Clinical Insights: September 30, 2026
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
Atebrioz™ (zilurgisertib) Tablets – New Drug Approval – September 25, 2026 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Atebrioz™ (zilurgisertib) tablets to reduce the volume of total new heterotopic ossification (bone formation outside the skeleton) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). The recommended starting dosage is 100 mg orally once daily with or without food. <Read More>
Onswik™ (insulin efsitora alfa-gobe) Injection - New Drug Approval – September 24, 2026 – Eli Lilly and Company announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Onswik™ (insulin efsitora alfa-gobe), a once-weekly basal insulin, indicated along with diet and exercise to control high blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Onswik™ is designed to deliver steady basal insulin levels over a full seven days. <Read More>
Lyrfigtu™ (lirafugratinib) Capsules – New Drug Approval – September 23, 2026 – The Food and Drug Administration approved lirafugratinib (Lyrfigtu™, Elevar Therapeutics, Inc.), a kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of adults with previously treated unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma harboring a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene fusion or other rearrangement. <Read More>
Fayuvi™ (rebisufligene etisparvovec-hopf) Suspension for Intravenous Infusion - formerly UX111 – New Drug Approval – September 17, 2026 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Fayuvi™ (rebisufligene etisparvovec-hopf), the first treatment for pediatric patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA (MPS IIIA), also known as Sanfilippo syndrome type A., MPS IIIA is a rare inherited disease that progressively damages the brain and nervous system, causing children to lose cognitive, language and other developmental abilities over time. Until now, treatment was limited to managing symptoms; there was no FDA-approved therapy designed to change the underlying course of the disease. <Read More>
Bexlutry™ (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) Injection – New Drug Approval – September 14, 2026 – Curium™ announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its New Drug Application (NDA) for Bexlutry™ lutetium Lu 177 dotatate injection for the treatment of somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), including foregut, midgut, and hindgut neuroendocrine tumors in adults. <Read More>
Pixclara® (floretyrosine F 18) Injection – New Drug Approval – September 11, 2026 – Telix announces that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its New Drug Application (NDA) for Pixclara® (floretyrosine F 18 or 18F-FET), an amino acid positron emission tomography (PET) drug for imaging gliomas (brain cancer). <Read More>
Isembyld™ (apitegromab-mstn) Injection – New Drug Approval – September 11, 2026 – Scholar Rock (NASDAQ: SRRK), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with rare, severe, and debilitating neuromuscular diseases by applying its leading platform in myostatin biology, announced that the FDA has approved Isembyld™ (apitegromab-mstn) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in adults and children two years of age and older who are currently receiving a survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2)-targeted treatment. <Read More>
Etcamah™ (camizestrant) Tablets – New Drug Approval – September 4, 2026 – the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to camizestrant (Etcamah™, AstraZeneca), an estrogen receptor antagonist, in combination with a CDK4/6 inhibitor (abemaciclib, palbociclib, or ribociclib) for adults with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer upon detection of estrogen receptor-1 (ESR1) mutation during aromatase inhibitor and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy, based on an FDA-authorized test. <Read More>
Zanvastro™ (zilganersen) Injection – New Drug Approval – September 3, 2026 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Zanvastro™ (zilganersen) injection for the treatment of Alexander disease in pediatric and adult patients. Zanvastro™ is the first FDA-approved treatment for Alexander disease and the first therapy to directly target the protein buildup that drives the disease. <Read More>
Omcazio™ (cabozantinib) Capsules – New Drug Approval – September 3, 2026 – Handa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Handa” or the “Company”) (TSE:6620) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has granted final approval to Omcazio™ (cabozantinib) capsules, the lauryl sulfate salt formulation of cabozantinib developed by the Company’s U.S. subsidiary, Handa Oncology, LLC. The action converts Handa’s prior tentative approval to final approval and authorizes Omcazio™ for commercialization in the United States. <Read More>
Mimrylo™ (rusfertide) Lyophilized Powder for Injection – New Drug Approval – August 28, 2026 – Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the New Drug Application (NDA) for Mimrylo™ (rusfertide) for the treatment of erythrocytosis in adults with polycythemia vera (PV), a blood cancer. <Read More>
Bixlenvo™ (bictegravir and lenacapavir) Tablets – New Drug Approval – August 27, 2026 – Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Bixlenvo™ (bictegravir 75 mg/lenacapavir 50 mg), the smallest once-daily single tablet regimen (STR) for the treatment of HIV in adults who are virologically suppressed. Bixlenvo™ is now the first and only STR option for virologically suppressed people with HIV who are on complex regimens and unable to take currently available STRs. <Read More>
Lisraya™ (brepocitinib) Tablets – New Drug Approval – August 27, 2026 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Lisraya™ (brepocitinib) tablets for the treatment of dermatomyositis in adults. For decades, dermatomyositis patients have had limited treatment options to manage their symptoms. The approval of Lisraya™ offers patients an important new alternative by providing an effective oral treatment option. <Read More>
Rasonque™ (daraxonrasib) Tablets – New Drug Approval – August 26, 2026 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Rasonque™ (daraxonrasib), a RAS inhibitor for the most common form of pancreatic cancer—delivering a new treatment option to patients with advanced pancreatic cancer months ahead of schedule. <Read More>
New Label Expansions
Welireg® (belzutifan) Tablets – New Expanded Label – September 24, 2026 – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, and Eisai announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the dual oral regimen of Welireg® (belzutifan), Merck’s first-in-class oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, plus Lenvima® (lenvatinib), the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discovered by Eisai, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma with a clear cell component (ccRCC) following a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor. <Read More>
Aqneursa® (levacetylleucine) Granules for Oral Suspension – New Expanded Label – September 18, 2026 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Aqneursa® (levacetylleucine) for oral suspension to treat ataxia in adults and pediatric patients with ataxia-telangiectasia weighing at least 15 kg (about 33 pounds). Aqneursa® was previously approved in 2024 to treat the neurological manifestations of Niemann-Pick disease type C. this approval makes Aqneursa® the first treatment approved for ataxia in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia. <Read More>
Kerendia® (finerenone) Tablets – New Expanded Label – September 17, 2026 – Bayer announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kerendia® (finerenone) to reduce urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), which is expected to reduce the risk of sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline and end-stage kidney disease in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D), following the agency’s Priority Review of the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA). <Read More>
Ibtrozi® (taletrectinib) Capsules – New Expanded Label – September 16, 2026 – Nuvation Bio Inc. (NYSE: NUVB), a global oncology company focused on tackling some of the toughest challenges in cancer treatment, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Ibtrozi® (taletrectinib), a ROS1 inhibitor approved for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive (ROS1+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). <Read More>
Inluriyo® (imlunestrant) Tablets – New Expanded Label – September 16, 2026 – Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full approval to Inluriyo® (imlunestrant), an oral estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, in combination with Verzenio® (abemaciclib), a CDK4/6 inhibitor, for the treatment of adults with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2–), ESR1-mutated locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC), as detected by an FDA-authorized test, with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine therapy.
Joenja® (leniolisib) Tablets – New Expanded Label – September 11, 2026 – FDA has approved Joenja® (leniolisib) tablets as the first treatment for activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome (APDS) in children 4-11 years who weigh at least 27 kg. Joenja® was first approved in 2023 for the same indication in patients 12 years and older at a dose of 70 mg orally twice a day. Children 4-11 years take a weight-based dosage (40, 50, or 70 mg) orally twice a day, approximately 12 hours apart. <Read More>
Imdelltra® (tarlatamab-dlle) for Injection – New Expanded Label – September 11, 2026 – Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an update to the Imdelltra® (tarlatamab-dlle) Prescribing Information that substantially reduces the recommended monitoring time for the first two doses of treatment in an appropriate healthcare setting. This approval means that patients receiving Imdelltra® should now be monitored for 6 to 8 hours from the start of their first two infusions, compared with the previously recommended 22 to 24 hours. <Read More>
Ameluz® (aminolevulinic acid) Gel – New Expanded Label – September 9, 2026 – Biofrontera Inc. (NASDAQ: BFRI) ("Biofrontera" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development and commercialization of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in dermatology, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Company's supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Ameluz® (aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride) topical gel, 10%, in combination with photodynamic therapy using the BF-RhodoLED® lamp series, for the treatment of superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma (sBCC) in adults. <Read More>
Hyrnuo® (sevabertinib) Tablets – New Expanded Label – September 9, 2026 – The Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to sevabertinib (Hyrnuo®, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.), a kinase inhibitor, for adults with locally advanced or metastatic, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have HER2 (ERBB2) tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) activating mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy. <Read More>
Stelara® (ustekinumab) Injection – New Expanded Label – August 28, 2026 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Stelara® (ustekinumab) injection for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in pediatric patients aged 2 years old and older. On April 15, 2026, Stelara® was approved for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD) in pediatric patients aged 2 years old and older. Stelara® is the first approved therapeutic monoclonal antibody that does not target human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) for the two main forms of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. <Read More>
Besremi® (ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft) Injection – New Expanded Label – August 28, 2026 – PharmaEssentia USA Corporation, a subsidiary of PharmaEssentia Corporation (TWSE: 6446) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Besremi® (ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft) for the treatment of adults with essential thrombocythemia (ET), making it the first new FDA-approved treatment for ET in nearly three decades. Besremi® has been approved for adults with ET, regardless of their genotype or disease status, including newly diagnosed patients who are naive to cytoreductive therapy. <Read More>
Spikevax® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) Injection – New Expanded Label – August 27, 2026 – Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLA) for the 2026-2027 formulas for Spikevax® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) and mNEXSPIKE® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA), containing the JN.1-lineage XFG subvariant of SARS-CoV-2 to help prevent COVID-19. <Read More>
Nuvaxovid™ (COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted) Injectable Suspension – August 27, 2026 – Novavax, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: NVAX) partners have received approvals for the Nuvaxovid™ formulation to target the SARS-CoV-2 XFG variant for the 2026-2027 vaccination season in major markets including the U.S., European Union (EU) and Japan. These approvals position Novavax to continue earning royalties on net sales in these markets this season. <Read More>
Comirnaty® (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) Injection – New Expanded Label – August 27, 2026 – Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE, “Pfizer”) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, “BioNTech”) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for the companies’ 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine formula targeting the XFG variant (Comirnaty® XFG; COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) for use in adults ages 65 years and older, as well as in individuals ages 5 through 64 years with at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. <Read More>
Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) Injection – New Expanded Label – August 27, 2026 – Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Mounjaro® (tirzepatide), a dual GIP and GLP-1 hormone receptor agonist, to lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (MACE), including CV death, non-fatal heart attack, or non-fatal stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for these events. <Read More>
Tevimbra® (tislelizumab-jsgr) Injection – New Expanded Label – August 25, 2026 – BeOne Medicines Ltd. (Nasdaq: ONC; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Tevimbra® (tislelizumab) in combination with Ziihera® (zanidatamab) and chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive (HER2+) gastric, gastroesophageal junction, or esophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA). <Read More>
New Drug Shortage
September 21, 2026
Arsenic Trioxide Injection (Discontinuation)
September 18, 2026
Rivaroxaban For Suspension (Discontinuation)
Rivastigmine Film, Extended Release (Discontinuation)
September 16, 2026
Melphalan Hydrochloride Injection (Discontinuation)
Mesalamine Capsule, Extended Release (Discontinuation)
September 11, 2026
Cisatracurium Besylate Injection (Discontinuation)
Micafungin Sodium Injection (Discontinuation)
September 10, 2026
Dextrose Monohydrate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride Solution (Discontinuation)
Updated Drug Shortage
September 22, 2026
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, Epinephrine Bitartrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Carboplatin 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)
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)
Midazolam Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Sodium Bicarbonate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
September 21, 2026
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Penicillin G Benzathine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
September 18, 2026
Bumetanide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Fentanyl Citrate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Furosemide Oral Solution (Currently in Shortage)
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Tablet, Chewable (Currently in Shortage)
Methotrexate Sodium Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Tablet, Extended Release (Currently in Shortage)
Methylprednisolone Acetate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Morphine Sulfate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Promethazine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Technetium TC-99M Pyrophosphate Kit Injection (Currently in Shortage)
September 17, 2026
Carboplatin Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Clindamycin Phosphate Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 10% Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 5% Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Dextrose Monohydrate 70% Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ifosfamide Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Ketorolac Tromethamine Injection (Currently in Shortage)
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Injection (Currently in Shortage)
September 16, 2026
Desmopressin Acetate Spray (Currently in Shortage)
Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate Capsule (Currently in Shortage)
Streptozocin Powder, For Solution (Currently in Shortage)
New Drug Recall and Safety Alerts
Par Health Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Two Lots of Dexmedetomidine HCl in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection – September 18, 2026 - Par Health is voluntarily recalling two lots of Dexmedetomidine HCl in 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection 400 mcg/100 mL (4 mcg/mL) to the hospital level. The product is being recalled due to the presence of particulate matter identified as cellulose or stopper material. <Read More>
Otsuka ICU Medical LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP – September 17, 2026 - Otsuka ICU Medical LLC is issuing a voluntary recall for one lot of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP, 100mL single pack to the user level due to a potential mix-up. The affected lot of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP (NDC: 0990-7984-23 Lot 1042188) may potentially contain the overwrap with labeling indicating it to be 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP (NDC: 0990-7984-23) but the actual product within the overwrap may be Potassium Chloride Inj. 10 mEq, (NDC 0990-7074-26) Lot 1035181. <Read More>
B. Braun Medical Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection USP, 100 mL, in a 150 mL PAB® Container – September 3, 2026 - B. Braun Medical Inc (B. Braun) is voluntarily recalling three (3) lots of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection USP, 100 mL, in a 150 mL PAB® Container, to the hospital/healthcare facility/user level due to presence of particulate matter identified as iron oxide, inorganic, cellulose or polystyrene particulate matter. <Read More>
Baxter Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall for Two Lots of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection – August 25, 2026 - Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) is voluntarily recalling two lots of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection due to the potential presence of particulate matter identified as fiberglass in the solution. <Read More>
Baxter Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall for One Lot of Anticoagulant Sodium Citrate Solution – August 25, 2026 - Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) is voluntarily recalling one lot of Anticoagulant Sodium Citrate Solution due to the potential presence of particulate matter identified as fiberglass in the solution. <Read More>
Baxter Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall for One Lot of 70% Dextrose Injection – August 25, 2026 - Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) is voluntarily recalling one lot of 70% Dextrose Injection due to the potential presence of particulate matter identified as stainless steel particles in the solution. <Read More>
New Generic/Biosimilar Approval and Launch
Bravnetsa™ (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) Injection – New Lutathera® Biosimilar Approval – September 21, 2026 – Lantheus Holdings, Inc. ("Lantheus" or the "Company") (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 granted final approval for Bravnetsa™ (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate), a bioequivalent and therapeutically equivalent radiopharmaceutical to Lutathera® (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate). <Read More>
Clinical and Pharmacy News
Navigating GLP-1 Switches: A Guide for Primary Care – September 29, 2026 - As GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual incretin agents become more common in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, primary care providers are handling more medication switches. The reason may be insurance coverage, ongoing gastrointestinal side effects, inadequate response, or the need for better blood sugar control or weight support. Whatever the driver, switching is not simply trading one prescription for another. It requires planning around half-lives, dose history, side effects, and the risk for blood sugar swings. <Read More>
Insurance Coverage Lags as Cancer Science, Treatment Move Forward – September 24, 2026 - Eighteen months after his initial diagnosis, chemotherapy hadn’t slowed 21-year-old Mason Henderson’s rare brain tumor, which had spread to his spinal fluid. So, he left his home in southeastern Texas to spend three weeks in a clinical trial in New York City. But that failed, too, leaving a murky path for Henderson, whose cancer was so rare the World Health Organization had only given it a name in 2021. So early this year, Henderson’s doctors, evaluating his tumor’s deep genetic language, turned to a drug made by Merck and AstraZeneca called Lynparza®. <Read More>
Cholesterol Control Gets Personalized—How New Guidelines Tailor Treatment to Your Unique Risk Profile – September 24, 2026 – As a cardiologist with expertise in sports and exercise science, I routinely care for patients who want to make healthy lifestyle choices to control their cholesterol levels, reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and improve their overall health. In March 2026, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology issued new guidelines on how to treat dyslipidemia. The guidelines, last updated in 2018, incorporate findings from several new studies on how to more effectively treat—and prevent—the condition. The new guidelines can help doctors personalize treatment to reduce each patient's risk of developing cardiovascular disease. <Read More>
VA/DoD Release Updated Tobacco Cessation Clinical Practice Guidelines – September 22, 2026 - The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) have released an updated clinical practice guideline recommending varenicline or combination nicotine replacement therapy as the preferred treatments for tobacco cessation, according to a synopsis published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The updated guidance addresses nicotine and tobacco use among service members and veterans, noting that use leads to adverse physical and mental health effects, and reduces military force readiness. For respiratory therapists and allied healthcare professionals treating patients with chronic lung conditions and nicotine dependence, the document outlines practical strategies to improve long-term abstinence rates. <Read More>
Generic Drug Costs Burdening Patients as Much as Brand Name Options – September 18, 2026 - Aggregate OOP burden for generics exceeds brands due to utilization intensity, especially among Medicare beneficiaries with higher generic fill counts and near-parity annual OOP spending versus brands. Cost-related nonadherence remains substantial, with reported treatment abandonment and dose modification, positioning community pharmacists as key actors in mitigating downstream acute-care utilization. <Read More>
Specialty Pharmacy Leaders to Convene for NASP inSPire2026 – September 18, 2026 - As specialty pharmacy addresses the rising cost and complexity of cell and gene therapies, this year's newly rebranded inSPire2026 meeting will bring pharmacists, nurses, and industry leaders together to chart how those breakthroughs actually reach patients. From September 22 to 25, 2026, specialty pharmacy professionals gathered for inSPire2026, the newly rebranded successor to the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy's (NASP) Annual Meeting & Expo. <Read More>
340B in the News
340B Hospitals Lag Behind Peers in Charity Care Spending: Report – September 25, 2026 - A new report from a conservative think tank is accusing 340B hospitals of providing less charity care than other nonprofit hospitals, despite receiving discounted drugs. Hospitals participating in the 340B drug discount program spent 2.16% of their operating expenses on free or discounted care for low-income patients, called charity care, compared with 2.82% at non-340B hospitals, according to a Thursday analysis from the Pioneer Institute and CancerCare. <Read More>
What the Revised 340B Rebate Pilot Programme Means for Pharma Revenue Operations – September 24, 2026 - The US government's revised 340B rebate pilot programme signals that pharmaceutical manufacturers need to prepare their operations for the next phase of drug discount management. The pilot shifts how pharmaceutical manufacturers provide 340B discounts to eligible hospitals and healthcare providers. The savings for certain medications will now come in the form of rebates, rather than upfront discounts. Under this new arrangement, covered entities must purchase selected Medicare negotiation drugs at the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) or negotiated prices, then seek a manufacturer refund for the difference to the 340B price. <Read More>
The 340B Debate Can’t Ignore Supply Chain Realities – September 23, 2026 - Healthcare distributors deliver roughly 15 million medicines and healthcare products every day to hospitals, physicians’ offices, pharmacies, and other providers across the country. While they play a critical role in keeping the healthcare supply chain moving, they are largely removed from the design and operation of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. As lawmakers debate changes to 340B, it is essential to recognize the distinct role distributors serve — and avoid policies that assign them responsibility for decisions they do not control. <Read More>
Johnson & Johnson Next Major Drugmaker to Require 340B Claims Data – September 18, 2026 - Johnson & Johnson now requires comprehensive pharmacy/medical claims elements to be submitted to its 340B ESP platform, with suspension of all 340B pricing within five business days after repeated noncompliance. Eli Lilly’s January 2026 policy expanded reporting to in-house dispensing and provider-administered drugs, enforcing 45–60 day deadlines and threatening termination, with suspensions already prompting litigation. <Read More>
Utilizing 340B Margin to Create a Patient Prescription Assistance Program – September 16, 2026 - Medicaid work/volunteer/school hour verification and 6-month renewals may drive coverage losses, disrupting continuity and access to specialty drugs among adults aged 19 to 64 years in expansion populations. Manufacturer restrictions on 340B pricing and claims-submission requirements add administrative burden and risk multimillion-dollar annual acquisition-cost increases for noncompliant safety-net health systems. Hospital-owned specialty pharmacies can fund PAPs with 340B savings to lower patient cost exposure, improve adherence, reduce abandonment, and mitigate reliance on external subsidies or foundations. <Read More>
