Pharma Pulse: FDA Expands Priority Voucher Program, as Oral Semaglutide Shows New Benefits and Cost Plus Drugs Adds Starjemza

Welcome to Pharma Pulse, a Pharmaceutical Commerce podcast where we bring you the latest insights shaping patient access, supply chain/logistics, data & tech, and healthcare innovation. I’m your host, and in today’s episode, we’re covering the FDA’s growing National Priority Voucher initiative, the latest in oral semaglutide research, and Cost Plus Drugs’ addition of Starjemza to its expanding portfolio.

• The FDA is expanding its Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher program, adding six new products to the list. The program now includes 15 therapies that address critical public health and national security concerns, such as obesity, cancer, sickle cell disease, and drug-resistant tuberculosis. The vouchers offer developers faster review timelines—part of the agency’s push to accelerate access to treatments in high-impact areas.
• In clinical news, oral semaglutide continues to show promise beyond weight loss. New data reveal improvements in blood sugar control and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with obesity. The results strengthen the evidence base for GLP-1–based therapies in managing cardiometabolic health, highlighting the growing role of these agents in comprehensive treatment strategies.
• And in pharma business updates, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs has added Starjemza, an antibiotic for certain bacterial infections, to its expanding portfolio. The addition reinforces the company’s commitment to transparent pricing and improving access to branded medications that are often difficult for patients to afford through traditional channels.

That’s it for this episode of Pharma Pulse. For more insights on trends transforming pharmaceutical access and care delivery, visit pharmaceuticalcommerce.com.

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

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