Pharmaceutics

This page contains key pharmaceutical news on drug recalls, FDA clearance, safety communications and research. In cardiology, key pharmaceutic agents include antiplatelet therapies, anticoagulants, hypertension drugs, and drugs for heart failure and arrhythmias.

FDA’s tirzepatide decision creates uncertainty for patients—and leads to a lawsuit
When drugs are on the FDA’s shortage list, outsourcing facilities can produce their own compounded versions. When the FDA removed tirzepatide from that list with no warning, it created a considerable amount of chaos both behind the scenes and in pharmacies all over the country.
Baxter works to get North Carolina IV plants back online as national shortages loom
Baxter's IV plant in North Carolina was flooded by Hurricane Helene. That plant provides 60% of the U.S. supply of IV bags.
FDA rules Medtronic’s insulin pump issues a Class I recall due to safety risks
Some of Medtronic's 600 and 700 series MiniMed insulin pumps are experiencing significant battery issues when dropped, bumped or impacted in any way. This has been linked to reports of health issues in more than 180 patients.
Baxter closes largest IV solution factory, sparking fears of a shortage
Flood damage forced Baxter to close a facility that makes 60% of IV solutions in the U.S., a loss of 1.5 million bags per day.
FTC sues drug middlemen over insulin prices, puts others on notice
The FTC alleges that pharmacy benefit managers have set up a system where they get rich, while patients are forced to pay rising insulin costs. The agency also called out drug manufacturers such as Eli Lilly, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk, saying their own actions have raised serious concerns.

High copays keep many heart failure patients from filling needed prescriptions

Researchers examined data from more than 900 patients, presenting their findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

December 1, 2022

healthcare value value-based care money dollar

FDA approves world’s most expensive drug, a hemophilia B treatment expected to cost $3.5M

The single-dose gene therapy can help patients reduce their risk of bleeding events and discontinue factor IX prophylaxis therapy.

November 23, 2022

Elon Musk and Eli Lilly: How a fake tweet caused chaos and reignited the debate over insulin prices

Updated Twitter policies have helped online pranksters cause mischief in recent days, including one specific user who impersonated Eli Lilly and Company and posted that insulin was now free. Lilly's CEO has now commented on the fake tweet read 'round the world—and what it could mean for the company going forward.

November 17, 2022

Julius Bogdan, vice president and general manager of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Digital Health Advisory Team for North America, explains considerations for healthcare system information technology (IT) management teams on the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI). He also discusses ideally how AI should be integrated into medical IT systems, and some of the issues AI presents in the complex environment of real-world patient care." #AI #HIMSS

AI drug discovery company pens $1.2B research collab with Sanofi

Insilico Medicine, a clinical stage AI-drive drug discovery company, has penned a multi-year, multi-target strategic research collaboration with Sanofi in a deal valued at $1.2 billion.

November 9, 2022

Interventional cardiologist Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, named new director of Mount Sinai Heart

Bhatt succeeds Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, who has held the position since 2006 and will now serve in a more advisory role at Mount Sinai Heart.

October 31, 2022

vaccine child kid young patient covid-19 mask patient

Heart damage after COVID-19 vaccination extremely rare among adolescents

Vaccine-related myocarditis was seen in approximately 0.00005% of children between the ages of 12 and 15. All cases were mild, and the median length of stay at the hospital was three days.

October 21, 2022

COVID-19 drug Paxlovid may react poorly with certain heart medications, cardiologists warn

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, sold by Pfizer under the name Paxlovid, is commonly prescribed to treat COVID-19. When treating some heart patients, however, physicians may want to consider an alternative approach.

October 19, 2022

FDA confirms nationwide shortage of Adderall

Manufacturers, it seems, are unable to keep up with high demand.

October 14, 2022

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Cardiovascular Business

Payment cuts and beyond: Key takeaways for cardiologists from the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals.

AI in Healthcare

A modest proposal to rally AI regulators around a simple game plan

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”

Cardiovascular Business

FDA commissioner urges clinicians to join fight against medical misinformation

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, said the clinical community needs to combat health misinformation at a grassroots level. He warned that patients are immersed in a "sea of misinformation without a compass."

Pharmaceutics

FDA’s tirzepatide decision creates uncertainty for patients—and leads to a lawsuit

Baxter works to get North Carolina IV plants back online as national shortages loom

FDA rules Medtronic’s insulin pump issues a Class I recall due to safety risks

Baxter closes largest IV solution factory, sparking fears of a shortage

FTC sues drug middlemen over insulin prices, puts others on notice

Around the web