Pharmacy Times

It's here! The first issue of 'The Refill,' Pharmacy Times' new LinkedIn newsletter, is now available. Based on YOUR feedback, we're covering the updates that matter most: FDA recalls, infectious disease research, and breakthrough cancer treatments. Subscribe for your regular dose of pharmacy news!   Check out Issue 1 and tell us: Which updates will impact your practice most?

Leaders from ASHP discussed legislative priorities and anticipated challenges during a session at #ASHP24, identifying standard of care, 340B, site-neutral payment, and #PBM reform as areas of focus. https://ow.ly/psHE50UoxoZ

The phase 3 CEPHEUS trial has delivered critical insights into treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) for patients who are transplant-ineligible or have deferred transplant. Presented at the 66th ASH Annual Meeting, CEPHEUS highlights the power of combining daratumumab (DARA) with the standard VRd regimen (bortezomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone). Key Findings: 🔹Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Negativity: The trial focused on MRD negativity as an end point, which is increasingly used as a marker for long-term survival in multiple myeloma. 🔹Patients treated with D-VRd achieved significantly higher rates of MRD negativity compared to VRd alone: 60% (D-VRd) vs. 40% (VRd) at the 10⁻⁵ threshold. 46.2% (D-VRd) vs. 27.3% (VRd) at the 10⁻⁶ threshold. 🔹Improved PFS: D-VRd led to a 43% reduction in disease progression or death risk. At 45 months, 68.1% of patients on D-VRd were progression-free, compared to 49.5% with VRd. 🔹Sustained MRD Negativity: D-VRd almost doubled sustained MRD negativity rates at 12, 24, and 36 months, leading to deeper, longer-lasting responses and better outcomes. Sonja Zweegman, MD, PhD, the lead investigator, emphasized: “These results establish D-VRd as a new standard of care for transplant-ineligible or deferred NDMM patients, improving both the depth and duration of response.” This is a significant step forward in multiple myeloma care, further supporting MRD negativity as a valuable clinical end point in trials. What do you think about MRD negativity as an end point in oncology/hematology clinical trials? Share your thoughts in the comments! #Oncology #Hematology #MultipleMyeloma #ClinicalTrials #CancerCare https://ow.ly/Vnk450UnRnw

🌟 Honored and Grateful 🌟 I am truly honored to be featured by Pharmacy Times as a spotlight community pharmacist, showcasing the work we do to make healthcare more #accessible, #compassionate, and #empowering for our communities. As #community #pharmacists, we are so much more than medication experts. We are advocates, caregivers, educators, and, most importantly, trusted members of the communities we #serve. Every day, we have the privilege to provide life-saving resources, confidential preventative care, and support that helps individuals take control of their #health and #wellness. This recent initiative for National HIV Testing Day, done in partnership with UK HealthCare at our Pineville, KY location, is just one example. Through free HIV testing, we aimed to increase access to care, destigmatize health services, and inspire confidence in taking proactive steps for #health. Thank you, Pharmacy Times, for the feature and for #highlighting the essential role of community pharmacists. This recognition fuels my commitment to continue #serving, #educating, and #advocating for the well-being of every individual who walks through our #doors. Together, let’s make healthcare more #inclusive, #accessible, and #empowering for all. #CommunityPharmacy #PublicHealth #PharmacyTimes #HealthcareAdvocacy #CommunityImpact #PharmacyLife #NationalHIVTestingDay #Grateful Walgreens

The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a new federal order in which raw—or unpasteurized—milk samples nationwide will be collected and shared with the USDA for testing for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) #H5N1 virus. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ZmVI9O

Join Carrie Koenigsfeld, PharmD, FAPhA, in our newest Insights series “Navigating RSV: How Pharmacists Can Lead the Charge in Vaccination for Older Adults.” These engaging episodes explore practical solutions to address common barriers and review best practices for emphasizing the importance behind RSV vaccination efforts as the peak season prevails. Start streaming the series here: https://bit.ly/3Zz6gno. #RSV #PharmacyTimes #Pharmacy

The #FDA approved durvalumab (Imfinzi; AstraZeneca) for the treatment of adults patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (#LS-SCLC) whose disease has not progressed after receiving concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4f6xgPN

Zenocutuzumab-zbco (Bizengri; Merus NV) was granted accelerated approval by the #FDA for adults with unresectable, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (#NSCLC) harboring a neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene fusion. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ZDRJqr

Pharmacists are feeling burnt out of their work more than ever, community pharmacists are facing obstacles when filling positions, and large retail chains are also facing shortages of job candidates. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3BlVmYM

The #FDA blocked the approval of flavored e-cigarettes, causing controversy amongst the Supreme Court and manufacturers with petitions citing the agency’s failure to follow proper legal procedures when rejecting the applications. This led to a lawsuit from multiple #e-cigarette manufacturers who claim the FDA unfairly changed its requirements without enough warning. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ghKgmm