culture-based technologies,” he said. <Read More>
WHO Launches First-Ever Guidelines on Meningitis Diagnosis, Treatment and Care – April 10, 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its first-ever global guidelines for meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care, aiming to speed up detection, ensure timely treatment, and improve long-term care for those affected. By bringing together the latest evidence-based recommendations, the guidelines provide a critical tool for reducing deaths and disability caused by the disease. Despite effective treatments and vaccines against some forms of meningitis, the disease remains a significant global health threat. <Read More>
340B in the News
Cassidy Calls for 340B Reform, Increased Oversight of Hospitals, Contract Pharmacies – April 24, 2025 – A new report on the 340B Drug Pricing Program released Thursday by the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee calls for “much-needed” legislative reforms around transparency and oversight of the contentious discount program. Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D., R-Louisiana, kicked off his investigation in late 2023 as a response to substantial increases in the program’s utilization among providers. Over 60,000 total covered entities were participating as of February 2025, per the report, with federal and proprietary data from 2023 suggesting that the roughly $66.3 billion in discounted outpatient drugs purchased through the program would have hit $124.1 billion wholesale. <Read More>
