Pharma Pulse: FDA Expands Secukinumab Approval for Pediatric HS and Pharmacist-Led Testing Bridges Rural Care Gaps

Welcome to Pharma Pulse, a Pharmaceutical Commerce podcast in which we bring you the latest insights shaping patient access and healthcare innovation. I’m your host, and let's get into today's headlines.

• The FDA has expanded the approval of Novartis’s secukinumab, or Cosentyx, to include pediatric patients aged 12 and older with moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). This milestone makes it the only IL-17A inhibitor approved for this population, addressing a critical clinical gap for a condition that often begins in adolescence. Dosing for these younger patients is weight-based to match adult systemic exposure, providing a new path for managing this progressive inflammatory disease.
• Meanwhile, a study published in JAPhA Practice Innovations underscores the effectiveness of pharmacist-led point-of-care testing in filling healthcare gaps in rural Tennessee. Researchers found a 97% patient satisfaction rate for services covering influenza and COVID-19, with participants viewing pharmacists as vital frontline clinicians. However, the report warns that regulatory fragmentation and reimbursement gaps persist, often requiring pharmacies to use hybrid cash models to remain viable.

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