Cigna’s Express Scripts has emerged as the largest pharmacy benefit manager in the U.S. by market share, overtaking long-time leader CVS Caremark,  according to a March 31 report from the Drug Channels Institute. In 2024, Express Scripts handled 30% of…

Health systems across the country are reinvesting 340B savings into programs that help expand access to care, support vulnerable populations and ensure medications remain affordable.  Three pharmacy leaders shared with Becker’s how they are using these savings to boost health…

To improve care access, Tacoma, Wash.-based MultiCare Health System will unveil a self-serve, automated prescription kiosk March 31.  As more consumers opt for mail-order pharmacies and low reimbursement rates hurt profitability, retail chain and independent drugstores are shuttering nationwide. In…

Indianapolis-based Eskenazi Health expects its new $10 million, 32,000-square-foot pharmacy central fulfillment center to fill 60% of prescriptions within the next five years.  The facility, which opened in early March, is part of the system’s strategy to manage rising prescription…

Researchers at Boston-based Mass General Brigham and MIT have developed a long-acting contraceptive injection designed to be delivered through tiny needles, reducing discomfort and increasing accessibility.  The new injection, detailed in Nature Chemical Engineering, could provide an alternative to traditional…

The FDA has approved GSK’s gepotidacin, the first antibiotic for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in 30 years.  The drug has been approved for female adults and adolescents with UTIs caused by common bacterial pathogens including E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae,…

New Orleans-based Ochsner Children’s and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices have started a joint fellowship, aiming to train pharmacists in medication safety.  The yearlong program will provide participants with hands-on experience in preventing medication errors through virtual learning with…

The growing prevalence of ultrahigh-cost drugs under development is prompting health systems nationwide to rethink strategies around access, financial management and workforce preparedness.  These therapies, including cell and gene treatments, present certain financial and logistical hurdles that require special planning…

GLP-1s are driving traditional drug spending in the U.S. to unprecedented levels, which now outpaces specialty drug spending for the first time, according to a March 25 report from Evernorth. The report is based on data collected from scientific literature,…

Novo Nordisk has updated its Wegovy savings program, allowing eligible cash-paying patients to access the drug at retail pharmacies for a reduced cost of $499 per month.  Previously this option was available only through the recently launched NovoCare Pharmacy, according…