The approval is based on the findings of the DESTINY-Breast04 Phase III trial and follows the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use’s favorable recommendation. In the trial, Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) significantly decreased the risk of disease progression or death in patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer with hormone receptor (HR)-positive or HR-negative disease by 50% compared to the physician’s choice of chemotherapy. According to a blinded independent central evaluation, Enhertu had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 9.9 months compared to chemotherapy patients’ PFS of 5.1 months (BICR). When compared to chemotherapy, Enhertu showed a 36% reduction in the risk of death, with a median overall survival (OS) of 23.4 months as opposed to 16.8 months.

Following completion of this CME activity, health-system and specialty pharmacists should be better able to review the transmissibility and clinical severity associated with SARS-CoV-2 variants, analyze the efficacy of vaccines and boosters for the prevention of infection and severe disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants, analyze the efficacy of oral antivirals and remdesivir in light of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, and discuss the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies and convalescent plasma for prevention and treatment in the clinical context of current and evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The authors speculate that pharmacogenomic testing can identify patients at higher risk for adverse events related to drug-drug and drug-gene interactions based on the 29-year-old man’s prescription list and gene testing results. Potential drug-drug interactions should also be investigated, and patients should be appropriately monitored for adverse reactions. Before performing pharmacogenomic testing, consider the severity of potential reactions, cost, and the possibility of using an alternative regimen that avoids the interaction of concern entirely. As more is learned about pharmacogenomics and the potential personalization of therapeutic regimens, clinical considerations that warrant testing should be evaluated on a regular basis to facilitate both resource stewardship and optimal patient care.

According to a 2019 survey of over 5,000 pharmacists, nearly one-third had faced workplace discrimination or harassment. According to one study, patient bullying is associated with increased stress and medication errors or near misses. The most common form of harassment reported was derogatory remarks about race or ethnicity, which were mostly made by male patients/customers. More than half of Black male pharmacists reported receiving derogatory remarks about race or ethnicity, and more than 80% of all pharmacists did not report these incidents, with more than 40% stating that they did not believe any action would be taken.

The modified Mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program eliminates the requirement for in-person dispensing and replaces it with a requirement that pharmacies dispense the drug be certified. Mifepristone, a progestin antagonist, may now be dispensed by or under the supervision of a certified prescriber, or by a certified pharmacy on a prescription issued by a certified prescriber, for medical termination of pregnancy up to 10 weeks gestation (70 days or less since the first day of the last menstrual period).

Guideline Central offers a complete summary of the ADA’s latest guideline — Standards of Care for 2023. The update and summary cover topics from delaying the onset of T2DM to supporting positive behaviors, glycemic targets, weigh management, technology, pharmacology, and preventing and managing complications and concomitant diseases.