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  • With New COVID-19 Vaccine Approvals, Pharmacists Should Remain Vigilant

    With New COVID-19 Vaccine Approvals, Pharmacists Should Remain Vigilant

    In an interview with Pharmacy Times®, Allison Hill, PharmD, RPh, director of professional affairs at the American Pharmacists Association, discussed how the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to end emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines places greater reliance on FDA approvals but still requires pharmacists to look to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC recommendations for authority. Hill stressed the importance of pharmacists checking state regulations to remain compliant, ensuring vaccine access for patients, and navigating coverage issues effectively.

    The conversation centered on the recent news that the FDA was approving 3 COVID-19 vaccines updated to target the LP.8.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2. The vaccines were approved with age restrictions, contrary to the indications allowed for under their emergency use authorizations. The FDA also revoked the emergency use authorizations for the 3 vaccines. You can read coverage here.

    Pharmacy Times: What are your thoughts on the recent announcement from HHS ending emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines? How will this impact pharmacists?

    Allison Hill, PharmD, RPh: Well, today is August 27, and I don’t want anything to be misconstrued, because what we’ve learned in the past few months is that vaccine information changes quite frequently. Today, the HHS Secretary announced that COVID-19 vaccine approvals are now strictly under the FDA.

    Unfortunately—or fortunately—we could be in a better space, but we still need to wait and see what ACIP says about these recommendations. As pharmacists, we know our vaccine authority really relies on ACIP and CDC recommendations. Only a couple of states follow FDA approvals alone.

    So, I suggest pharmacists check with their state regulatory bodies and make sure they are up to date on what their vaccine authority includes. That way, they know exactly what to follow. Ultimately, we need to continue encouraging patient health, ensuring those who need vaccines are able to access them. If there are issues with coverage, we must know the steps to take to make sure vaccines are covered for our patients.

    Pharmacy Times: Do you expect further announcements from HHS that will stand to impact pharmacists?

    Hill: I think we already received a couple of blows earlier this year. For example, ACIP announced there is no recommendation for pregnant women. It’s hard to think that we don’t need to protect pregnant women. APHA’s position—and I’m sure ACOG’s as well—is that pregnant women, pediatrics, and women who have recently given birth should be protected.

    So, while we follow federal agency announcements, we also need to make sure we’re following the science. I do expect things may continue to change, but we don’t know what will happen, given how often guidance has shifted.

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  • Ahead of Asia Cup, Afghanistan stun Pakistan in T20I tri-series in Sharjah

    Ahead of Asia Cup, Afghanistan stun Pakistan in T20I tri-series in Sharjah

    Afghanistan sent a strong warning to Pakistan ahead of the Asia Cup with an impressive 18-run victory in a low-scoring thriller at Sharjah on August 2. What initially appeared to be a modest batting display from the Afghans turned into a dominant performance, with their spinners stepping up to seal a memorable win.

    Winning the toss, Afghanistan opted to bat first but began their innings on shaky ground. Early dismissals of Rahmanullah Gurbaz suggested the Afghans might struggle, and Pakistan’s Faheem Ashraf seemed to be in control with his four-wicket haul (4/27). However, it was Afghanistan’s spinners who eventually turned the game on its head.

    Sediqullah Atal and Ibrahim Zadran forged a crucial 113-run partnership that rescued Afghanistan from early setbacks. Beyond this stand, the rest of the batting lineup struggled, contributing only single-digit scores, yet managed to post a defendable total of 169 by the end of 20 overs. Ibrahim Zadran’s 65 off 45 balls earned him the Man of the Match award for anchoring Afghanistan’s innings under pressure.

    SPIN TRIO SKITTLES PAKISTAN

    Chasing 170, Pakistan looked poised but were immediately hit by Fazalhaq Farooqi’s fiery bowling, which sent Saim Ayub back for a golden duck in the second over and removed opener Sahibzada Farhan in the fourth. Afghanistan’s spin trio – Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi, and Noor Ahmed – then took control. Rashid extended his lead as the highest T20I wicket-taker with his 2/30 spell taking his tally to 167 wickets. Along with Rashid, Nabi (2/20), and Noor Ahmed (2/20) stifled Pakistan’s middle order, ensuring no batter could establish a partnership.

    Captain Salman Ali Agha and Fakhar Zaman briefly offered resistance in the middle, but Agha fell to a sharp turning delivery from Nabi flicked to Farooqi, and the skipper himself was run out cheaply. The lower order, including Mohammad Haris, failed to resurrect the chase, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. Pakistan eventually managed 151/9, falling short by 18 runs.

    The victory gives Afghanistan a confidence boost ahead of the Asia Cup, reflecting steady progress in T20 cricket. For Pakistan, the loss highlights areas to work on as they prepare for the upcoming tournament, where they start their campaign against Oman on September 12.

    - Ends

    Published By:

    Debodinna Chakraborty

    Published On:

    Sep 3, 2025


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  • My Life With The Walter Boys Tops Netflix TV List With Season 2 Return

    My Life With The Walter Boys Tops Netflix TV List With Season 2 Return

    My Life with the Walter Boys made a strong return to Netflix for Season 2, putting up 11.8M views in its opening weekend on Netflix.

    The second season, which premiered on August 28, soared to the top of the English TV charts for the week of August 25 to 31, despite only four days of availability. This performance bodes well for the series, considering it is already renewed for a third season, up 57% from Season 1’s 7.5M views opening weekend.

    The political thriller Hostage was in a close second on the TV list this past week with 11.6M views.

    Third place went to Wednesday Season 2A with 8.4M views. The final episodes of the season are set for a September 3 debut, which will likely give it a nice boost back to No. 1 in the coming weeks since the first half of the season managed an impressive 50M views in just four days — the second highest weekly total ever for a Netflix series, behind only its predecessor, Wednesday Season 1.

    The new documentary series Katrina: Come Hell and High Water, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the catastrophic natural disaster, debuted at No. 4 with 7.3 million views.

    On the film side of things, nothing can beat Kpop Demon Hunters right now. In fact, its weekly total went up from the past few intervals, raking in 30.1M views thanks to the arrival of the singalong version. As we pointed out in last week’s Top 10 report, Netflix is combining the viewership for both the original film and the singalong version, even though they are separate titles on the service.

    Combining the tallies certainly influences the film’s dominance since these weekly viewership totals are still contributing to its overall 91-day premiere performance, which will be solidified on the most popular list when all is said and done. The higher the total, the harder it’ll be for any film to ever top it. However, considering there are no material changes to the singalong version, it also just underscores the ferocity with which fans are devouring anything to do with this film.

    Case in point: Multiple versions or not, no other Netflix film has ever put up 30M+ views in its eleventh week on the platform.

    The Thursday Murder Club landed at No. 2 with 24.7M views for the adaptation of Richard Osman’s murder mystery. In third, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish with 8.6M.

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  • Tracking the Path of Migratory Pain: Unveiling Whipple Disease

    Tracking the Path of Migratory Pain: Unveiling Whipple Disease


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  • Plains to buy EPIC Crude stake for $1.6 billion from Diamondback, Kinetik – Reuters

    1. Plains to buy EPIC Crude stake for $1.6 billion from Diamondback, Kinetik  Reuters
    2. Plains to buy EPIC crude pipeline stake for $1.6 billion from Diamondback, Kinetik  MarketScreener
    3. Kinetik Announces the Sale of Its Equity Interest in EPIC Crude Holdings, LP  Business Wire
    4. Latham & Watkins Advises Plains All American Pipeline in Acquisition of 55% Interest in EPIC Crude Holdings, LP  Latham & Watkins LLP
    5. Diamondback Energy Subsidiaries To Sell 27.5% Equity Interest In EPIC Crude  Nasdaq

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  • Pregnancy trends show later maternal age and persistent inequities

    Pregnancy trends show later maternal age and persistent inequities

    Pregnancy trends show later maternal age and persistent inequities | Image Credit: © fotoduets – stock.adobe.com.

    Women in high-income countries are increasingly delaying childbirth, with new research warning that this trend is associated with rising maternal health risks and persistent inequities. An international review, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine and led by researchers at Flinders University, examined pregnancy and birth outcomes in Australia, the United States (US), and the United Kingdom (UK) over the past 2 decades.1,2

    “One of the most noticeable shifts is that women are having babies later in life,” said lead author Anya Arthurs, PhD, Flinders University. “The average age of first-time mothers has steadily increased, with many now starting their families aged 35 years or over, reflecting broader societal changes including career priorities, financial pressures, and improved access to contraception.”

    Maternal age and complications

    The review found that older mothers are more likely to access prenatal care but also experience higher rates of complications. “We’re seeing increased rates of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and caesarean sections among older mothers, which raises important questions about how maternity care systems are adapting,” Arthurs explained. Data show that in Australia, the average age of mothers increased from 28.9 years in 1998 to 31.1 years in 2021, while in the UK it rose to 30.9 years in 2022. In the US, the average age of first-time mothers reached 27.5 years in 2023.

    Fertility and birth rates

    Across all 3 countries, fertility rates have declined to below replacement levels. In 2022, the total fertility rate was 1.63 in Australia, 1.67 in the US, and 1.49 in the UK. Despite this decline, the number of births to Indigenous and minority women is increasing. The authors highlighted the significance of these demographic shifts for future healthcare planning.

    Maternal mortality and disparities

    Maternal mortality remains a key concern, particularly in the US, where the maternal mortality rate (MMR) was 32.9 per 100,000 live births in 2021, markedly higher than Australia (5.8) and the UK (13.4). Racial and ethnic disparities are prominent. “Maternal mortality remains a serious concern, especially in the US, where Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic women are far more likely to die during pregnancy or childbirth due to limited access to quality healthcare and systemic inequalities,” said Arthurs.

    Indigenous women in Australia and migrant women in the UK also face worse outcomes. In Australia, First Nations women have an MMR 3 times that of non-Indigenous women. In the UK, Black women are nearly 4 times more likely to die during or after pregnancy compared with White women.

    Pandemic effects and delivery practices

    The COVID-19 pandemic further strained maternity care. In the UK, COVID-19 became a leading cause of maternal death between 2019 and 2021. The review also noted a rise in caesarean deliveries, particularly among older mothers and those delivering in private hospitals. While caesarean sections can be life-saving, the authors cautioned that rates exceeding 10–15% may reflect systemic rather than clinical drivers.

    Improvements and ongoing challenges

    Some positive trends were observed. Smoking during pregnancy has declined across all 3 countries, and breastfeeding rates are improving, particularly in Australia and the UK. However, disparities persist. “But younger mothers are still more likely to smoke, and the USA continues to lag in breastfeeding rates, partly due to the absence of a national paid maternity leave policy,” Arthurs said.

    Policy recommendations

    Senior author Professor Claire Roberts emphasized the need for policy reforms. “We’re calling for governments and health systems to take action by focusing on maternity care that is equitable, culturally safe and responsive to changing needs,” she said. Recommendations include adopting midwifery-led continuity of care, improving postpartum follow-up for women with gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders, expanding culturally safe perinatal programs, and introducing universal paid parental leave in the US.

    The authors also called for governments to address social determinants of health, including housing, income, and food security, and to establish an international maternal health equity task force to coordinate global efforts.

    References:

    1. Flinders University. Global study reveals alarming gaps in maternal health across Australia, USA, and UK. Euerkalert. August 26, 2025. Accessed September 2, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1096054
    2. Arthurs AL, Harrison JK, Williamson JM, Roberts CT. Pregnancy and Birth Trends Across Australia, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025;14(16):5841-5841. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14165841

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  • First-in-Class Antibody IO-202 Demonstrates Tolerability and Response in CMML

    First-in-Class Antibody IO-202 Demonstrates Tolerability and Response in CMML

    Blood cancer cells under the microscope: © stock_acc – stock.adobe.com

    IO-202 demonstrated a complete response (CR) of 27.8% and an overall response rate (ORR) of 66.7% when coupled with azacitidine in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) who were naïve to standard-of-care hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in a phase 1 dose escalation-expansion trial (NCT04372433).1

    Overall, both the monotherapy and combination therapy showed encouraging findings and suggest that targeting the leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4), which is highly expressed in neoplastic monocytic cells, may provide a needed specific therapeutic avenue for this aggressive disease.

    CMML is a rare and aggressive hematologic malignancy that has been associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).2 CMML was classified as a subtype of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 1982.2 However, its unique characteristics, including increased circulating monocytes and a distinct molecular profile, have led to its reclassification as a myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) overlap condition.3

    This overlap presents a therapeutic challenge, as current HMA therapies for CMML often result in poor outcomes, with response rates of less than 50%. The need for targeted therapies has been underscored by the limited efficacy of other agents, such as the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (Venclexta), which has shown poor results in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with monocytic features and may not improve overall survival in CMML.

    Study Design

    This was a multicenter, nonrandomized, first-in-human phase 1 study with both a dose-escalation and a dose-expansion component. The study’s primary objectives were to assess the safety and efficacy of IO-202 as a monotherapy and in combination with azacitidine. The part 1 dose-escalation portion enrolled 46 patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and R/R CMML. This included a monotherapy cohort and a combination therapy cohort with azacitidine.

    Part 2 was a dose-expansion portion that included a specific cohort (Part 2B) dedicated to patients with CMML who were HMA-naïve, and who were prioritized for enrollment due to promising early activity. Patients were required to be at least 18 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of myelomonocytic or monocytic/monoblastic AML or CMML.

    Using a standard 3+3 design for dose escalation, IO-202 was administered via intravenous infusion on a 28-day cycle, with azacitidine given at its approved dose. Patients were premedicated before IO-202 administration. Safety was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. For efficacy, responses in CMML were evaluated based on the 2015 International Working Group MDS/MPN response criteria, which defines objective responses as complete response (CR), marrow response (MR), partial remission (PR), and clinical benefit (CB)

    Leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4) expression, the target of IO-202, was analyzed in a central laboratory using flow cytometry on bone marrow and peripheral blood samples. The drug’s pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity were also analyzed to assess how azacitidine affects IO-202 and to detect any anti-drug antibodies, according to lead author Ahmed Aribi and colleagues.1

    Outcomes in HMA-Naive CMML

    The study’s most significant findings emerged from the cohort of 21 patients with HMA-naïve CMML. The median age of these patients was 71 years (range 54-82), with 66.7% being male. Many patients had high-risk disease features, including high-risk CPSS-Mol scores and unfavorable ASXL1 genetic mutations.

    The combination regimen led to a CR rate of 27.8% (5/18) and an ORR of 66.7% (12/18) among efficacy-evaluable patients. These responses were not only rapid, with a median time to first response of 1 cycle, but also durable.

    Notably, 7 patients (38.9%) were able to proceed to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) after receiving the therapy, with 6 of them achieving a response beforehand. In the subset of patients with the highest LILRB4 expression, the ORR was 100% and the CR rate was 33.3%, which supports the drug’s mechanism of action, Aribi A et al wrote.1

    Safety

    Safety data showed that the combination was well-tolerated, with all grade 3 or above treatment-related adverse events in the combination cohorts attributed to azacitidine alone or a combination of azacitidine and IO-202. There were only 3 grade 3 treatment-related adverse events attributed to IO-202 itself, diarrhea, somnolence, and infusion-related reactions, all of which were resolved with supportive care.

    Limitations and Future Directions

    As a phase 1 study, the trial’s primary focus was safety and dose determination, which inherently limits the generalizability of its efficacy findings. The sample sizes for each cohort were small, particularly for the R/R CMML group, with only 5 patients receiving the combination therapy in the dose-escalation phase.

    Further, the study was nonrandomized and did not include a control arm. Additionally, the impact of anti-drug antibodies on the drug’s pharmacokinetics was not conclusive due to high variations in drug exposure at low dose levels.

    Despite these limitations, the study’s results are highly encouraging for a disease with a poor prognosis. The robust clinical activity observed in patients who are HMA-naïve CMML, particularly the high response and CR rates, warrants further investigation.

    The study’s authors conclude that the data support the initiation of a future pivotal study of IO-202 in combination with azacitidine for patients with HMA-naïve CMML. This next step is crucial to confirm the efficacy and safety of this new therapeutic strategy and to solidify its potential as a much-needed treatment for this patient population.

    REFERENCES:
    1. Aribi A, Mannis GN, Madanat YF. A phase 1 study of IO-202, an anti-LILRB4 antibody, in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Neoplasia. 2025;2(4):100126. doi: 10.1016/j.bneo.2025.100126
    2. Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT, et al. Proposals for the classification of the myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1982;51(2):189-199.
    3. Nösslinger T, Reisner R, Koller E, et al. Myelodysplastic syndromes, from French-American-British to World Health Organization: comparison of classifications on 431 unselected patients from a single institution. Blood. 2001;98(10):2935-2941. doi:10.1182/blood.v98.10.2935

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  • Seeking a carbon-capture breakthrough— Harvard Gazette

    Seeking a carbon-capture breakthrough— Harvard Gazette

    What tricks can organic molecules be taught to help solve our planet’s biggest problems?

    That’s the question driving Assistant Professor Richard Y. Liu ’15 as he pushes the frontiers of organic chemistry in pursuit of cleaner synthesis, smarter materials, and new ways to combat climate change.

    Liu’s latest advance, detailed in a new paper in Nature Chemistry, harnesses the power of sunshine to trigger a particular variety of organic molecule. As described in the paper, these “photobases” then rapidly generate hydroxide ions that efficiently and reversibly trap CO₂.

    This innovation in direct air capture marks a significant step toward scalable, low-energy solutions for removing greenhouse gases, Liu said. “What distinguishes this current work is the way we developed molecular switches to capture and release CO₂ with light. The general strategy of using light directly as the energy source is a new approach.”

    Liu’s drive to understand the inner workings of organic chemistry date to his years at Harvard College. “I started out thinking I’d be a physicist,” he said. “But in my first semester, I realized I was much more captivated by the creative act of building molecules in the chemistry lab.”

    Richard Y. Liu.

    File photo by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

    Under the guidance of Ted Betley, Erving Professor of Chemistry, Liu uncovered a passion for organic synthesis, or designing and assembling complex structures atom by atom. “My mentor noticed that what really excited me wasn’t the iron complexes we were supposed to be working on,” Liu said. “It was the challenge of making the organic ligands themselves.”

    Betley encouraged Liu to pursue these interests by working with a group led by Eric Jacobsen, Sheldon Emery Professor of Chemistry. There, Liu learned to think about molecules in new ways, to ask big questions, and to take big risks.

    That ethos remained central during his doctoral work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Liu worked with chemist Stephen Buchwald to invent new copper and palladium catalysts that allow complex molecules to be prepared from convenient and readily available building blocks.

    Now leading his own lab in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Liu focuses on issues spanning the fields of organic, inorganic, and materials chemistry. His group’s research centers on organic redox platforms, metal-based catalysts for synthesis, and mechanistic studies that reveal how chemical transformations unfold.

    “We’re looking at how to manipulate nonmetals — in molecules that are cheap, abundant, and tunable — to do chemistry traditionally reserved for metals,” Liu said.

    Their work isn’t just theoretical; it’s built for the real world. Liu’s group is also developing new organic materials for energy storage and catalysis, as well as molecules that can capture and activate greenhouse gases. The recent direct air capture development was the product of a collaboration with Daniel G. Nocera, Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy, and exemplifies the Liu lab’s pursuit of applicable solutions.

    “Direct air capture is one of the most important emerging climate technologies, but existing methods require too much energy,” he said. “By designing molecules that use light to change their chemical state and trap CO₂, we’re demonstrating a path to a more efficient — and possibly solar-powered — future.”

    Also responsible for the discovery is the lab’s interdisciplinary team of chemists, materials scientists, and engineers.

    “We all speak the language of organic synthesis, but each person has an area of deeper expertise — from electrochemistry to sulfur chemistry to computational modeling,” Liu said. “This means we are able to generate new ideas at the intersections.”

    Educating the next generation of scientists is core to that mission, he added. “Ultimately, the research we do here is kind of a platform for training and education,” Liu said. “The projects we do are ultimately for students to have a compelling and complete thesis that earns them their Ph.D. and serves as a springboard for what they’re going to do in the future.”

    Yet the recent disruptions in federal funding present what Liu calls “an existential threat.” The photobase research was supported mainly by Lui’s CAREER award from the National Science Foundation. Its recent cancellation has jeopardized the project’s future while disrupting the work of trainees.

    For now, bridge funding from the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences has helped Liu and his group continue their research. Longer term, he hopes that the country will restore its investments in science.

    “Research done at universities and institutions of higher learning will ultimately reap profits for all of society,” Liu said. “Our research is not driven by profits, but meant to make our discoveries and advancements publicly available for the world’s benefit.”


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  • Study uncovers cell “traffic control” system regulating energy, blood sugar-Xinhua

    JERUSALEM, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) — Israeli scientists have discovered that human cells operate a sophisticated traffic control system that monitors nutrients and precisely regulates energy and blood sugar, Ben-Gurion University said in a statement on Tuesday.

    The finding, published in Nature Communications, challenges long-held assumptions about how cells sense and respond to changing nutrient levels and offers promising new targets for diabetes and cancer treatments.

    It has been believed that cells rely on slow internal mechanisms that could take hours to adjust metabolism. The new study reveals that cells have a rapid-response system at their surface.

    Two key transporter proteins, the liver citrate transporter NaCT and glucose transporters Glut, work together in perfect coordination. They constantly sense nutrient levels and communicate with other cells to maintain energy balance and control blood sugar within minutes.

    In further studies, the researchers developed molecules that target the system. Animal studies showed that the molecules can lower blood sugar levels and eradicate certain types of tumors in mice.

    According to the researchers, the system works like two traffic controllers in constant communication with each other. When glucose is scarce, liver cells increase uptake of both glucose and citrate. When glucose returns, uptake quickly returns to normal.

    When NaCT was genetically disrupted in mice, cells absorbed more glucose, and blood sugar dropped significantly.

    The researchers said that their discovery may mark a shift in medical research. Instead of targeting individual proteins, scientists can now aim at the coordinated function of transporter interactions, which may lead to new treatments or even a cure for metabolic diseases. ■

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  • Weak pound and yen shore up dollar, bonds and payrolls in focus – Reuters

    1. Weak pound and yen shore up dollar, bonds and payrolls in focus  Reuters
    2. The Greenback surges while rates jump  FXStreet
    3. U.S. Dollar Gains Ground As Treasury Yields Climb: Analysis For EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/CAD, USD/JPY  FXEmpire
    4. Pound And Yen Drop As Debt Jitters And Politics Shake Markets  Finimize
    5. FX Daily: Dollar could find some seasonal support  ING Think

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