Denise Myshko

Survey participants said their drug costs have gone up and almost a third had trouble paying for food and housing because of high drug costs.

In COVID-19 news, both Pfizer and Moderna have submitted applications for an updated booster vaccine, and the FDA grants EUA for Novavax vaccine for adolescents. The agency also approved rapid-acting Auvelity for major depression, expanded Imbruvica for young children with GVHD, expanded use of Omnipod 5 for younger children, and accepted an NDA for GSK’s myelofibrosis drug.

The PBM is removing four products and adding one product back to its standard control formulary.

Out-of-pocket costs decreased for those with insurance but rose for those without insurance, finds RAND study.

In COVID-19 news, Novaxax seeks EUA for vaccine booster. The FDA has approved Bluebird’s $2.8 million gene therapy for blood disease, as well a high-concentration of Hadlima, a Humira biosimilar. The agency has also PDUFA for several products, including Lynparza/abiraterone prostate cancer, Polivy for a blood cancer, and fezolinetant for menopause.

After a failed trial in advanced breast cancer, Sanofi has stopped all studies of amcenestrant, including in early-stage breast cancer.

Bluebird bio has set a wholesale acquisition cost of $2.8 million for the gene therapy beti-cel, now with the brand name Zynteglo, and is offering an outcomes-based contract with an 80% risk sharing.

Shabbir J. Imber Safdar, executive director, Partnership for Safe Medicines, talks about efforts to address counterfeit drugs in the U.S. supply chain.

Genentech has updated the warnings section of the label for the MS therapy Ocrevus to include information about cases of immune-mediated colitis and a serious brain infection in the post-marketing setting.

Those who spoke at a recent webinar discussed the prescription drug elements of the Inflation Reduction Act, which recently passed in the House, and the impact it will have on Medicare and its beneficiaries.

In a busy week, the FDA has approved additional indications for Enhertu, Myfembree and Nubeqa, as well as a tablet form of Calquence. The agency also approved Xofluza for children, issued an EUA for monkeypox vaccine in children, extended the review of omaveloxolone, set up advisory committee meeting for microbiota-based C. diff therapy, and priority review for elacestrant in breast cancer. Additionally, Novaliq submited NDA for dry eye treatment.

Susan Lang, CEO and founder of XIL Health, talks about the shifting trends and pressures that have led to a misalignment between the PBMs, their clients and consumers.

The Inflation Reduction Act also allows Medicare to negotiate prices on some drugs and caps out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

A meta-analysis has found that depression and anxiety are significantly correlated with dry eye disease symptoms but not to dry eye disease signs.

The FDA has made several approvals this week, including Enhertu for HER2-low breast cancer, a steroid-free cream for plaque psoriasis and the first interchangeable biosimilar to Lucentis, as well as Stelara in children with psoriatic arthritis. The agency has issued a complete response letter for Nuplazid in Alzheimer’s psychosis. Regulators have accepted a BLA for a biosimilar of Actemra and scheduled a second advisory committee meeting for AMX0035 in ALS.

A literature review finds that glaucoma care changed for the better during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FDA has requested Acadia conduct an additional trial of Nuplazid to support an indication in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Vabysmo is the first injectable bispecific antibody to treat wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. Some recent data suggests that the injections can be administered less often than first indicated with no loss of efficacy.

Coherus’ Cimerli has been approved to be interchangeable for all five indications, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. It will be available in early October 2022.

Investigators found that socioeconomic and financial barriers can affect patients’ access to oral cancer medications. They suggest that addressing these barriers could improve adherence.

Prime has removed six drugs from its formularies because generics are now available. One has been removed because it has been discontinued.

Optum has teamed up with Sanofi to provide savings cards for six insulins through the Optum Store.

A small study finds that an adeno-associated virus gene therapy eliminated both spontaneous bleeding and the need for factor IX prophylaxis in patients with hemophilia B.

The FDA has approved lupus therapy for children and allows importation of contrast medium. The agency has accepted applications for several therapies, including for a Tysabri biosimilar, a therapy for a genetic form of ALS, and an immunotherapy for bladder cancer, as well as for Enhertu in low HER2 breast cancer. Additionally, AbbVie seeks additional indication for Rinvoq.

Kelly Stanton, director of quality at Qualio, talks about the impact on patients of prescription drug recalls.

This follows a move by Bayer to import Ultravist with non-U.S. labeling also to address pandemic-related shortages of iodine-containing contrast media used in imaging procedures.

FDA approves Xalkori for rare tumor, as well as Opzelura for skin conditions. The agency has accepted applications for a supplemental indication for the biosimilar Hyrimoz and pegcetacoplan for advanced macular degeneration. Additionally, Acadia submits NDA for trofinetide.

David Lassen, Pharm.D., chief clinical officer at Prime, discusses a pilot program that used a predictive model to identify patients at high risk of overusing opioids.

The organization claims that direct and indirect remuneration fees and other clawback programs amount to a breach of contract.

Navitus senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer Brent Eberle talks about how partnering with CivicaScript fits into its cost-plus model.