Drug Topics January/February 2024

On January 6, 2023, the FDA granted lecanemab-irmb (Leqembi) accelerated approval for treating mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia in patients with Alzheimer disease.

These OTC products are recommended to address a variety of symptoms that occur during cold and flu seasons.

The novel drug elranatamab-bcmm (Elrexfio) received accelerated FDA approval on August 14, 2023, for treating adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

How much longer can independent pharmacists survive with the current method of reimbursement?

Mental health challenges in the United States were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and pharmacists are poised to help pick up the pieces.

The Affordable Care Act mandates that contraceptives must be covered by health plans and insurers without cost-sharing.

Study authors noted the importance of their results as they apply to understanding the usefulness of intervention measures and preparing for future pandemics.

A new study found that a universal coronavirus vaccine would be cost saving as long as it had an efficacy and coverage of 10% or more.

A study found that patients living in a food desert and in a less walkable neighborhood had an increased risk of gestational diabetes.

A new study found that 16.1% of patients treated with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) reported long COVID symptoms, compared to 14% of untreated patients.

Patients on a moderate carbohydrate diet increased their time in range by 4.7% and decreased their time above range by 5.9%.

Social determinants of health (SDOH), such as financial disparities or lack of insurance, create barriers to accessing breakthrough therapies like BTK inhibitors among patients with CLL and SLL.

Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were reviewed.

Results of the phase 3 PERSEUS study were presented at the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Two posters presented at ASHP 2023 Midyear examined how accurate answers were from the artificial intelligence chatbot.

A new study, outlined in a poster at ASHP Midyear 2023, identified 3 key themes associated with the ways in which pharmacists are positioned to advance health equity for patients with chronic diseases.

Study results outlined in a poster at ASHP Midyear 2023 revealed that virtual delivery education programs could contribute to a more inclusive and accessible health care information landscape for Black older adults.

The CDC first released opioid prescribing guidelines in 2016.

Updated guidance from the United States Preventive Services Task Force advises against low-dose aspirin use as a primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in certain populations who have bleeding risks.

An evaluative study on an open resource Instagram page that provides information on new medications to pharmacists was recently presented at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2023 Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition.