Pharma Pulse 7/22/25: What Clinical Researchers Need to Know About Global Obesity Drug Development; Launching a Drug’s First DTC Campaign on its 10-Year Anniversary

What Clinical Researchers Need to Know About Global Obesity Drug Development

In an interview with Applied Clinical Trials, Shipra Patel, global therapeutic area section head for endocrinology and global head of pediatrics at Parexel, emphasized that standing out in the increasingly crowded field of global obesity drug development requires deep therapeutic expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and the strategic use of real-world evidence to enhance trial design, patient retention, and long-term safety tracking—especially as GLP-1 therapies expand into new indications like Alzheimer’s, MASH, and addiction.

Launching a Drug’s First DTC Campaign on its 10-Year Anniversary: Q&A with Arun Krishna

In an interview with Pharmaceutical Executive, Arun Krishna, vice president and head of AstraZeneca’s lung cancer franchise and US oncology business unit, explained that the company launched its first direct-to-consumer campaign for Tagrisso on the drug’s 10-year anniversary to raise awareness of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer, highlight the importance of biomarker testing, and empower patients—especially newly diagnosed individuals and Asian American communities—to engage in more informed treatment conversations with their care teams.

The Impact of Pharmacist-Managed Insulin Therapy in the Intensive Care Unit

A single-center study found that implementing a pharmacist-managed insulin protocol in collaboration with diabetes coordinators significantly improved rates of blood glucose control and reduced time to target levels among critically ill patients in the MICU, compared to conventional physician-led methods.

Oral Decitabine-Cedazuridine Is a Game Changer for MDS and CMML Treatment

The introduction of oral decitabine-cedazuridine (Inqovi) marks a major advancement in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, offering patients a bioequivalent, more convenient alternative to IV decitabine that maintains efficacy while improving quality of life and enabling care at home.

Q&A: Helping Patients Navigate the First Steps of Insulin Therapy

In an interview with Drug Topics, Susan Cornell, PharmD, emphasized the vital role community pharmacists play in guiding patients through the emotional and practical challenges of starting insulin therapy, from clarifying insulin types and injection techniques to addressing fears and misconceptions—especially by reinforcing that insulin is a safe, effective, and potentially temporary treatment for many with type 2 diabetes.