Pharma Pulse 6/17/25: How AI and Regulation are Reshaping the Future of Drug Safety; A Reflection on Our Path Forward

How AI and Regulation are Reshaping the Future of Drug Safety

An Applied Clinical Trials article explores how artificial intelligence is transforming pharmacovigilance by improving efficiency, accelerating workflows, and reshaping the workforce, all while emphasizing the need for regulatory alignment, human oversight, and responsible implementation in light of new FDA guidance and programs like the Emerging Drug Safety Technology Program.

Keep Looking Up: A Reflection on Our Path Forward

A reflective essay on the 2025 HOPA Annual Conference highlights the importance of community, global equity in cancer care, and the evolving role of oncology pharmacists as both caregivers and change agents—encouraging practitioners to balance diligence with vision and always remember to “look up” and stay inspired on the path forward.

Q&A: How Innovation is at the Heart of this Independent Pharmacy’s Growth

Amina Abubakar, PharmD, AAHIVP, shares how innovation has been the driving force behind the growth of Avant Pharmacy and the founding of the Avant Institute, emphasizing her journey from retail pharmacy to entrepreneurship, the value of patient-centered care, and the need for sustainable business models that empower other pharmacists to lead clinical services within their communities.

Purdue Pharma $7.4 Billion Opioid Settlement Wins Broad Support from US States

Purdue Pharma’s $7.4 billion opioid settlement, supported by 55 US states and territories, aims to resolve nationwide lawsuits over its role in the opioid crisis by providing payouts to affected communities and individuals, while ending Sackler family control of the company.

RFK Jr. Blows up America's Vaccine Policy

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has upended decades of US vaccine policy by halting COVID shot recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women and replacing the CDC’s advisory panel with members who hold vaccine-skeptical views, raising fears of reduced access, insurance coverage denial, and a resurgence of preventable diseases.