Merck’s investigational antibody MK-2214 has received fast-track designation from the FDA for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. MK-2214 targets phosphorylated serine 413 tau (pS413), a marker of abnormal protein accumulation in the brain, according to a Dec. 1 news release…
Pharmacy
When Cone Health set out to overhaul its pharmacy automation infrastructure in 2024, the health system knew the decision would impact medication management across its entire enterprise for years to come. The comprehensive evaluation that followed offers valuable insight for…
Patients prescribed a common antibiotic medication had a higher risk of acute respiratory failure than those prescribed comparable drugs, such as amoxicillin, according to research published Nov. 24 in JAMA. Compared to amoxicillin and cephalosporins, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole presents a higher risk…
Through the FDA’s priority voucher program, Novo Nordisk said Nov. 26 it has filed an application seeking approval of its Wegovy 7.2 milligram injection. Wegovy (semaglutide) is currently approved in 0.25, 0.5, 1.7 and 2.4 milligram doses. The injectable GLP-1…
The FDA approved reformulated ranitidine tablets, marking the acid-reducing drug’s return to the U.S. market after a five-year absence. The updated formulation underwent safety testing and manufacturing revisions to address concerns about the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), an impurity linked…
Point Pleasant, W.Va.-based Fruth Pharmacy will sell all its pharmacies to Walgreens in December. The chain, founded in 1952, operates 16 locations across West Virginia and Southern Ohio, according to a report from ABC affiliate WCHS. The family-owned business at…
The pharmacist workforce is shrinking. According to the 2024 National Pharmacist Workforce Study, the number of practicing pharmacists younger than 40 has declined from previous years, while more pharmacists report heavier workloads and longer hours than at any point in…
CMS will implement lower maximum fair prices for 15 prescription drugs beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The drugs — which include treatments for cancer, Type 2 diabetes, asthma and chronic kidney disease — accounted for $42.5 billion, or 15%, of gross…
Several of the nation’s largest health systems saw leadership transitions in 2025 among executives overseeing pharmacy operations, with several organizations also naming inaugural chief pharmacy officers. Here are nine chief pharmacy officer appointments and transitions Becker’s has covered in 2025,…
When New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health’s Vivo Health Pharmacy switched to Epic in November, it did more than modernize its technology stack. It redefined the pharmacy’s role in patient care. “Our main goal was really to unify the patient…