Weekend ICYMI: September 23 to September 27

For Pharmacists With Substance Use Disorders, Recovery Is Possible

Jake Nichols, PharmD, MBA, has been in recovery for over 14 years. His substance abuse, which kicked off while he was a student in pharmacy school, has shaped the entire trajectory of his career. During the height of his addiction, Nichols exhibited most of the typical behaviors at work that are associated with the disease: not showing up on time, staying late to catch up on his responsibilities, not showing up at all. But none of his colleagues ever caught on to the real issue—or at least never outright accused him of it.

Lupus Nephritis Treatment Shows Positive Results in Phase 3 Trial

Positive results have been announced from a phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab (Gazyva) plus standard therapy for the treatment of lupus nephritis, Genentech announced in a release. The company said it is submitting the data for publication and intends to present it at a future conference. Data from the REGENCY study (NCT04221477) showed obinutuzumab met its primary endpoint of percentage of participants with complete renal response.

Schizophrenia Drug Approved by FDA Represents First New Treatment Option in Decades

The FDA approved xanomeline and trospium chloride (Cobenfy, formerly KarXT), an oral medication for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults, Bristol Myers Squibb announced in a release. The approval marks a breakthrough in the treatment for the condition, as xanomeline and trospium chloride represents the first new class of medication for schizophrenia in decades. By combining xanomeline with trospium chloride, the drug selectively targets M₁ and M₄ receptors in the brain without blocking D₂ receptors.

Chronic Pain Linked to Higher Anxiety, Depression in Youth

Youth with chronic pain are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than those without chronic pain, with 1 in 3 youth and 1 in 8 youth with chronic pain meeting the criteria for either condition, respectively, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Authors suggested that screening, prevention, and treatment of mental health should be important priorities for the patient population.

Novo Nordisk CEO Agrees to Work With PBMs to Negotiate Lower Semaglutide List Prices

Five months after opening an investigation into pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk’s pricing of blockbuster semaglutide drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, members of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) may have made a breakthrough—however small—in drug pricing: During a nearly 2 and a half hour hearing on Tuesday, September 24, Novo Nordisk President and CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen committed to working with the HELP Committee and pharmacy benefit managers to negotiate lower list prices for these semaglutide drugs.

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