Small Doses: April 8 to April 12

Measles Cases in the US Increased Significantly in 2024

A recent spike in measles cases has threatened the elimination status of the disease in the US, prompting the CDC to continue vaccination initiatives across the country.

Measles rash on shoulder / weerapat1003 - stock.adobe.com

A 2019 outbreak in the northeastern part of the country has led to an alarming uptick in the number of cases, with 29% of cases from 2020 until now occurring in the first quarter of 2024.

Pfizer Announces Positive Top-Line Data for Abrysvo Immunization in Adults Aged 18 to 59 Years

The phase 3 MONET trial (NCT05842967) includes 2 sub-studies that evaluated safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of Abrysvo in adults at higher risk for RSV-associated disease.

MONET study participants achieved “at least a 4-fold increase in serum neutralizing titers for RSV-A and RSV-B” in the 1 month period after Abrysvo administration compared with pre-vaccination.

Buyer Beware: Red Yeast Rice Supplements Linked to Deaths, Hospitalizations

Japan’s health ministry has issued a warning to consumers regarding red yeast rice dietary supplements containing a red species of mold after 5 people died and more were hospitalized after consumption.

While no US products have been recalled yet, consumers everywhere should be cautious of supplements containing beni koji.

How Pharmacies Can Successfully Leverage 340B

At the American Associated Pharmacies annual conference, Eric Fromhart, co-founder and chief growth officer at Aventi Health, discussed how pharmacies can use 340B to increase profits and how they can avoid any potential risks when participating in the program.

According to Fromhart, pharmacists should be proactive in educating themselves about how 340B could be beneficial to their business.

FDA: Fasenra Approved As Add-On Maintenance Therapy for Severe Pediatric Asthma

The FDA has approved benralizumab (Fasenra) as an add-on maintenance treatment for pediatric patients aged 6 to 11 years with severe asthma, with an eosinophilic phenotype.

The medication, manufactured by AstraZeneca, first received approval in 2017 as an add-on maintenance therapy for severe eosinophilic asthma in patients aged 12 years and older.