Clinical Insights: November 21st, 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
Komzifti™ (ziftomenib) Capsules - New Drug Approval – November 13, 2025 – The Food and Drug Administration approved ziftomenib (Komzifti™, Kura Oncology, Inc.), a menin inhibitor, for adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutation who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. <Read More>
Kygevvi® (doxecitine and doxribtimine) Powder for Oral Solution - New Drug Approval –November 3, 2025 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kygevvi® (doxecitine and doxribtimine) powder to treat thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d) in adults and pediatric patients who start to show symptoms when they are 12 years old or younger. Kygevvi® received Breakthrough Therapy Designation for this indication. <Read More>
Lynkuet® (elinzanetant) Capsules - New Drug Approval – October 24, 2025 – Bayer announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lynkuet® (elinzanetant) 60mg capsules, the first and only dual neurokinin (NK) targeted therapy, neurokinin 1 (NK1) and neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist, for the treatment of moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause. <Read More>
Javadin™ (clonidine hydrochloride) Oral Solution - New Drug Approval – October 23, 2025 – Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Javadin™ (clonidine hydrochloride) oral solution, the only FDA-approved, immediate-release, ready-to-use oral liquid clonidine formulation for the treatment of hypertension in adult patients to lower blood pressure. <Read More>
Epioxa™ (riboflavin 5’-phosphate) Ophthalmic Solution - New Drug Approval – October 17, 2025 - Glaukos Corporation (NYSE: GKOS), an ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical technology company focused on novel therapies for the treatment of glaucoma, corneal disorders, and retinal diseases, announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its Epioxa™ HD / Epioxa™ (“Epioxa”) New Drug Application (NDA). Epioxa™ is a groundbreaking advancement in corneal cross-linking for the treatment of keratoconus, a rare, sight-threatening disease that is currently far too often undiagnosed and untreated. <Read More>
Ferabright™ (ferumoxytol) Injection - New Drug Approval – October 16, 2025 - Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ferabright™ (ferumoxytol injection), the first and only iron-based contrast agent indicated for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain in adults with known or suspected malignant neoplasms in the brain to visualize lesions with a disrupted blood-brain barrier. <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Elevidys® (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion – New Label Expansion – November 14, 2025 - Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, announced an update to the prescribing information for Elevidys® (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl), the only approved gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). <Read More>
Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) Injection – New Label Expansion – November 6, 2025 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Darzalex Faspro® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) as a single agent treatment for adult patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (HR-SMM). Darzalex Faspro® is the first and only approved treatment for HR-SMM, enabling earlier intervention before the disease progresses to active multiple myeloma. <Read More>
Caplyta® (lumateperone) Capsules – New Label Expansion – November 5, 2025 - Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Caplyta® (lumateperone) as an adjunctive therapy with antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. <Read More>
Linzess® (linaclotide) Capsules – New Label Expansion – November 4, 2025 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Linzess® (linaclotide) capsules for pediatric patients 7 years and older with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Linzess® is the first treatment approved for IBS-C in pediatric patients. <Read More>
Stoboclo® (denosumab-bmwo) Injection – New Label Expansion – October 29, 2025 – Celltrion, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated Stoboclo® (denosumab-bmwo) and Osenvelt® (denosumab-bmwo) as interchangeable biosimilars to the reference products Prolia® (denosumab) and Xgeva® (denosumab), respectively, for all approved indications. <Read More>
Conexxence® (denosumab-bnht) Injection – New Label Expansion – October 29, 2025 - Fresenius Kabi, part of the global healthcare company Fresenius, and a leading provider of essential medicines and medical technologies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated Conexxence® and Bomyntra® (denosumab-bnht) as interchangeable biosimilars to the reference products, Prolia® (denosumab) and Xgeva® (denosumab), respectively. <Read More>
Winrevair™ (sotatercept) for Injection – New Label Expansion – October 24, 2025 - Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an update to the U.S. product label based on the Phase 3 ZENITH trial for Winrevair™ (sotatercept-csrk) for injection, 45mg, 60mg. Winrevair™, an activin signaling inhibitor, is now FDA-approved for the treatment of adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group 1 pulmonary hypertension) to improve exercise capacity and WHO functional class (FC), and reduce the risk of clinical worsening events, including hospitalization for PAH, lung transplantation and death. <Read More>
Revuforj® (revumenib) Tablets – New Label Expansion – October 24, 2025 - Syndax Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SNDX), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing innovative cancer therapies, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Revuforj® (revumenib) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutation in adult and pediatric patients one year and older who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. <Read More>
Blenrep® (belantamab mafodotin-blmf) Injection – New Label Expansion – October 23, 2025 - GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Blenrep® (belantamab mafodotin-blmf) in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BVd) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory (IMID) agent. <Read More>
Omvoh® (mirikizumab-mrkz) Injection – New Label Expansion – October 23, 2025 - Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a single-injection, once-monthly maintenance regimen (200 mg/2 mL) of Omvoh® (mirikizumab-mrkz) for subcutaneous use in adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). <Read More>
Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) Injection – New Label Expansion – October 17, 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 Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) for the treatment of adult patients with active lupus nephritis (LN) who are receiving standard therapy, as well as a shorter 90-minute infusion time after the first infusion, for eligible patients. <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
November 17, 2025
Montelukast Sodium Tablet, Chewable (Discontinuation)
November 14, 2025
Ceftazidime Injection (Discontinuation)
Palonosetron Hydrochloride Injection (Discontinuation)
Somatropin Injection (Discontinuation)
Vancomycin Hydrochloride Injection (Discontinuation)
November 13, 2025
Adalimumab-ryvk Kit (Discontinuation)
Cetrorelix Acetate Injection (Discontinuation)
Guanfacine Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Discontinuation)
November 12, 2025
Frovatriptan Succinate Tablet (Discontinuation)
November 7, 2025
Atropine Sulfate Injection (Discontinuation)
Calcium Chloride Injection (Discontinuation)
Deferiprone Tablet (Discontinuation)
Dextrose Monohydrate 50% Injection (Discontinuation)
Epinephrine Injection (Discontinuation)
Ketamine Hydrochloride Injection (Discontinuation)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Discontinuation)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
November 18, 2025
Metronidazole Injection (Discontinuation)
November 17, 2025
Flurazepam Hydrochloride Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
November 14, 2025
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 5% 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)
Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lorazepam Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate 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)
Sterile Water Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sufentanil Citrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
November 13, 2025
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)
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)
November 10, 2025
Amino Acid Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dexmedetomidine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Heparin Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Nitroglycerin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sterile Water Irrigant (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
Famotidine Injection, USP, 20 mg per 2 mL (10 mg per mL), 2 mL Fill in a 2 mL Vial by Fresenius Kabi – New Voluntary Recall – November 7, 2025 - Fresenius Kabi, part of the global healthcare company Fresenius, and a leading provider of essential medicines and medical technologies is voluntarily recalling three lots (numbers 6133156, 6133194, 6133388) of Famotidine Injection, USP, 20 mg per 2 mL (10 mg per mL), 2 mL Fill in a 2 mL vial. This recall is being performed to the user level in the United States. <Read More>
Potassium Chloride 20 mEq Injection by Otsuka ICU Medical LLC – New Voluntary Recall – November 3, 2025 – Otsuka ICU Medical LLC is issuing a voluntary recall to the user level, for a MISLABELLED lot of POTASSIUM CHLORIDE Inj. 20 mEq, NDC 0990-7077-14. The OVERWRAP label of lot 1030613, Expiration Date: 09-30-2026 may incorrectly identify the product as POTASSIUM CHLORIDE Inj. 10 mEq with NDC 0990-7074-26. <Read More>
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
Poherdy™ (pertuzumab-dpzb) Injection - New Perjeta® Biosimilar Approval – November 13, 2025 – The Food and Drug Administration approved Poherdy™ (pertuzumab-dpzb, Shanghai Henlius Biologics Co. Ltd.) as an interchangeable biosimilar to Perjeta® (pertuzumab, Genentech Inc.). This is the first approval of a biosimilar for Perjeta®. <Read More>
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Government Shutdown Now Over as Federal Agencies Reopen and Employees Return to Work – November 13, 2025 – With the shutdown finally in the rearview mirror, the focus in the Senate is turning to an upcoming fight over health care, with Democrats hoping to regroup after splintering in the final stages of the showdown. Eight Senate Democrats broke ranks to reach a deal with Republicans to end the shutdown, dashing the party's effort to win an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits in return for their vote to reopen the government. Now, Democrats face a quick timeline to shift their strategy. <Read More>
ADHD Medication Recalled Nationwide Because Users Aren’t Getting the Full Effect – November 11, 2025 – A popular ADHD medication is being recalled nationwide because its users won’t be able to get the full effect. According to the Food and Drug Administration, several lots of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules, a generic form of Vyvanse®, are being recalled. The recall was announced Oct. 28. The Board of Pharmacy said the medication failed dissolution tests, writing, “Dissolution is important for drugs to be absorbed and have a physiological effect on the human body; they must be in solution. The impacted capsules would not be able to deliver an optimal level of medicine and may impact the therapeutic efficacy of the product.” <Read More>
CMS Announces GENEROUS Model to Lower Medicaid Drug Prices – November 6, 2025 – CMS announced the GENErating cost Reductions fOr U.S. Medicaid (GENEROUS) Model, a new drug payment model that will aim to lower prescription drug spending in Medicaid and strengthen the program overall. The GENEROUS model, launching in 2026, will allow participating states to purchase drugs included in the pilot at prices in line with those in other nations, with a goal of increasing access to medications and improving health outcomes among Medicaid beneficiaries. The announcement adds to a recent flurry of Trump administration initiatives aimed at addressing high drug prices in the US, including the Most Favored Nation (MFN) executive order and subsequent drug pricing deals with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly and Company. <Read More>
Certain Obesity Drugs Will Cost as Little as $149 And Medicare Will Start Covering Them Under White House Deals – November 6, 2025 – Certain blockbuster obesity drugs will be available for as little as $149 per month and more Medicare enrollees will have access to them under two deals announced Thursday by the Trump administration.The arrangements with drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, which President Donald Trump foreshadowed in remarks last month, are the latest in the administration’s efforts to lower drug prices. As part of the new deals, the drugmakers have also agreed to match prices to the lowest paid in peer nations for all their drugs in Medicaid as well as for the list prices when their medications first hit the market. They will also offer primary care medicines directly to consumers at discounted prices. <Read More>
New Data Shows Local Pharmacy Shortages – November 5, 2025 – A new mapping tool from the National Community Pharmacists Association and University of Southern California shows a few pharmacy shortage areas in the Tri-Cities. At least three suburban and five rural neighborhoods are considered lacking across Carter, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. Southwest Virginia also has three shortage areas between Bristol and Abingdon. These regions are defined by how far people need to travel to reach the nearest pharmacy: more than 10 miles in rural areas, two miles in suburbs and one mile in urban neighborhoods. Community pharmacies are critical access points in their communities, said Dr. Ronna Hauser, senior vice president of policy and pharmacy affairs for the NCPA. <Read More>
Evaluating Pediatric Medication Errors: A Feasibility Study – November 5, 2025 - In a groundbreaking study published in BMC Pediatrics, researchers have delved into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of pediatric healthcare: medication discrepancies. The research conducted by an experienced team, including Mercümek, Bektay, and Uzuner, among others, sheds light on the alarming inconsistencies that can occur in the medication administered to young patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of medication discrepancies within a pediatric ward, utilizing a novel framework known as the Medication Discrepancy Taxonomy (MedTax). <Read More>
AFPs Affect Access to Specialty Medications – October 30, 2025 - The use of alternative funding programs (AFPs) significantly reduces the likelihood of beneficiaries accessing needed medications, increases time to treatment, and is associated with more gaps in therapy and adverse clinical outcomes compared with traditional pharmacy benefits. Pharmacists at a dozen health systems presented these new results about AFPs—for-profit third-party vendors used by self-funded employer plans that carve out certain medications as “nonessential health benefits” and attempt to obtain medication from non-health plan sources—in a presentation at AMCP Nexus 2025, in National Harbor, Maryland (poster 138). <Read More>
Many Unanswered Questions: Will the Trump Administration’s Drug Pricing Deals Result in Any Cost Savings for State Medicaid Programs? – October 29, 2025 - Over the last month, the White House has widely touted pricing agreements from two drug manufacturers — Pfizer and AstraZeneca — which it claims will result in substantial prescription drug cost savings for state Medicaid programs. According to the White House, under these agreements, the manufacturers will provide “Most Favored Nation (MFN)” prices, based on lower international prices paid by other nations, to all state Medicaid programs. This follows from a May 2025 executive order promoting MFN pricing. <Read More>
EmblemHealth taps Prime Therapeutics, Amazon for new Pharmacy Benefit Collaboration – October 29, 2025 - New York-based insurer EmblemHealth is teaming up with Prime Therapeutics to rethink the pharmacy benefit experience for its members. Emblem will tap into Prime's tech stack, which allows real-time referrals for specialty drugs instead of the more traditional network structure. In this model, it encourages competitive pricing for specialty products when ensuring members feel the savings directly, the insurer said in an announcement. <Read More>
340B in the News
Rage Over Rebates: Hospitals Oppose 340B Pilot Program – November 12, 2025 - The federal government is testing a new method of delivering discounts in a program aimed to help hospitals buy certain drugs at lower prices, and health systems aren’t happy about it. The government is testing a new pilot program that would move from hospitals simply buying the drugs at lower prices in the federal 340B Drug Discount Program. The Health Resources and Services Administration said late last month it’s testing a new program with eight companies that would offer rebates to hospitals after they have purchased the drugs. The agency said it is testing plans from large drug companies including Bristol Myers Squibb, Astra Zeneca, and Novo Nordisk Inc. The pilot program is slated to launch Jan. 1. <Read More>
340B Rebate Models and Medicare Part D 340B Claims: What 340B Covered Entities Need to Know for 2026 – November 11, 2025 – 340B covered entities should carefully review the approved 340B rebate models and the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule provisions on new CMS processes for identifying Medicare Part D claims for 340B drugs. While the current scope may seem limited or not applicable to certain 340B covered entities, now is the most important time to evaluate the implications of these programs if expanded to all 340B drugs and all 340B covered entities in order to ensure that the concerns of 340B covered entities are appropriately addressed. <Read More>
