The Drug Report: Recent Episodes
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The Drug Report® is an innovative series developed and produced in cooperation with Linda R. Bernstein, Pharm.D., Founder and President of Vita Media Corporation and Clinical Professor on the Volunteer Faculty of the School of Pharmacy at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Bernstein serves as producer, writer, and host of the series which provides pharmacists, physicians, allied healthcare, and industry professionals with news and information on a wide range of drug-related issues with insights from experts across the nation. Programs will highlight timely drug topics related to pharmacy and therapeutics, drug development, industry milestones, legislative updates, FDA rulings, cutting edge research, and professional trends, along with conference coverage.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its approval of Ebanga (Ansuvimab-zykl) for the treatment of the ebola virus infection in adults and children. To learn more about the second ebolavirus treatment to receive approval, Dr. Linda Bernstein walks us through this new drug.
Published December 29, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization, or EUA, for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The second vaccination to achieve EUA designation, the Moderna vaccine will be distributed throughout the US for patients 18 years and older. In this episode of The Drug Report, Dr. Linda Bernstein discusses this newly-approved vaccine and how it compares to others.
Published December 29, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
As a growing number of pharmaceutical companies refuse to provide discounts to 340B hospitals for drugs dispensed at community-based pharmacies, a federal lawsuit is challenging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in order to fight for patient communities harmed by this refusal. On this episode of The Drug Report, Dr. Linda Bernstein dives into this lawsuit.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The first vaccine to receive Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration, this authorization allows the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed throughout the US. But what do we know about this vaccine? In this episode of The Drug Report, Dr. Linda Bernstein discusses the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Published December 18, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
A sedative commonly used in anesthesia, dexmedetomidine hydrochloride has been the subject of many news reports over the past few months. But most recently, the FDA announced approval for Aurobindo Pharma’s dexmedetomidine hydrochloride in 0.9% sodium chloride injection. In this episode of The Drug Report, Dr. Linda Bernstein reviews recent approvals of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride on initially intubated and mechanically ventilated patients.
Published December 17, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Asthma remains a significant global health problem, and more than 25 million Americans suffer from it. How have the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program’s guidelines changed to help manage this chronic condition? In this episode of The Drug Report, Dr. Linda Bernstein reviews new guidelines on the management of asthma in adolescents and adults.
Published December 10, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
To prevent the flu from spreading concurrently with COVID-19, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approved indication for baloxavir marboxil to include post-exposure prevention of influenza. On this episode of The Drug Report, Dr. Linda Bernstein dives into this oral anti-influenza drug.
Published December 2, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Pfizer and BioNTech recently announced that their mRNA vaccine for the COVID-19 virus was 90 percent effective, and the companies plan to apply for Emergency Use Authorization. This episode of The Drug Report dives into this vaccine’s Phase 3 clinical trial and explores developments made by other companies in the search for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Published November 30, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer children have received a measles vaccination, and progress towards eliminating this disease has halted. How can pharmacists encourage more pediatric measles vaccinations? In this episode of The Drug Report, Dr. Linda Bernstein takes a look at the vast number of children globally who’ve yet to receive this vaccine.
Published November 30, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
This episode of The Drug Report takes a look at a COVID-19 cocktail comprised of the coadministration of casirivimab and imdevimab, which has proven to decrease hospitalization and emergency room visits.
Published November 30, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Eli Lilly and Company’s trial vaccine for COVID-19 an Emergency Use Authorization, or EUA. On this episode of The Drug Report, learn more about this monoclonal antibody and how the company plans on distributing it.
Published November 30, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, plans to use pharmacies to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine when it is ready for distribution. In this episode of The Drug Report, Linda Bernstein will explain the CDC’s recently-developed Vaccination Program Interim Playbook.
Published November 17, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The Food and Drug Administration announced that Remdesivir is the first treatment for COVID-19 to receive their approval. To help us better understand this antiviral agent, Dr. Linda Bernstein discusses emerging studies uncovering the benefits and limitations of Remdesivir.
Published November 6, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Join pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein as she highlights several articles from recent literature describing coagulopathies in severely ill COVID-19 patients in China. She explores the cause and effect theories behind these findings and whether the observed coagulopathies are due directly to the virus, the critically ill condition of the patient that predisposes them to thromboembolism, or some combination of the two.
Published April 24, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a new guidance for the issuance of oral Schedule II prescriptions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide public health emergency. Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein details the DEA’s temporary exceptions to the regulations to ease prescribing and dispensing of these controlled substances during this challenging time.
Published April 24, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized clinicians to prescribe chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for hospitalized patients with COVID-19, despite warnings from scientific advisers that no randomized controlled trial has been conducted to support the drugs’ safety and efficacy in this population. Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein takes us through the FDA’s decision process, the parameters of the issuance, and comments made by the experts on this emergency ruling.
Published April 24, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Critical medicine shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for drugs required to support patients on mechanical ventilation, is the focus of this episode of The Drug Report. Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein describes the urgent appeals made by major healthcare organizations, related reports highlighting the serious impact of these shortages on fill rates for critical medicines, and progress being made at the federal level to remedy the situation.
Published April 21, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Tune in as pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein looks at a few of the novel approaches researchers all over the world are taking to conquer the novel coronavirus in addition to evaluating what these approaches may mean for today and potential viral mutations going forward.
Published April 21, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Join pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein as she outlines the United States Health and Human Services’ authorization of licensed pharmacists to order and administer FDA-approved COVID-19 tests as well as the priority patient testing categories as set forth by the U.S. Public Health Service.
Published April 21, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The Centers for Disease Control provided a guidance for pharmacy staff to minimize their risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus and reduce customer risk during the pandemic. Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein presents highlights of the guidance that offers recommendations on ways to minimize viral exposure when medication dispensing along with methods to minimize patient-to-patient contact.
Published on April 17, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) recently published recommendations for prescribers, pharmacists and patients when considering the proper use of experimental treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inappropriate prescribing of experimental treatments “just in case” or for patients not at high risk of severe illness may lead to insufficient supplies of critical medicines that are needed to treat other patients who depend on these medicines.
Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D., reports on this important guidance designed to limit drug shortages and the worsening of existing shortages that can occur when practitioners and patients stock up and hoard their medication supplies.
Published April X, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein highlights the key points of a New England Journal of Medicine article that given the available evidence, the authors and multiple specialty medical societies believe that—despite theoretical concerns and uncertainty pertaining to the effect of RAAS inhibitors on ACE2 and its potential relationship to COVID-19 severity—RAAS inhibitors should be continued in patients who are otherwise in stable condition who are at risk for or are being evaluated for COVID-19. Abrupt withdrawal of RAAS inhibitors in high-risk patients, including those who have heart failure or have had myocardial infarction, may result in clinical instability and adverse health outcomes.
Published April 17, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a guidance on its temporary policy for certain risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic that include laboratory monitoring and imaging studies. Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein discusses the guidance and its impact on patient access to certain REMS drugs when patients self-isolate or are subject to quarantine due to COVID-19.
Published April 17, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners recently announced it was launching an international clinical trial with the goal of generating significant worldwide data from thousands of patients to find the most effective treatments for COVID-19. Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein brings you an update on the WHO SOLIDARITY trial, which will offer clinicians simplified procedures to enable even overloaded hospitals to participate.
Published April 17, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
This special episode of The Drug Report provides an update regarding the antiviral Remdesivir, which is the first investigational therapeutic to be studied under an FDA-approved NIH adaptive randomized controlled clinical trial for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Currently, there are three options through clinical trials for obtaining remdesivir for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and pneumonia in the United States, as pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein explains.
Published April 10, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
There are currently four gene therapy products approved by the FDA, and with the FDA anticipating that there will be many more approvals in the future, how can they continue advancing the field of gene therapy all while ensuring that these innovative products meet their strict standards for safety and effectiveness? Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein breaks down their six new guidance documents.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
On this episode of The Drug Report, pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein focuses on a recent CVS Health announcement of their new plan that allows employers and health plan sponsors to work within a formulary and plan design to offer all types of diabetes medications—including insulin—at zero-dollar out of pocket for their members without raising costs for the plan sponsor or increasing premiums or deductibles for all plan members.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on concerns that the lack of new antibiotics threatens global efforts to contain drug-resistant infections. Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein highlights WHO’s efforts on a variety of fronts to counter the threat of antimicrobial resistance by improving infection prevention and control and promoting the appropriate use of existing and future antibiotics.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Between 2015 and 2016, an estimated annual average of 65.9 million office-based physician visits involved the prescribing of a benzodiazepine. Among those visits, about one-third involved an overlapping opioid prescription.
These are just some of the findings from the 2014 to 2016 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, which pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein reviews.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Take a deep dive into the findings of the 2018 survey of drug information centers with pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein, who reviews what the survey found on center characteristics, drug information activities, services and requests and networking activities.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Although there are currently no antiviral medicines or vaccines licensed by the FDA for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, some progress has been made as the first investigational therapeutic is to be studied under an FDA-approved NIH adaptive randomized controlled clinical trial for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein reports on this and other investigational therapies.
Published March 27, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Allergic reactions to peanut are unpredictable in occurrence and in how they present, with some individuals experiencing severe reactions from even trace amounts. Fortunately, there’s now an FDA-approved treatment option available that—when used in conjunction with peanut avoidance—can help reduce the risk of these allergic reactions in children with peanut allergy, as pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein explains.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
In part one of this two-part program, pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein unveils four of the top 10 med errors and hazards as identified by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. What errors and hazards were at the top of the list?
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
In this episode of The Drug Report, pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein highlights some diabetes medications that have achieved or are pending approval for new indications pertaining to cardiovascular disease risk reduction.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Join pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein as she reviews the Drug Enforcement Administration’s recent proposals to improve the organization’s ability to oversee the production of opioids and further limit excess quantities of the medications that might be vulnerable to diversion for illicit distribution and use.
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
As the number of novel coronavirus cases continue to rise on a national and global scale, how is the FDA responding? Pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein provides an overview of the FDA’s action plan with the overall goal of collaborating with interagency and international partners, product developers, and global regulators to speed up the development and availability of medical products needed to diagnose, treat, mitigate, and prevent such outbreaks.
Published March 27, 2020
Host: Linda Bernstein, Pharm.D.
Join pharmacist Dr. Linda Bernstein as she unveils the rest of the items on the Institute for Safe Medication Practices’ “Top 10 List of Med Errors and Hazards.”