The FDA’s top vaccine and gene therapy official, Vinay Prasad, MD, has resigned following an online campaign led by Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer who targeted him over drug approval decisions, The New York Times reported July 29.  Over the…

More than two decades ago, St. Louis-based Ascension realized a troubling trend: While many patients could not afford basic medications, pharmacies were discarding unused drugs as they neared expiration dates.  In the wake of this recognition, the health system partnered…

A trade deal between the U.S. and the European Union will impose a 15% tariff on imported medications from Europe, setting the stage for potential cost increases for pharmaceuticals, The New York Times reported July 29.  Here are four notes:  

At its annual conference, the Pharmacy Technician Educators Council recognized the inaugural group of pharmacy technician educators to gain certification in the field.  The PTEC and the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board launched the certification in March 2025, marking “the first…

Mail-order pharmacies are becoming increasingly attractive to customers as satisfaction with chain drug stores continues to fall behind, according to J.D. Power’s 17th annual U.S. Pharmacy Study, released July 29.  To conduct the study, J.D. Power surveyed 14,700 pharmacy customers…

A federal judge has blocked a new Arkansas law that would have barred pharmacy benefit managers from owning or operating pharmacies in the state.  On July 28, U.S. District Judge Brian Miller granted a preliminary injunction preventing Arkansas Act 624…

Bethany’s migraines and extreme fatigue were brushed off as the toll of being “just a tired mom.” Dusty was juggling a mortgage banking career and the busy sports schedule of twin boys when she was blindsided by the diagnosis of…

The FDA has reported that the recent death of an 8-year-old boy was unrelated to Sarepta Therapeutics’ gene therapy Elevidys and recommended lifting the voluntary hold on the treatment, which is used for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  The agency paused use…

As WVU Medicine has grown from seven hospitals to 25 in the last six years, Todd Karpinski, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer, said the health system has found itself confronting the challenge of managing drug shortages on a…

As federal scrutiny and legislative proposals continue around the 340B drug pricing program, health systems are stepping up advocacy efforts and preparing for potential disruptions.  At St. Louis-based Ascension, one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems, Chief Pharmacy Officer…