Hospital pharmacies are prioritizing investment in smart pumps, IV preparation tracking and clean-room automation, as well as automated dispensing cabinets, according to Bluesight's 2025 Hospital Pharmacy Operations Report. The report highlights a shift from last year's focus on controlled substance monitoring, driven by the need to address drug shortages and staffing issues and ensure medication safety.

Eli Lilly and Co. plans a 170% price increase for weight-loss drug Mounjaro in the UK starting in September as part of a strategy to lower US prices. Pharmaceutical companies are facing pressure from President Donald Trump to address price disparities between the US and Europe.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices released new community pharmacy safety best practices focused on weight-based dosing, return-to-stock errors and vaccine administration, supported by tools like barcodes, prefilled syringes and verification workflows. These updates build on prior recommendations.

The announcement of US tariffs on pharmaceutical imports is likely weeks away, according to sources, as President Donald Trump focuses on other priorities. The administration has said the tariffs could start small and rise to 250%, and the investigation is examining imports from finished drugs to active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Costco said it will not sell the abortion pill mifepristone, citing low demand from members and patients who typically obtain the drug from medical providers; the company's announcement comes amid pushback on use of the drug from certain groups. Walgreens and CVS sell mifepristone, while retailers such as Walmart and Albertsons have not clarified whether they would sell it.

The FDA has been forming ad hoc expert panels on topics such as antidepressants and menopause drugs, bypassing its usual roster of vetted advisers. These panels often include members with financial interests in the subjects and have promoted views aligned with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Critics, including former FDA officials, say the panels lack transparency and panelists are not properly screened for conflicts of interest.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has accused the American Academy of Pediatrics of a "pay-to-play scheme" after the group recommended COVID-19 vaccines for young children, citing donations from Pfizer and Moderna as a conflict of interest. The AAP says the guidance is based on children's vulnerability to severe COVID-19.

A study presented at the ASHP Pharmacy Futures 2025 meeting found that 91% of patients remained on an adalimumab biosimilar or transitioned to an alternative three months after being switched from Humira, with stable or improved quality-of-life scores and no hospitalizations reported. Experts noted the findings support interchangeability but cautioned that insurance barriers, treatment gaps and patient perceptions may still drive some to revert to the originator drug.

FluMist Home, a nasal spray flu vaccine, is now available for home use for people ages 2 to 49. The needle-free option, which requires a prescription, could increase vaccination rates, especially among those who are afraid of needles, but there also is concern about proper administration.

Health care spending in the US is projected to reach $8.6 trillion by 2033, driven by an aging population, according to the CMS. At the same time, Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums could see double-digit premium increases in 2026, and employers are planning to pass more health insurance costs to employees. A recent tax and spending bill signed by the president could lead to significant Medicaid cuts, potentially leaving millions uninsured.