Alana Hippensteele, Lead Editor

At the 2025 National Lipid Association (NLA) Scientific Sessions, Marlys L. Koschinsky, PhD, FNLA, discusses the role of Lp(a) in cardiovascular risk and the emerging therapies designed to target and lower Lp(a) levels.

Emerging therapies targeting apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC3) are demonstrating significant promise in lowering triglycerides and reducing cardiovascular risk for patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia and rare disorders, such as familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

Sander Kersten, PhD, discusses the distinct roles of ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 in lipid metabolism, their interactions with key enzymes, the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways in lipid-lowering strategies, and important considerations for pharmacists counseling patients on emerging ANGPTL-targeted therapies.

Katherine H. Saunders, MD, DABOM, explores the role of pharmacists in supporting long-term weight management with GLP-1 therapies, including strategies for counseling on lifestyle interventions, managing adverse effects, and ensuring patients receive individualized, evidence-based care.

Two abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting demonstrate that pretreatment DPYD genotyping improves the safety and cost-effectiveness of fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy, with oncology pharmacists playing a pivotal role in implementing and optimizing genotype-guided dosing strategies.

Corrine Stahura, PharmD, and Sophia Gilardone, PharmD, BCOP, discuss recent clinical trial data and evolving guideline recommendations for HER2- and HER3-directed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), highlighting differences in efficacy, safety, and patient selection criteria.

Hope Rugo, MD, discusses a multi-institutional real-world analysis showing that rechallenging trastuzumab deruxtecan after grade 1 interstitial lung disease (ILD) is generally safe and effective.

Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, emphasizes the importance of whole-food dietary patterns over macronutrient percentages for improving lipid profiles and cardiovascular health.

Pre-treatment DPYD genotyping significantly reduces hospitalizations and costs for patients with cancer, enhancing safety and efficiency in oncology care.

Grace Nguyen, PharmD, BCPS, provides real-world experiences with DPYD genotype-guided fluoropyrimidine dosing, highlighting how pharmacist-led interventions and tailored dose adjustments can help mitigate toxicity risks and optimize treatment in variant carriers.

Corrine Stahura, PharmD; and Sophia Gilardone, PharmD, BCOP, discuss how patient- and treatment-related factors influence the risk of severe toxicity with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In this roundtable, 3 pharmacy faculty members reflect on how shifting federal priorities and the defunding of research initiatives have impacted their work, communities, and careers—while highlighting the power of resilience, solidarity, and reimagined academic impact in advancing public health equity.

Corrine Stahura, PharmD; and Sophia Gilardone, PharmD, BCOP, discuss the distinct adverse effect profiles of HER2- and HER3-targeted antibody-drug conjugates—particularly the risk and management of interstitial lung disease—and offer practical guidance based on clinical trial data and treatment protocols.

Christian John Lillis reflects on key insights from the 2025 Peggy Lillis Foundation C diff Summit, highlighting the critical role of pharmacists in infectious disease care, persistent challenges in patient outcomes, and the need for renewed investment in public health infrastructure and policy.

Christian John Lillis discusses the 2025 Peggy Lillis Foundation C diff Summit, emphasizing the enduring need for community-building among survivors, the importance of sustained public health advocacy, and the growing urgency to defend federal health agencies amid political and institutional uncertainty.

At the 2025 SPPCP Virtual Conference, Carolyn Hall, PharmD, BCPS, and Maria Felton Lowry, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, presented a comprehensive and practical framework for pharmacy professionals to build effective, adaptable mentorship relationships.

The report highlights the expanding role of pharmacists in navigating regulatory, financial, logistical, and clinical complexities to ensure safe, equitable, and effective delivery of cell and gene therapies amid a rapidly growing and evolving treatment landscape.

Glofitamab combined with GemOx shows promising survival benefits for patients with relapsed DLBCL, offering a new treatment option for those ineligible for transplants.

Naxitamab-gqgk has been added as a Category 2A recommendation in the updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for high-risk neuroblastoma, reflecting growing consensus on its role in treating relapsed or refractory disease.

Cynthia Ryan, PharmD, BCPS, discusses practical, evidence-based strategies for pharmacists to identify, prevent, and manage dermatologic toxicities associated with cancer therapies, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, patient education, and proactive supportive care to improve adherence and outcomes.

Emma Murter, PharmD, MPH, and Madison N. Irwin, PharmD, BCPS, discuss the potential role of low-dose naltrexone in managing chronic pain in palliative care, highlighting its anti-inflammatory properties, limited adverse effects, and current evidence gaps—particularly in comparison to traditional opioids and adjuvant analgesics.

Abigail Thomas, PharmD, and Lee A. Kral, PharmD, discuss the evolving role of psilocybin-assisted therapy in palliative care, highlighting current evidence, safety concerns, and how pharmacists can guide patient selection, manage drug interactions, and support education as the therapy moves closer to clinical use.

Diana Violanti, PharmD, and Pamela S. Moore, PharmD, BCGP, discuss the nuanced use of anticholinergic agents for managing terminal secretions at end of life, highlighting practical considerations, timing, safety concerns such as delirium, and the limited yet evolving evidence supporting their role in palliative care.

As evidence grows for psilocybin-assisted therapy’s effectiveness in treating mental health and addiction, efforts are increasingly focused on ensuring equitable access—particularly for underserved communities disproportionately affected by systemic barriers and public health crises.

Jonas Congelli, RPh, discusses how limited distribution networks and medically integrated pharmacies can improve access, continuity, and quality of oncology care—particularly in underserved areas—while addressing systemic barriers posed by traditional distribution models and pharmacy benefit managers.

Ravi Parikh, MD, MPP, FACP, discusses how artificial intelligence is transforming oncology pharmacy by accelerating drug development, enhancing clinical decision-making, supporting value-based care, and raising critical questions about ethics, regulation, and data integrity.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, discusses how looming tariffs, vaccine misinformation, and rising drug costs are straining public health pharmacy efforts, while also sparking new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and community-centered care amid uncertainty.

Liposomal annamycin demonstrates broad synergistic activity with multiple FDA-approved chemotherapies across hematologic and solid tumors in preclinical models, offering a promising and safer combination strategy for resistant and high-risk cancers.

Sasha Watson, PharmD, BCOP, discusses the emerging role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in colon cancer, highlighting its potential to enhance precision oncology by improving early detection, guiding adjuvant therapy decisions, and monitoring disease recurrence and treatment resistance.

Updates on April 30, 2025, introduce changes to treatment regimens, sequencing flexibility, febrile neutropenia risk assessments, and drug-specific safety and supportive care guidance.