Denise Myshko

After a one-year follow-up, 10 of 12 patients given the islet cell therapy zimislecel no longer required insulin. Vertex officials said regulatory submissions are expected in 2026

Employers, some lawmakers and others have criticized pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), especially the "big three," for having complicated, sometimes hidden practices. The PBMs say they have responded with programs and policies that add transparency to what they do.

For payers, claims for rare disease treatments used to be uncommon. Not anymore, thanks to an increasing number of new, high-priced drugs for rare diseases.

Optum Rx officials said they now have eliminated reauthorization requirements for more than 140 chronic disease medications.

A separate Prime analysis, however, of year-over-year claims data for Wegovy and Zepbound only found an improvement in adherence in 2024, suggesting there is an evolving understanding of obesity treatment.

A new study finds that enrollees who had difficulty accessing care in Medicare Advantage plans were more likely to switch to traditional Medicare than to another MA plan.

More than 50 insurers have pledged to streamline and simplify the prior authorization process through six new commitments.

The FDA had resolved the shortage of Wegovy in April, and telehealth providers were advised to stop selling compounded semaglutide products. Novo Nordisk said that Hims & Hers continues to offer these compounded drugs.

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have determined that a panel of biomarkers can help physicians better understand kidney disease in children.

More than 99% effective at preventing HIV in trials, Yeztugo (lenacapavir) is now the first and only twice-yearly option for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Wyost and Jubbonti are interchangeable with Xgeva/Prolia and are approved for all of the same indications in bone cancer and osteoporosis.

A second patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy has died from acute liver failure after receiving the gene therapy Elevidys.

In an interview, James D. Chambers, Ph.D., from Tufts Medical Center, talks about the factors that are impacting the biosimilar market.

GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro outperformed metformin, statins and insulin in lowering rates of age-related macular degeneration and primary open-angle glaucoma.

A cloud-based digital twin simulation, coupled with automated insulin delivery, allows patients with diabetes to experiment with their own data on glycemic control in a safe simulation environment before adjusting their system.

Patrick Roberts, Pharm.D., said his career changed when he listened to a mentor encouraging him to go back to school.

A survey by PSG has found that the pressure to control drug costs is leading some payers to look into unbundling pharmacy benefits as a way for better control.

Switching to Humira biosimilars saved Navitus clients more than $315 million in upfront costs in 2024 and resulted in a 60% reduction in net costs per claim.

Justin Jasniewski, MBA, shared a story about his career turning point and how it involved a rejected proposal and a Big Three PBM seven-figure check.

Bonnie Hui-Callahan, Pharm.D., says her career took off after not matching for a pharmacy residency—a setback that taught her resilience and led her to a better fit the second time around.

The pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry is under pressure to shift to models that avoid conflicts of interest and misaligned incentives.

The findings of a new study lend support for type 1 diabetes autoantibody screening in people with other autoimmune conditions to prevent complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

The risk of major cardiac events was 50% higher in adult-onset type 1 diabetes than in population controls, and the risk of death from diabetic coma or ketoacidosis was seven times as high as those with type 2 diabetes.

State efforts are aiming to bring more disclosure and transparency to PBM practices, mandating certain pharmacy reimbursement levels, requiring 100% pass-through rebates, and prohibiting spread pricing.

Pharmacy costs and outpatient facility care generate 69% of the cost increase for 2025, according to Milliman’s recent Medical Index.

Jason R. Smith, Pharm.D., appointed as chief pharmacy officer in February 2025 for the University of Rochester Medical Center, talks about building a stronger workforce, managing drug shortages and keeping up with changes in regulations because of the new administration.

Sibeprenlimab would be offered in a prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection. The PDUFA target action date is Nov. 28, 2025.

Scientists working at the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative have created new viral vectors that one day could lead to gene therapies for ALS, seizure disorders, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other diseases of the brain.

Nucula’s new indication is as an add-on therapy for patients with COPD who also have an elevated blood eosinophil count.