The updated fall COVID-19 vaccines that are beginning to roll out are not booster shots. Experts say there is an important distinction between what constitutes a booster shot and these newly formulated vaccines, CBS News reported Sept. 15.

Six pharmacy benefit managers account for 96 percent of the industry's market share, and their lead is growing, according to an analysis from the American Medical Association. 

Johnson & Johnson is reinventing itself by renaming its pharmaceutical segment and changing its logo, the company said Sept. 14. 

The National Institutes of Health has awarded New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai a five-year, $13 million grant to develop new coronavirus vaccines.

CMS has named 34 prescription drugs that could have lower out-of-pocket costs for those on Medicare, potentially saving up to $618 per dose.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison's pharmacy school unveiled a new avenue that guarantees admission for high schoolers and first-year undergrads into its PharmD program. 

The California State Board of Pharmacy documented "major deficiencies" related to staff training and knowledge in 2019 at Sutter Coast Hospital's compounding pharmacy, which was recently placed on a three-year probation. 

In 2023, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Co. began selling two generic medications cheaper than their branded versions by more than $10,000. 

The FDA sent warning letters Sept. 12 to CVS, Walgreens and six other companies for illegally marketing unapproved eye drug products. 

Cisplatin, a drug used for multiple types of cancer that's been in a severe shortage for months, is close to returning to 100 percent of pre-shortage supply levels, the White House said Sept. 12. 

Shields Health Solutions, a specialty pharmacy solutions company, has secured new partnerships with six systems in 2023, adding to its portfolio of about 850 hospitals. 

A 16-person FDA advisory panel agreed Sept. 12 that oral phenylephrine, an ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, does not help with nasal congestion. 

Jazz Pharmaceuticals is the latest drugmaker to impose pricing restrictions for 340B participants, according to a Sept. 11 news release from the 340B Health organization. Its decision makes it the 25th drugmaker to impose the restrictions since 2020. 

 FDA advisory members are meeting Sept. 11-12 to vote on whether phenylephrine should be reclassified as ineffective amid data suggesting the common ingredient in over-the-counter cold medicines does not relieve symptoms when taken orally. 

Novartis pulled one drug lot from the market after finding crystal formation in some bottles, which could lead to incorrect dosing, the FDA said Sept. 11. 

On Sept. 12, the CDC director delivered the final stamp of approval to XBB.1.5-focused COVID-19 boosters, which could be available to the public later this week.

In July, the European Medicines Agency began reviewing GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic, Saxenda and Wegovy, because of Icelandic patients reporting thoughts of suicide and self-harm. The U.S. has not launched a similar probe. 

The California State Board of Pharmacy recently placed a Sutter Health hospital's pharmacy on a three-year probation, local news outlet Del Norte Triplicate reported Sept. 7. 

A small study of 10 participants found that semaglutide, the generic for Ozempic and Wegovy, could minimize or eliminate the need for Type 1 diabetes patients to take insulin. 

Within two years, Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare doubled engagement in a program for pharmacists that was originally made for nurses.