A federal judge in Cleveland dismissed an attempt by several large retail pharmacy chains, including CVS and Walgreens, to shift blame for the opioid crisis to physicians, Cleveland.com reported. 

The FDA is asking all drugmakers to pull ranitidine products from the shelves after finding "unacceptable levels" of a possible carcinogen can develop in the products over time. 

Two decades-old drugs designed to treat malaria, called chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, have been touted by the Trump administration as "game changers" in the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Below are the five top pharmacy stories published by Becker's Hospital Review in March, beginning with the most popular:

The country's top retail pharmacy chains have taken several steps they say will help ensure customers' don't lose access to needed prescriptions and other health products during the coronavirus pandemic.

The FDA has launched an emergency program with the goal of expediting the development of safe, effective drugs to treat COVID-19. 

The Trump administration is asking health regulators to allow use of a Japanese flu drug as a COVID-19 treatment despite concerns about the risks associated with it and limited data proving it works, Politico reported. 

Despite an uptick in online sales and more foot traffic in stores, retail pharmacy chains are feeling the financial effects of COVID-19, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Drugs that are needed to keep patients on ventilators are facing shortages across the country as demand spikes, Stat reported. 

The FDA decided not to impose any penalties on Novartis for a data manipulation scandal involving the world's most expensive drug, Zolgensma, Stat reported. 

Hospital pharmacists have had to adjust operations to deal with shortages of drugs and personal protective equipment as the coronavirus pandemic strains the global medical supply chain. 

Traditionally, hospitals have addressed rising drug costs through purchasing optimization and pharmacy-managed programs. Hospitals typically focus on driving savings through group purchasing organizations, pharmacy-managed cost control initiatives and active formulary management. However, for many hospitals, sustainable results remain out of reach. 

The FDA granted emergency use authorization March 28 to allow patients with COVID-19 to be treated with hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. 

The $2 trillion stimulus bill signed into law March 27 doesn't do enough to expand pharmacists' roles as healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists told Pharmacy Times. 

Johnson & Johnson and the U.S. government will invest $1 billion to co-fund the development of a vaccine for COVID-19, Johnson & Johnson announced March 30. 

The FDA has changed several policies regarding medical supplies and moved quickly to boost availability of medical products needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Ten hospitals and health systems posted job listings seeking pharmacy leaders in the last week.

Lawmakers are unlikely to move to lower drug costs until after Election Day as the coronavirus pandemic has become Congress' main focus, Stat reported.

In an effort to promote social distancing, Walgreens will allow customers to pick up non-prescription items through its drive-thru. 

Gilead Sciences is transitioning to an "expanded access" program for its experimental COVID-19 treatment, remdesivir, because its current program can't support the "overwhelming" number of applications, Gilead CEO Daniel O'Day, wrote in an open letter published March 28.