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Boehringer Ingelheim’s unbranded adalimumab-adbm biosimilar will be available at an 81% discount to adalimumab (Humira).

Adalimumab Biosimilar Now Available at Significant Discount to Humira

Transforming Hospital Pharmacy Inventory Management

Drug shortages continue to create significant financial and operational strain on hospitals, impacting both patient care and workforce efficiency. In a video interview with 

, Boyede Sobitan, global healthcare strategy lead, and Annika Matas, senior director of product management and business operations, supplies and sensors—both with Zebra Technologies—they describe how hospitals are increasingly forced to adapt to these challenges, often in unsustainable ways.

From a patient care perspective, the absence or delay of critical medications forces hospitals into difficult positions. Some have had to borrow drugs from neighboring institutions just to meet immediate needs. This creates not only logistical hurdles but also ethical concerns about equitable access to treatment.

Operational inefficiencies compound the problem. Sobitan noted that hospital staff sometimes misplace or unintentionally withhold highly sought-after drugs, leading to further shortages within the facility. Additionally, issues such as hospital diversions can exacerbate availability challenges, reducing reliability in already stressed systems. These situations underscore the importance of better inventory management and stronger oversight practices.

The impact extends beyond patient-facing concerns. Matas highlighted that nursing staff, whose primary role is to deliver direct patient care, often become entangled in logistical work. Nurses are spending increasing amounts of time tracking down medications, coordinating with pharmacy teams, or delaying procedures until necessary drugs arrive. This redirection of focus not only reduces staff efficiency but also heightens burnout risks in an already overstretched workforce.

Indirect costs quickly add up. Delayed treatments, longer hospital stays, and disruptions in surgical schedules strain financial resources and diminish overall hospital productivity. Ultimately, drug shortages create a ripple effect: patients experience delays in care, frontline staff face increased stress and inefficiencies, and hospital systems bear additional financial burdens.

Addressing these issues requires more robust supply chain solutions, improved communication between pharmacy and clinical teams, and greater systemic efforts to mitigate shortages before they impact patient safety and operational stability.

They also dive into the ways RFID and RTLS technologies can provide real-time visibility into medication inventory for hospital pharmacy teams; factors should hospitals consider when evaluating or implementing these systems to manage their medication inventory; the role these technologies could play in strengthening hospital supply chain resilience against future disruptions; and much more.

In what ways can RFID technology provide real-time visibility into medication inventory for hospital pharmacy teams, while reducing medication loss and associated labor costs during shortages?

 We've seen an emergence and growth in something called RFID cabinets. Those are cabinets that are able to keep track of RFID-tagged supplies inside the cabinets, so now you know what is in your inventory and where it is. Of course, at a supply room level, you're just able to take inventory significantly faster than what you would with normal either pen and paper methods or barcode scans, which are individual item level types of activities, so the cabinets can fully automate that visibility.

Even using a handheld RFID scanner in a supply room, you can very quickly take stock of what you have available and what you do not have available. The example that Boyede shared earlier where hospital staff may request medications for a patient, and then they may request different types of supplies and different types of medications, and only part of it ends up getting used, you can also more easily check things out and check them back in using RFID with simple handheld readers—even at the point of care—that say, this is what I ended up using. Then, the rest of this is due to go back in stock.

There’s a significant time savings when you think about RFID compared to a traditional barcode, the speed at which you can track and identify things, versus scanning boxes, scanning files, one at a time or even worse, if you have to write them up in a database with keystrokes.

In the second part of her Pharma Commerce video interview, Annika Matas, Zebra Technologies’ senior director of product management and business operations, supplies & sensors, shares that from automated RFID cabinets to handheld scanners, hospitals are streamlining inventory tracking, cutting labor costs, and reducing medication loss, especially critical during drug shortages.

How Drug Shortages Could Disrupt Hospital Operations and Strain Patient Care

How are drug shortages affecting hospitals financially and operationally, and what key factors are driving these impacts?

 There are definitely impacted hospitals from an element of patient care,for sure, having patients wait on different drugs, not having drugs available. We are aware of cases where hospitals are borrowing from other hospitals to have drugs to provide for their patients. 

A lot of this can be handled from an operational standpoint. You have practices whereby a pharmacy tech might necessarily take a drug to a nurse, and a nurse might know that drug is highly sought after, and might forget that she stored it somewhere. We have a lot of instances where we have that, as well as just sometimes hospital diversions, if we're just going to be honest.

: think the side effect that's really important beyond the patient itself is also the extra time and effort that it requires the nursing staff. The staff, whose primary job is patient care, is then diverted to spending time on logistics, on locating supplies, delaying procedures because they're still waiting for medications to come in and become available. There's the direct impact, and then there is the indirect impact on the efficiency and the time that the nursing staff has to spend.

In the first part of their Pharma Commerce video interview, Boyede Sobitan and Annika Matas of Zebra Technologies warn that ongoing medication shortages are forcing staff to borrow supplies, delay procedures, and divert nurses from patient care to logistical tasks, creating both financial pressures and operational inefficiencies.

Yesterday, Genentech, a biotech company that is a member of the Roche Group, officially broke ground on its most recent US manufacturing plant—a 700,000 square-foot facility in Holly Springs, NC.

 This $700 million-plus investment represents the company’s first production facility on the East Coast and is part of a $50 billion commitment to investing in US manufacturing, infrastructure, and R&D.

The plant will be handling production of the company’s future portfolio of metabolic meds, featuring obesity treatments. It will be implementing modern biomanufacturing tech, along with advanced automation and digital services. The future facility is also expected to increase production capacity for the company’s manufacturing network, while boosting supply chain resilience.

More than 1,500 construction jobs will be added during the process’ development phase, along with more than 400 local manufacturing jobs once the site becomes operational in 2029.

North Carolina emerges as a biomanufacturing hub

With its skilled workforce, strong academic infrastructure, and proximity to major life science players in the Raleigh-Durham area, Holly Springs was a no-brainer to house the new facility. Most recently, Johnson & Johnson also announced plans to boost its North Carolina presence by constructing a 160,0000-plus-square-foot manufacturing facility at FUJIFILM’s new biopharmaceutical manufacturing site in the same town.

 It intends to invest $2 billion over the next decade.

“We are proud to break ground on our new manufacturing site in Holly Springs, North Carolina, with its world-class biotech talent, top research institutions and a robust infrastructure that will enable our growth for years to come,” said Ashley Magargee, Genentech’s CEO. “With this step, we are taking action to deliver more life-changing medicines to patients faster, contribute to the local economy, and bolster manufacturing and innovation in the US.

“We are supportive of President Trump's goal to bring more pharmaceutical manufacturing to the United States and appreciate the work that Commerce Secretary Lutnick and the Department of Commerce's US Investment Accelerator are doing to remove regulatory barriers that cause delays in establishing manufacturing sites in the US. We also thank the North Carolina, Wake County, and Holly Springs officials for their partnership. Their warm welcome and leadership in the life sciences bodes well for great things to come for our company, your communities, and, ultimately, for patients.”

As Magargee alluded to, President Trump has been a proponent of enacting tariffs on manufacturers in order to encourage reshoring of these processes back to the United States. Various changes along this front have occurred over the course of nearly seven months, beginning in early February, when President Trump announced that the US planned to approve a tariff of 25% or higher on pharmaceuticals. That number then skyrocketed to as high as 250%—a new high—which Trump had revealed in an interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

US–EU trade deal caps pharma tariffs at 15%

Ultimately, at least with the European Union, the US revealed a framework for a deal centered around “reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade” that is expected to get into effect Sept. 1 of this year. It essentially limits tariffs on pharmaceutical imports to 15%.

MFN drug pricing pressures pharma companies

In late July, Trump issued letters to 17 of the largest pharmaceutical companies—including Genentech—expressing urgency for making changes along the drug pricing front.

 These letters stem from an executive order (EO) he enacted on May 1 that essentially proclaimed that pharma companies need to treat the United States as a most-favored nation (MFN) as it pertains to drug pricing. The EO notes that US drug prices need to be less than or equal to the drug’s lowest price in other nations, as a way of establishing fairness.

All of the letters have the same wording and explain what he looks to accomplish from the MFN order, while providing a timeline for compliance leading up to the Sept. 29 deadline. This includes extending MFN pricing to Medicaid; guaranteeing MFN pricing for newly-launched drugs; returning increased revenues abroad to American patients and taxpayers; and providing for direct purchasing at MFN pricing.

The involved companies are recommended to engage with both Sec. Kennedy and Administrator Oz in order to make those changes.

1. Genentech and Roche Break Ground on State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina. Genentech. August 25, 2025. Accessed August 26, 2025. 

https://www.gene.com/media/press-releases/15074/2025-08-25/genentech-and-roche-break-ground-on-stat

2. Saraceno N. Johnson & Johnson Commits $2 Billion to North Carolina Manufacturing Expansion. 

. August 21, 2025. Accessed August 26, 2025. 

https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/johnson-johnson-commits-2-billion-north-carolina-manufacturing-expansion

3. Saraceno N. White House and EU Finalize Trade Deal With 15% Cap on Pharma Tariffs. 

https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/white-house-eu-trade-deal-15-percent-cap-pharma-tariffs

4. Saraceno N. Trump’s MFN Drug Pricing Push Targets 17 Big Pharma Companies, Spurs Global Industry Response. 

. August 1, 2025. Accessed August 26, 2025. 

https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/trump--mfn-drug-pricing-17-big-pharma-companies-spurs-global-industry-response

Genentech, part of the Roche Group, is investing over $700 million in a new 700,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, NC, as part of a $50 billion US investment strategy. This facility will focus on producing metabolic medications, including obesity treatments, using advanced biomanufacturing technologies. The project will create over 1,500 construction jobs and 400 manufacturing jobs by 2029. The initiative aligns with US efforts to bolster domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, supported by recent trade agreements and drug pricing reforms under President Trump's administration.

The new 700,000-square-foot Holly Springs site—part of Roche’s $50 billion US investment plan—will focus on metabolic and obesity treatments, create 400 jobs, and strengthen domestic biopharma manufacturing amid shifting tariff and drug pricing policies.

Genentech Breaks Ground on $700M North Carolina Manufacturing Facility

The management of lung cancer brain metastases has seen significant advancements, with a focus on personalized treatment strategies. The integration of targeted therapies and immunotherapies has improved patient outcomes, offering more effective and less invasive options compared to traditional methods. Stereotactic radiosurgery and whole-brain radiation therapy remain crucial, but their roles are evolving with the advent of novel systemic treatments. Multidisciplinary approaches are essential for optimizing care, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among oncologists, neurosurgeons, and radiation specialists to tailor interventions based on individual patient profiles and tumor characteristics.

Case study on how a neuro biologic brand leveraged SamaCare’s insights and interventions platform to decrease patient access friction and improve patient starts. 

How One Neuro Brand Cut Through Prior Auth Barriers

 podcast where we bring you the latest insights shaping patient access, supply chain/logistics, data & tech, and healthcare innovation. I’m your host, and today we’re covering a major legal ruling against CVS Caremark, new concerns about HIPAA compliance among small practices, and the role of pharmacists in adverse drug reaction reporting.

 CVS Caremark to pay $290 million in a False Claims Act case tied to Medicare Part D. The whistleblower lawsuit alleged that the company improperly reported drug pricing data, inflating costs to federal programs. The ruling highlights ongoing scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers and their role in drug pricing transparency, an issue that continues to attract bipartisan attention from lawmakers and regulators.

 finds that while most small medical practices believe they are compliant with HIPAA requirements, the majority actually fall short. The analysis points to gaps in risk assessments, employee training, and safeguards for electronic health records. These shortcomings leave practices vulnerable not only to regulatory penalties but also to data breaches that could compromise patient privacy. Experts stress the need for better education, resources, and auditing to ensure compliance in smaller healthcare settings.

 has found that many pharmacists lack both knowledge and motivation when it comes to reporting adverse drug reactions. Although pharmacists are often the first to identify potential safety issues, barriers like limited training, lack of time, and unclear reporting systems contribute to underreporting. Strengthening education and streamlining reporting tools could help improve pharmacovigilance and patient safety.

From drug pricing accountability to compliance gaps and safety reporting, these stories reflect the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of pharma, healthcare, and regulation.

. For more insights on trends transforming pharmaceutical access and care delivery, visit 

Thanks for listening—until next time, stay well and stay informed.

This episode of Pharma Pulse covers a $290 million False Claims Act ruling against CVS Caremark, a new report showing most small medical practices fall short on HIPAA compliance, and research revealing why pharmacists underreport adverse drug reactions.

Pharma Pulse: CVS Caremark Faces $290M Penalty, Small Practices Miss HIPAA Standards, and Pharmacists Underreport Adverse Drug Reactions

DSCSA stands for the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, and is 

 by the FDA. It was originally signed into law as part of the 

 in November of 2013 as a way to help bolster security and traceability of products passing through the pharma supply chain. 

 for pharmaceutical drug tracing, giving manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers steps to establish an interoperable electronic system to identify and trace prescription drugs at the package level to prevent harmful drugs from entering the US drug supply and protect healthcare providers and patients from counterfeit, unapproved, or potentially dangerous products.

 is where each drug package is assigned a unique identifier-combined that enables end-to-end visibility from the manufacturer to the end consumer.

What standards are used for electronic exchange?

 (electronic product code information services) are considered the go-to. Global location numbers—GLNs—are used to track product location.

Who are considered authorized trading partners?

“To be considered an authorized trading partner, a manufacturer or repackager must have a valid registration in accordance with section 510 of the FD&C Act and accept or transfer direct ownership of a product from or to a manufacturer, repackager, wholesale distributor, or dispenser. To be considered an authorized trading partner, a wholesale distributor must have a valid license under State law or section 583 of the FD&C Act, in accordance with section 121 582(a)(6) of the FD&C Act , comply with the licensure reporting requirements in section 122 503(e) of the FD&C Act, as amended by DSCSA, and accept or transfer direct ownership 123 of a product from or to a manufacturer, repackager, wholesale distributor, or dispenser.

“Similarly, to be considered an authorized trading partner, a 3PL must have a valid license under State law or section 584(a)(1) of the FD&C Act, in accordance with section 582(a)(7) of the FD&C Act, comply with the licensure reporting requirements under section 584(b) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 360eee-3), and accept or transfer direct possession of a product from or to a manufacturer, repackager, wholesale distributor, or dispenser. A dispenser must have a valid license under State law and accept or transfer direct ownership of a product from or to a manufacturer, repackager, wholesale distributor, or dispenser.”

Most recently, On Oct. 9, 2024—49 days before the end of the one-year stabilization period under the DSCSA—the FDA 

for eligible trading partners that will continue to delay enforcement regarding compliance with the law’s final enhanced drug distribution security requirements.

The exemption duration varies by partner type:

Manufacturers and Repackagers: Until May 27, 2025

Wholesale Distributors: Until Aug. 27, 2025

Dispensers with 26 or more full-time employees: Until Nov. 27, 2025 (this excludes small dispensers, which are exempt until Nov. 27, 2026)

What is the industry’s overall readiness for the DSCSA to take full effect?

 from around the sector is that data is being exchange at a much higher rate. Most of the distributors and manufacturers are saying that they’re we’re fully connected with most, if not all their customers and that data is actually moving.

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), enforced by the FDA, was established to enhance the security and traceability of pharmaceutical products. It mandates an interoperable electronic system for tracking prescription drugs to prevent counterfeit or dangerous products from entering the U.S. supply chain. Serialization assigns unique identifiers to drug packages, ensuring visibility from manufacturer to consumer. GS1 standards, like EPCIS, facilitate electronic exchanges. Authorized trading partners must comply with specific licensing and registration requirements. Enforcement of DSCSA has faced delays, with varying exemption durations for different partner types.

Addressing the most common concerns surrounding the legislation intended to establish interoperability within the pharma supply chain. 

Killian Meara

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