Cystic Fibrosis Therapy Diminishes Hyper-Inflammation I...
August 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics Michelle Flores, Pharm D Candidate c/o 2027 According to clinical trial results from researchers at UCL, UCLH, and the Francis Crick Institute in the UK, dornase alfa, a drug commonly used to treat cystic fibrosis, improved outcomes for patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and may be used to treat other respiratory infections. A randomized unblinded… |
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FDA Accelerated Approval of Enhertu for Broad Treatment...
August 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Nivaj Haque; PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 In recent years, advancements in oncology have transformed the treatment landscape for various cancers, including those overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Approximately 15-20% of breast cancers and a significant proportion of gastric and lung cancers are HER2-positive, making this a critical target for innovative therapies.1… |
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FDA’s New Blueprint for Cell-Based Therapies...
August 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Reyaz Mussaleen PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 IntroductionThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States published a draft guidance in April 2024 titled “Safety Testing of Human Allogeneic Cells Expanded for Use in Cell-Based Medical Products.”1 This document, which aims to improve the regulatory framework for cell-based therapies, demonstrates the FDA’s determination to… |
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From Weight Loss to Vision Loss: A Potential Risk of Se...
August 1, 2024 - Clinical , In the News / Politics By: Sariah Grant, PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 In June 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, marketed under the brand name Wegovy. It was approved for adults facing obesity and other weight-related conditions.1 Initially developed for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), semaglutide’s use has expanded significantly due to… |
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Revolutionizing ADPKD Treatment: Breakthrough Drug Unve...
June 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Bhojranie Brahmanand, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 The most prevalent manifestation within the spectrum of polycystic kidney diseases is recognized as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). It is a genetic condition marked by the formation of fluid-filled cysts within the kidneys due to mutations in the PKD1 gene (located on chromosome 16) or the… |
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Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii: An Urgent...
June 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Giavanna Carr, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Acinetobacter is a gram-negative organism typically found in soil and water, but it has been found to colonize intravenous fluids and irrigation solutions.1 Of the species of acinetobacter, A. baumannii is the most clinically significant.1 Acinetobacter is a slow growing organism with the potential to cause infections in… |
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E.mbrace the novel E. coli Vaccine...
June 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By Ashley Dao, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is the most common gram-negative bacilli and is a leading bacterial cause of urinary tract infections (UTI), bacteremia and meningitis. E coli is the leading cause of deaths associated with antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogens and a common cause of resistant hospital-acquired infections.1 Older… |
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An Investigation into the White House Pharmacy...
June 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By Holly Nguyen, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 The White House Medical Unit employs a small confidential team of healthcare professionals, led by the Physician to the President, to be responsible for the health of the President, the Vice President, their families, the White House staff, and visitors such as national and international diplomats.1,2 Doctors, nurses,… |
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FDA Approves Litfulo for Adults and Adolescents with Se...
April 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Anjali Thykattil, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 and Isabelle Lim, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Effective June 23rd, 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer’s LITFULO™ (ritlecitinib) for the treatment of severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents above the age of 12 years. While ritlecitinib is the second FDA approved treatment… |
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Roctavian, the First Gene Therapy Treatment for Hemophi...
April 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Paulina Maczko, PharmD Candidate 2027, Sarah El-Rowmeim, PharmD Candidate 2027, and Laura Pham, PharmD Candidate 2025 Valoctocogene roxaparvovec-rvox, sold under the brand name “Roctavian” by BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 29, 2023. It is a single-dose adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy infusion indicated for the treatment… |
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FDA Approves New Weight Loss Injectable, Zepbound™...
April 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Katelyn Hoosein, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 and My Tram (Sophie) Le, PharmD Candidate c/o 2028 In recent years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of obesity in the United States. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), nearly 3 in 4 adults aged 20 years or older in the United… |
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The First Lab-Grown Blood Transfusion...
February 1, 2024 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: John Ortiz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 What is a Blood Transfusion? A blood transfusion is a procedure where donated blood is intravenously administered to a patient. Generally, it is used to treat patients who are experiencing blood loss or a deficiency of integral blood components. In the United States, there are 21 million blood transfusions… |
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FDA Approves Jardiance® for the Treatment of Adults wi...
February 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Effective September 22, 2023, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for empagliflozin (Jardiance®) 10 mg tablets for the treatment of adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at risk of progression. This decision was based on the results of the EMPA-KIDNEY phase III… |
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An Oral Revolution in Treating Adults Diagnosed with Ty...
February 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Samia Rahman Adity, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Diabetes Facts and Statistics Type II diabetes (T2D) has been a consequential public health concern in the United States (US). It is a condition where patients have elevated blood glucose levels. Escalation in plasma glucose can lead to detrimental health effects, which include cardiovascular complications like coronary… |
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The “Morning-After” Antibiotic...
February 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Anureet Kaur, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 According to surveillance data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemic is escalating at an alarming rate. The health agency reports that in 2019, there were 1.8 million cases of chlamydia, more than 600,000 cases of gonorrhea, and… |
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FDA Approves Bimzelx® for the Treatment of Moderate to...
February 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Bhojranie Brahmanand, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 On October 18, 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Bimzelx (bimekizumab) for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.1 Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease that is associated with cutaneous and systemic manifestations. The pathophysiology can be characterized by abnormal keratinocyte… |
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Pharmacy Benefit Managers 2023 Update...
February 1, 2024 - In the News / Politics By: Giavanna Carr, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 In March of 2023, Senators Maria Cantwell and Charles E. Grassley successfully passed the Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) Transparency Act through the Senate Commerce Committee.1 The PBM Transparency Act is projected to save taxpayers a total of $740 million dollars over a 10-year period, making this act a… |
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How drug shortages have affected pharmacies, pharmacist...
December 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Jennalynn Fung, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Drug shortages are not new; however, their frequency has significantly increased over the years. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease doctor and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, stated, “[i]t’s something that I’ve seen from time to time since I started practice about 20 years ago,… |
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FDA Approves First Nonprescription Oral Contraceptive...
December 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Bhojranie Brahmanand, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Traditionally, a prescription has always been required for contraceptives such as birth control. However, on July 13, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Perrigo’s Opill®, a daily progestin-only oral contraceptive (POC) as the first over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill.1 This drug was originally approved for prescription… |
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RSV Vaccine: Furthering the Expansion of the Pharmacis...
December 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics , Professional Advice / Opinions By: Ashley Medina, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 After decades of trial and error, science is ready to offer preventative measures against the respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV. Utilizing RSV vaccination tools that have become available will allow for a healthy, fun, and safe transition from winter to spring, often when RSV cases rise.… |
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The New “Zombie Drug”...
December 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Sandra Jojo, PharmD Canddiate c/o 2024 The United States (US) is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. All across the US, opioids continue to be abused regardless of strict laws. Communities suffer the consequences as more and more individuals become addicted to illicit drugs. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health reported that… |
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FDA Grants Approval for AREXVY, the First Respiratory S...
October 1, 2023 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 On May 3, 2023, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Arexvy (RSVPreF3), the first vaccine to combat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for adults aged 60 and older.1 Overview of RSV RSV is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms that… |
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Zuranolone: An Oral Development in the Treatment of Pos...
October 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Giavanna Carr, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Postpartum depression, also known as PPD, is classified as perinatal depression, which is experienced by those who have recently given birth. PPD is the leading complication following childbirth, affecting 1 in 7 women worldwide.1 Oftentimes, this is the first time the mother suffers from any type of depression,… |
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FDA Falls Behind on Sunscreen Approvals...
October 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Ashley Dao, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Melanoma is the fifth most common cause of cancer in the United States (US). Unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the primary risk factor for developing melanoma.1 In order to reduce damage from UV exposure, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends practices such as… |
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Health-Related Mechanisms Behind Exercise...
October 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Sairah Sheikh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Increased physical activity is often touted as a lifestyle choice that improves bodily health dramatically. Over recent years, there has been an increase in research showing that exercise can help to prevent chronic diseases. Physical activity exerts its benefit through a wide variety of mechanisms. Exercise can improve… |
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WeightWatchers Enters the Obesity Drug Market Upon Acqu...
August 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Geraldine Ciaccio, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 The personalized weight-loss program WeightWatchers took a significant step into the newly popularized obesity drug market. As one of the leading weight-loss programs in the United States, WeightWatchers customizes diet plans according to individual health goals. To expand its weight management platform into clinical settings, the company agreed… |
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Is Organic Food Really Worth It?...
August 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Sairah Sheikh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 In a world where people are becoming increasingly health-conscious, organic food is of interest to many. It is often seen as the pinnacle of healthy food, although may not be affordable for all. Those who can afford it spend thousands of dollars a year on organic food and… |
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The FDA’s Accelerated Approval of Lecanemab for Alzhe...
August 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Imaan Sekhery, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 On January 6, 2023, the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Eisai’s Leqembi (lecanemab), an alternative treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The creation of the drug depicts a significant advancement within the small field of AD treatments. This disease state is known to begin with… |
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Nationwide Albuterol Shortage: How Patients, Healthcare...
August 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Celestine Van Sertima, PharmD Candidate c/o 2027 Addressing the Issue As the spring season leads the way to respiratory challenges, there have been growing concerns over the shortage of respiratory medications which have raised many problems for people’s health. Specifically, a lack of albuterol metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) has heavily impacted the asthmatic community. Albuterol… |
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FDA Regulatory Change Expands Access to Mifepristone...
June 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Ashley Dao, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Medical abortion is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to end intrauterine pregnancy through ten weeks gestation (i.e., within 70 days of the start of a patient’s last menstrual period). Mifepristone plays a major role in the termination of early pregnancies within the United States (U.S.).… |
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Zavegepant: An Intranasal Breakthrough in Treating Acut...
June 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Samia Rahman Adity, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Migraine has been a throbbing topic of discussion and a serious public health concern in the United States (U.S.). As of 2018, headache was seen to be the fourth or fifth most common cause for patients to visit an emergency department.1 The National Institute of Neurological… |
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New Study Expands Pharmacists’ Role in Treating Opioi...
June 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Geraldine Ciaccio, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 The role of pharmacists in public health has been expanding in recent years. The list of pharmacists’ responsibilities continues to grow with the treatment of the opioid crisis in the United States. In the past year, pharmacists newly received the authority to dispense naloxone under a standing order.… |
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U.S. Based Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Eli Lilly &...
June 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Urooj K. Malik, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 March 1, 2023 marked a substantial milestone in the United States’ (U.S.’) fight for affordable insulin. Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) has announced that over the next few months, they will be reducing the price of multiple insulin products as well as capping patient out-of-pocket costs at… |
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The 1980’s HIV and AIDS Epidemic...
April 1, 2023 - In the News / Politics By: Christian Porcu, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 and John Ortiz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impairs immune cells, leaving patients with an increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and other illnesses. HIV is transmitted through an exchange of bodily fluids, most often through unprotected sex or sharing drug injection equipment.1 The first stage… |
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Evaluating Treatments and Preventative Measuresfor Monk...
February 1, 2023 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Sairah Sheikh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 As Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases started to decrease in the United States (US), many Americans breathed a sigh of relief. However, on May 17, 2022, fear of a new infectious disease struck the nation. The first case of the monkeypox outbreak in the US was reported… |
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FDA Approval of Pemazyre® as a First-in-Class Treatmen...
February 1, 2023 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jennifer Galvet, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases expressed on the cell surface of both developmental and adult cells. Aberrant expression of FGFRs has been implicated in a wide variety of cancers and is considered an oncogenic signaling pathway.1 FGFRs are activated by… |
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Relyvrio: A New FDA-Approved Medication for Amyotrophic...
February 1, 2023 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Yu Jeng Lee, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects both the upper motor neurons (UMN) and lower motor neurons (LMN). This disease causes muscle weakness, which progresses to disability, and subsequently death, primarily due to respiratory failure.1,2 … |
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AstraZeneca’s Farxiga is First Heart Failure Drug to ...
December 1, 2022 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Jennifer Galvet, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is a first-in-class, oral, once daily sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor indicated for improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D), reducing the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death and hospitalization in heart failure (HF), and reducing the risk of sustained eGFR decline in chronic kidney… |
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Pediatric COVID-19 Immunization Schedules Updated with ...
December 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Helen Li, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 On June 18, 2022, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation to expand eligibility of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations to children 6 months through 5 years of age.1 On August 31, 2022,… |
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FDA Approves Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv) to Delay Onset of...
December 1, 2022 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Justin Budz, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Diabetes mellitus encompasses both chronic and reversible conditions that affect the body’s ability to utilize glucose. In 2019, about 28.7 million (8.7%) people in the United States (US) had diagnosed diabetes. Of this population, about 1.6 million (5.7%) people ages 20 or older and 244,000 (0.9%) people… |
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Evaluating the Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders fro...
December 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Geraldine Ciaccio, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Pregnant women treated with antidepressants may no longer have to endure the worry that their medications will harm their newborn. Previous studies have shown a correlation between the use of antidepressants in pregnant patients and the prevalence of various birth defects, including cardiac defects, anencephaly, and gastroschisis,… |
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Mounjaro (Tirzepatide): Dual-Targeted Treatment for Typ...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Zarin Chowdhury, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 and Lauren Merkovich, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a long-term medical condition in which the body is unable to use insulin properly, resulting in abnormal blood glucose levels.1 More than 37 million Americans have diabetes (about 1 in 10); approximately 90 to 95%… |
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New FDA Approval of Bydureon for Treating Type 2 Diabet...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Kelly Lavery, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Increasing rates of childhood obesity remain a major risk factor behind a recently increased prevalence of diabetes in the pediatric population. This subject is of particular relevance in light of the ongoing coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has limited children to isolation and online learning… |
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FDA Approves Tubeless Automated Insulin System for Kids...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Geraldine Ciaccio, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 Young children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are completely dependent on others for their care and management. It can be hard for parents, guardians, teachers, and healthcare providers to assess a child’s condition as they are too young to properly communicate their thoughts and emotions. Most children… |
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FDA’s Approval of Pharmacists Prescribing Paxlovid...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Imaan Sekhery, PharmD Candidate c/o 2025 On July 6, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revised the precedent Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Pfizer’s Paxlovid, granting licensed pharmacists the right to prescribe Paxlovid to suitable patients. This revision will significantly increase access to Paxlovid, assisting in patient recovery from Coronavirus Disease 2019… |
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Rectal Cancer Disappears After Use of Immunotherapy...
October 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Sairah Sheikh, PharmD Candidate c/o 2024 Promising new research conducted by doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center showed 100% remission of rectal cancer in 12 patients after immunotherapy. Traditionally, patients with rectal cancer are treated with chemotherapy and radiation, followed by a surgical resection of the rectum.1 However, this method carries the… |
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Paxlovid, the First Oral Antiviral Treatment for Covid-...
August 1, 2022 - Featured , In the News / Politics By: Kirby An, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) is a virus that took the world by storm with its initial discovery in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. On January 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed the first case of Covid-19 in the United States (US) after a 35… |
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Standing Order for Naloxone in Pharmacies in New York S...
August 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Helen Li, PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 On August 15, 2022, the New York State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mary T. Bassett, implemented a statewide pharmacy standing order for naloxone.1 With this authorization, all pharmacists can assist in reducing mortality from opioid abuse, while optimizing the pharmacists’ continuous role in public health. In… |
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Wegovy® (Semaglutide): New FDA Approval for Use in Obe...
August 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Pauline Choi, PharmD There has been an increase in the prevalence of obesity, and it has become an international health problem amongst all age-groups, including children, adults, and adolescents. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition of obesity for adults and children is a BMI > 30 kg/m2, and a weight-for-height… |
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YouTube Bans Misinformation About Approved Vaccines ...
February 1, 2022 - In the News / Politics By: Natalia Jucha, PharmD Candidate c/o 2022 and Zarin Chowdhury PharmD Candidate c/o 2023 Effective September 29th of 2021, YouTube will be banning prominent anti-vaccine activists and blocking channels promoting anti-vaccine misinformation. The company recently announced its expansion of medical misinformation policies. This includes prohibiting the sharing of misinformation regarding currently administered vaccines that… |