Novartis is acquiring biopharmaceutical company Tourmaline Bio for $1.4 billion to boost its cardiovascular pipeline.  Tourmaline develops pacibekitug, a drug used to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a Sept. 9 news release from Novartis.  Novartis said the drug is…

Pharmacy leaders are facing high-stakes challenges that could threaten the stability of drug access and affordability across the U.S. Amid this uncertainty, health systems are responding with urgency, with many exploring new ways to gain control over drug pricing, efforts…

Amazon Pharmacy has expanded its RxPass service to Texas, allowing Amazon Prime members in the state, including those on Medicare, to receive over 50 generic medications for $5 per month through the prescription subscription service.  Medications covered include those to…

The American Hospital Association is calling on federal regulators to launch an antitrust investigation into its claims of drug manufacturers’ actions regarding 340B rebate models.  In a letter sent to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, the…

The World Health Organization has updated its Model Lists of Essential Medicines and Essential Medicines for Children, adding drugs for cancer, diabetes, obesity and other conditions.  Among the additions are GLP-1 receptor agonists semaglutide, dulaglutide and liraglutide, along with tirzepatide,…

Cleveland Clinic has opened a new community pharmacy at South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights.  The pharmacy, located in the South Pointe Medical Office, aims to address growing concerns over pharmacy access in Cuyahoga County’s eastern suburbs, where many neighborhoods…

Amid rising COVID-19 infections and mounting reports of vaccine inaccessibility, Sen. Ed Markey sent letters to the CEOs of CVS Health and Walgreens asking why updated vaccines are difficult to attain in many states.  Mr. Markey, who chairs the Senate…

Two New York residents have filed a lawsuit against CVS after the company’s pharmacy benefit manager, Caremark, denied coverage for Zepbound in favor of Wegovy.  The plaintiffs — Dennis Larkin of Mahopac, N.Y., and Danielle Gosline of Auburn, N.Y. —…

The FDA said Sept. 4 it will release complete response letters, or product rejection letters, “promptly after they are issued” to manufacturers.  The agency also published 89 previously unreleased complete response letters related to pending or withdrawn applications. The letters…

For the first time, Charlottesville, Va.-based UVA Health’s outpatient pharmacies have dispensed more than 1 million medications in a single year, a milestone driven by growing patient demand and expanded pharmacy services.  The health system opened new retail pharmacy locations,…