February FDA Pipeline

In this month’s episode of the "What's On Your Mind podcast," Peter Wehrwein, managing editor of MHE connects with the now Chief Clinical Officer of OptumRx Integrated Pharmacies, David Calabrese. In this conversation, David touches on his transition in January as OptumRx’s former chief pharmacy officer and market president of health plans and PBMs to his new role as Chief Clinical Officer where he now focuses more on things such as specialty pharmacy to home delivery — with an overall goal of creating whole-patient care. Throughout the conversation, Calabrese also touched on the market’s hot topic of insulin prices and behavioral health services within the OptumRx community, among other topics.

A new drug application for povorcitinib is expected to be filed in late 2025 to early 2026 to treat adult patients with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic and painful inflammatory skin condition.

Briana Contreras, editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Nancy Lurker, CEO and president of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals. Nancy shared a bit about EyePoint and how the organization’s innovative therapies are addressing patient needs through eye care, and most importantly, she addressed C-Suite positions like the CEO role. Nancy shared advice for those seeking to reach the CEO level, especially toward women in healthcare and other roles, and what it takes to run a biopharma company.

A protein called NF-kB c-Rel has been found to intensify the symptoms of psoriasis, offering a potential new target for treatments.

Opzelura is a treatment for nonsegmental vitiligo in patients 12 and older, making it the first and only cream in the U.S. that helps restore skin color for this condition. It’s also approved to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in patients 12 and older who are not immunocompromised.