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Starting February 11, federal vaccine supplies will be delivered directly to select pharmacies, according to the announcement.

Biden Administration to Ship COVID-19 Vaccines Directly to Pharmacies

Here’s a roundup of the latest coronavirus-related news:

Coronavirus News Roundup: Vaccine Receives FDA Panel Recommendation, COVID-19 Coverage at ASHP Midyear

Keith Loria is a contributing writer to Medical Economics.

A look back at the most impressive drug approvals and product launches of the year.

Top Drug Approvals and Product Launches of 2020

How will independent community pharmacies fare with Amazon’s encroachment into the pharmacy space?

Amazon Launches Online Pharmacy and Drug Delivery

Kevin W. Chamberlin, PharmD, is associate clinical professor and assistant department head, pharmacy practice, University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Storrs, Conn.

Oliceridine (Olinvyk; Trevena, Inc) is an intravenous opioid agonist indicated in adults for management of acute severe pain in a hospital or controlled clinical setting.

Oliceridine (Olinvyk) Offers New Treatment Option for Acute Pain Management in Hospitals and Controlled Clinical Settings

Early data from a phase 3 trial showed that baricitinib combined with remdesivir improved recovery in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with remdesivir alone. 

Baricitinib Plus Remdesivir Improves Recovery Time for Hospitalized COVID-19

The FDA issued a safety alert about efficacy and potential safety concerns with a combination therapy being studied for the treatment of breast cancer. 

FDA Alert: Efficacy Concerns with Atezolizumab Plus Paclitaxel for Breast Cancer

Oral azacitidine (Onureg; Celgene) is approved for patients in first remission with acute myeloid leukeimia. 

FDA OKs Azacitidine Tablets for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Primary updates to the guidance includes the composition of the 2020-2021 flu vaccines and the recent licensures of 2 new influenza vaccines. 



ACIP Updates Flu Vaccine Recommendations for 2020-2021 Season

Risdiplam (Evrysdi; Genentech) is the only SMA therapy that can be administered at home. 


FDA OKs Risdiplam for Treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Esketamine (Spravato; Janssen) CIII nasal spray is the first FDA-approved antidepressant medication that improves depressive symptoms with the first dose in adults with major depressive disorder. 


FDA OKs New Indication for Esketamine Nasal Spray

A panel has given a “weak recommendation” for the use of remdesivir in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019. 



International Panel Issues Weak Recommendation for Remdesivir in Severe COVID-19

Empagliflozin (Jardiance; Eli Lilly) met the primary end point of a study for adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction with or without diabetes. 

Empagliflozin Reduces Heart Failure Hospitalization, Death Risk in Phase 3 Trial

Moderna announced interim analysis results of its investigational COVID-19 vaccine candidate, mRNA-1273, from an ongoing phase 1 study. 

Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Shows Safety, Immune Response Results in Phase 1 Study

Fostemsavir (Rukobia, ViiV Healthcare) is indicated for use in heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug resistant HIV-1 infection.  

FDA Approves Fostemsavir for Heavily Pretreated Patients With HIV

Pharmacists can and must play an active role in guiding patients on the selection of laxatives which are supported by sound evidence. 

Reevaluating the Use of Docusate in the Management of Constipation

The fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab with hyaluronidase (Phesgo; Genentech) can be administered subcutaneously for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.  

FDA Approves New Combo Breast Cancer Treatment for Subcutaneous Injection

Expert Interviews

Julie Ann Justo, infectious diseases clinical pharmacist and associate professor at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, discusses the latest data from Gilead's trials for Remdesivir, a potential COVID-19 treatment.

Part 2: A Conversation on Remdesivir Trial Updates

In an open letter, Gilead Chairman and CEO Daniel O’Day announced the price of remdesivir treatment for COVID-19. 

Gilead Sets Price of Remdesivir for COVID-19 Treatment 

Officials with the FDA approved fenfluramine (Fintepla, Zogenix) oral solution, CIV for the treatment of seizures associated with Dravet syndrome in patients 2 years of age and older.

Clinical News