In this week's Pharma Pulse, Vicapsys merges with Stateline, Veritiv targets GLP-1 shipping, Section 232 tariffs widen and HRSA's 340B rebate pilot deadline arrives.
Commentary|Podcasts|January 15, 2026
Pharma Pulse: Navigating the New Era of Healthcare
Author(s)Nicholas Saraceno, Senior Editor
In today’s Pharma Pulse, AbbVie joins TrumpRx, shingles vaccines reveal a longevity boost, and HER2 therapies break new ground in cancer treatment.
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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 let’s get into today’s headlines.
- First, AbbVie is
joining the TrumpRx initiative. The deal is a trade-off: AbbVie joins the direct-to-patient platform in exchange for exemption from pharma import tariffs and any future pricing mandates. The company is also committing a total of $100 billion toward R&D and capital investments in the US over the next decade. - Next,
new research suggests the shingles vaccine is far more powerful than we thought. Beyond preventing a painful rash, data shows vaccination significantly lowers the risk of heart disease, dementia, and overall mortality in older adults. - Lastly,
clinical data confirms that HER2-targeted therapies—trastuzumab and trastuzumab deruxtecan—are potent therapeutic options, with potential to redefine standard care for aggressive HER2-driven gastrointestinal cancers. At the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, new multifaceted analyses were presented on the clinical utility of trastuzumab and trastuzumab deruxtecan across a variety of settings in HER2+ gastric and GEJ cancers.
That’s it for this episode of Pharma Pulse. For more insights on trends transforming pharmaceutical access and care delivery, visit
Thanks for listening—until next time, stay well and stay informed.
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