This Week in Pharmacy

October 23, 2026
Sponsored by Independent Pharmacy Cooperative and YARAL Pharma

This week on TWIRx: peptide compounding policy, a new hepatitis B treatment, specialty pharmacy growth, a rare-disease breakthrough, and pharmacy workforce pressure — followed by three conversations focused on the future of independent pharmacy.

The FDA has submitted an Interim Access Policy for Compounding Using Certain Peptides for White House review. No final policy has been announced.

Why it matters: A temporary pathway could move some patients away from gray-market peptide sellers and toward li...

Cell and gene therapy has entered a new phase. The science is advancing rapidly, but the harder question is increasingly becoming: How do we actually get these therapies to the right patient, at the right treatment center, with the financing, logistics, clinical support, and follow-up required?

That is the problem McKesson is trying to address through InspiroGene, its dedicated cell-and-gene commercialization business. McKesson built InspiroGene to connect manufacturers, payers, providers, treatment centers and patients across the CGT journey. McKesson

A major area of foc...

This week on TWIRx, we head into NCPA 2026 with independent community pharmacy front and center — from artificial intelligence and consolidation to supply-chain economics and policy reform.

We start with the TWIRx Rumor Mill — Behind the Counter Intelligence, looking at three developing stories worth watching.

1. Another massive pharmacy transaction may be coming.

The owner of Walgreens Boots Alliance is reportedly nearing a deal to sell UK pharmacy giant Boots to the Weston family in a transaction valued at roughly $9 billion, including debt. The Weston i...

In this special episode of This Week in Pharmacy, Todd Eury welcomes Vox, the PPN and RxPR Intelligence Officer, for a timely conversation about the forces reshaping pharmacy.

Together, they examine the reimbursement pressures threatening independent pharmacies, the progress—and unfinished work—of PBM reform, and how artificial intelligence can augment pharmacists, strengthen operations, and create more time for meaningful patient care.

The discussion also looks ahead to NCPA 2026 in Kansas City, emerging innovations from Hendren AI and FDB, YARAL Pharma’s support of community pharmacy, and the upcoming Veterans Pharmacy Care Summit.

The me...

In this IPC-sponsored episode, Todd Eury explores how manufacturer-direct programs, direct-to-consumer channels, cash-pay models, specialty carve-outs, and new reimbursement structures are reshaping medication access and independent pharmacy.

Joining the conversation are Shelley Bailey of Independent Pharmacy Cooperative and Sammy Salem, Principal Owner and COO of Vios Health and an Executive Board Member of the AAPARx.

Manufacturer-direct care is often associated with websites, telehealth, and mail-order fulfillment—but it does not have to exclude community pharmacy. IPC is developing infrastructure that allows patients to receive manufacturer-supported pricing while participating independent pharmacies remain the...

This week on TWIRx, we’re looking at the expanding role of pharmacists in public health, value-based care, artificial intelligence, medication intelligence, and the technology infrastructure supporting independent community pharmacy.

We begin with a special conversation featuring Alex J. Adams, PharmD, MPH, Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and Pennsylvania pharmacy leader Robert “Rob” Maher, PharmD, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network (PPCN).

Dr. Adams brings a pharmacist’s perspective to federal health and human services leadership, while Maher leads a statewide clinically i...

Specialty Pharmacy Access, Innovation & Independent Pharmacy Growth

This Week in Pharmacy, we explore specialty pharmacy, pharmacy innovation, emerging career opportunities, and new business models for independent community pharmacy.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Clearway Health, Value Drug Company, and FDB (First Databank, Inc.)

First, Allison Arant of Clearway Health joins us to discuss the next phase of specialty pharmacy within hospitals and health systems.

As rare disease and specialty therapies become more complex, health systems are looking for better ways to improve medication access, streng...

TWIRx NEWS 1. Medicare Part D Paid Nearly $588 Million for Ineligible OTC Drugs

A federal audit found that Medicare Part D sponsors made approximately $587.7 million in ineligible payments from 2021 through 2023 for medications that had effectively transitioned from prescription to over-the-counter status.

The HHS Office of Inspector General cited outdated FDA information and the lack of a clear CMS rejection timeline as major contributors.

Why it matters: This exposes a serious coordination problem across FDA data, manufacturers, CMS, health plans and pharmacy claims systems.

Pharmacists may see the rej...

Today’s episode of This Week in Pharmacy — #TWIRx is sponsored by Value Drug Company and explores two major forces reshaping pharmacy: the evolution of the community pharmacy business model and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in medication optimization and value-based care.
 
PART ONE: The Impact of the Cash-based Community Pharmacy
 
Special Guest: Rick Seipp, PharmD President, Value Drug Company

Community pharmacy is entering a new era.
 
In Part One, Todd Eury sits down with Rick Seipp, PharmD, President of Value Drug Company, to discuss the continued evolution and expansion of indep...

Pharmacists and Advocacy for Patients in Pain 

Friday, August 21, 2026

What happens when patients living with chronic pain, their advocates, and the pharmacists responsible for dispensing opioid medications view the same healthcare system from very different perspectives?

This special episode of This Week in Pharmacy brings together the Doctor Patient Forum’s founders, Claudia A. Merandi and Bev C. Schechtman, with pharmacist and nationally recognized pharmacy advocate Dr. Shane Jerominski, PharmD—better known as “The Accidental Pharmacist.”

The discussion follows a wave of social-media debate surrounding Claudia’s use of the term “Harmacists,” which prompted response...

Independent pharmacies need partners they can trust—and patients need a prescription-drug system that puts access ahead of profits.

In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, Todd Eury welcomes Rick Seipp, PharmD, President of Value Drug Company, to discuss the importance of choosing a dependable wholesale distribution partner. Following Smith Drug Company’s announced operational transition, Value Drug Company is prepared to help affected independent pharmacy owners evaluate their purchasing, distribution and operational needs while developing an orderly transition that protects continuity of service.

For more than 90 years, pharmacist-led Value Drug Company has supported commu...

In the first episode of this three-part CurifyLabs Podcast Series, we provide a broad overview of the CurifyLabs platform and its role in modernizing personalized medicine and pharmaceutical compounding. The discussion explores how the platform combines digital workflows, automated production technology, and standardized processes to help pharmacies and healthcare organizations improve efficiency, consistency, quality, and scalability.

Listeners will learn how CurifyLabs supports the preparation of customized medications while helping pharmacy teams reduce manual complexity, strengthen documentation, and expand access to patient-specific therapies. This opening episode establishes the foundation for the series and examines how technology c...

This Week in Pharmacy — August 7, 2026 The Hidden Cost of Managing Pain Without a Pain Pharmacist

What happens when patients living with chronic pain do not have a pain pharmacist on their healthcare team?

In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we explore the hidden clinical, emotional, and financial costs of managing pain without a pharmacist trained in pain management. These pharmacists do far more than review medications—they serve as accessible patient advocates, medication experts, care coordinators, and trusted partners for people navigating the complexities of chronic pain.

The Independent Pharmacy Cooperative is partnering with Fullscript to help independent pharmacies expand their wellness offerings without adding inventory, storage costs, or fulfillment responsibilities.

Through the partnership, IPC members receive free access to Fullscript’s digital platform, featuring more than 375 trusted supplement brands. Pharmacies can recommend personalized wellness protocols, earn approximately 35% margins on online sales, and benefit from direct-to-patient shipping, automated refill reminders, and optional auto-ship services.

Fullscript manages product inventory, payment processing, and delivery, giving independent pharmacies a practical way to generate recurring revenue while supporting patient adherence and long-term well...

Independent pharmacies are facing growing reimbursement uncertainty, especially when dispensing high-cost brand medications such as GLP-1 therapies. In this exclusive Pharmacy Podcast Network special feature, we examine how GoodRx Community Link provides independent pharmacies with predictable pricing and favorable economics across both brand and generic medications, ultimately helping pharmacies remain solvent while providing consumers affordable prescription prices.

Todd Eury is joined by David Graziano, Head of Retail Network at GoodRx, and Tom DePietro, independent pharmacy owner at DePietro’s Pharmacy, for a practical discussion about the pressures affecting independent pharmacy and the need for reimbursement mod...

Specialty pharmacy is becoming one of the most important access points in modern healthcare, particularly for patients managing complex, chronic, rare, and high-cost conditions. As therapies advance and patient needs become more sophisticated, health systems are rethinking how specialty pharmacy can improve medication access, continuity of care, clinical outcomes, affordability, and the overall patient experience.

In this special episode of This Week in Pharmacy, the Pharmacy Podcast Network introduces Specialty Care Close to Home, a new series examining how hospitals and health systems are designing, building, supporting, and scaling specialty pharmacy services across health-system and com...

AI in Pharmacy Standards and Drug Supply Chain Upgrades
This Week in Pharmacy — July 17, 2026

Artificial intelligence and supply chain modernization are reshaping pharmacy practice, patient access, and healthcare operations.

In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, host Todd Eury speaks with leaders from URAC and Cencora about responsible AI adoption and the growing gap between drug availability and real-world access.

Guests

Shawn Griffin, MD
President and CEO, URAC

Brent Wilhelm
Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain Ce...

Integrative Care Impact and the Expanding Role of the Pharmacist | TWIRx

Today’s episode of This Week in Pharmacy explores two major opportunities shaping the future of the profession: the growth of holistic and integrative pharmacy services inside community pharmacies, and the expanding demand for pharmacists across the business, insurance, and PBM sectors.

In our first segment, Todd Eury welcomes special guests Robert Kress, RPh, and Dr. Bianca Bradshaw, PharmD, owner of Elmore Pharmacy in Red Bluff, California. Together, they discuss the tremendous opportunity for independent pharmacies to build holistic and integrative health departments that re...

Today e celebrate 250 Years of Freedom during this 4th of July special with Scotty Sykes with Sykes & Company Pharmacy Accounting Experts. Next, a special interview with Virginia Halsey SVP of Strategy and Product Management and Brad Engels Product Manager at First Databank (FDB). 

Today's TWIRx is sponsored by Sykes & Company 

250 Years of Freedom - 4th of July Special | TWIRx 

THIS WEEK IN PHARMACY
PBM Truth, Cash-Based Pharmacy, and Psychedelics in Medicine

Presented by SuiteRx Pharmacy Software Technologies
Learn more at SuiteRx.com

Episode Overview

On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, Todd Eury brings together two timely conversations focused on pharmacy transformation, advocacy, clinical education, and the future role of pharmacists in healthcare.

First, Todd welcomes Brad Hart, owner of Forest Park Pharmacy, a cash-based independent pharmacy model challenging the traditional reimbursement structure many pharmacies operate under. Brad has become a powerful advocate for pharmacy transparency, using...

On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we bring together three powerful voices shaping the future of pharmacy, independent practice, functional medicine, and healthcare transformation.

First, we welcome Kris Rhea, MBA, Contributing Editor with Dispense Times, a digital publication dedicated to supporting independent community pharmacy owners across the United States. Kris brings a business-focused perspective on pharmacy operations, growth strategy, workflow efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and market positioning. His work with Dispense Times helps independent pharmacists navigate today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape, including PBM pressures, evolving patient expectations, regulatory challenges, and the need for sustai...

On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we examine three major forces shaping healthcare today: the global impact of conflict on health security, the continued evolution of personalized specialty pharmacy care, and the over-the-counter products patients rely on most.

We open the show with Aman Gupta, Managing Partner, Asia-Pacific at SPAG FINN Partners, and contributor author at MedikaLife. Aman joins TWIRx to discuss his latest MedikaLife article, which argues that global conflict is quietly undermining health security by redirecting funding, attention, and infrastructure away from healthcare and toward defense priorities.

As mil...

On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we examine two major forces reshaping the profession: the unfinished business of pharmacist provider status and the legal landscape around direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical distribution. In part one, Erik Abel, PharmD, MBA, discusses his May 2026 analysis, “So Pharmacists Want to Be a Provider: Where the Profession Lost Its Way and Perhaps a Path to Get Back.” Abel argues that pharmacy’s provider-status challenge is not a lack of clinical evidence, but a lack of operational infrastructure: credentialing, payer contracting, revenue cycle management, interoperability, and scalable business models. In part two, Darshan Kulkarni, PharmD, Esq...

This week, This Week in Pharmacy examines several stories shaping the business, clinical, and legal future of pharmacy practice.
In TWIRx News from Pharmacy Times from Megan Maroney, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP, focused on antidepressant use, withdrawal concerns, deprescribing, and shared decision-making. The key takeaway: patients should never stop antidepressants abruptly. Pharmacists can play a vital role in reducing stigma, educating patients, and supporting safe conversations about tapering, side effects, and long-term treatment.
In health technology news, FDB research presented at the 2026 AMIA Amplify Informatics Conference found that patient-specific, risk-based medication guidance reduced pharmacy alert volume by 70% in a hi...

Sponsored by Rx4Route

This Week in Pharmacy returns with a timely two-part episode focused on pharmacy operations, medication access, and the growing responsibility of healthcare communicators in the age of AI.

In our first segment, we welcome Joseph Dymowski, PharmD, CEO of Centennial Pharmacy Services, and Doniyor Sattarov, Vice President of Operations at Rx4Route, for a conversation about expanding long-term care pharmacy at home. As more patients age in place, pharmacies must rethink delivery, logistics, documentation, and patient communication as essential parts of care.

Delivery is no longer just a convenience...

Congratulations to Logan Eury and his new wife Emily, got married today, May 1, 2026! 

This C.O. Bigelow Collab Introduces the 188-Year-Old Pharmacy to a New Generation Abbode is taking over the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy-approved shop for a month-long pop-up.
https://fashionista.com/2026/05/co-bigelow-abbode-pop-up-carolyn-bessette-impact 

The article highlights how a pop-up and renewed interest in C.O. Bigelow has been fueled by the cultural resurgence of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s minimalist style, amplified by media and social buzz. This renewed attention has driven significant foot traffic and sales, showing how storytelling, nostalgia, and “quiet luxury” aesthetics can translate into real ret...

Guests:

Gil Bashe
Chair Global Health and Purpose at FINN Partners

Maya Hajizada
Chief Revenue Officer at Rx2Go

C. Daniel Mullins
Professor at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Mina G Yacoub PharmD BCPS
Founder & CEO at Qik Productions

TWIRx News:
The FDA plans to remove 12 peptide bulk drug substances from Category 2 of the Section 503A compounding list after their nominations were withdrawn. For compounders, the key issue is that this change does not automatically make compounding these substances permissible, leaving pharmacies exposed to ongoing regulatory uncertainty until the FDA makes further decisions.

A nationwide Class II recall has been issued for Xanax XR 3 mg tablets in 60-count bottles, lot 8177156, after the product failed dissolution testing. Pharmacists should immediately locate and quarantine affected stock while reminding patients not to stop benzodiazepine therapy suddenly without direction...

This Week in Pharmacy 04-10-2026
Sponsored by Outcomes and Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC)

On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we dig into another high-impact week across the profession with TWIRx news, practice transformation, oncology leadership, pediatric research innovation, and a look ahead to one of specialty pharmacy’s biggest gatherings of the year.

This week’s episode is powered by our sponsors, Outcomes and Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), organizations continuing to support independent pharmacy innovation, patient engagement, and pharmacy performance.

In the TWIRx News segment, we cover four important stor...

TWIRx – April 3, 2026
Co-Host: Jesse McCullough

On today’s episode of This Week in Pharmacy – TWIRx, we welcome special co-host Jesse McCullough for a timely discussion focused on pharmacy innovation, compliance, advocacy, and the future of the profession.

We begin with our featured sponsor segment presented by MatchRx, spotlighting two important voices in pharmacy technology and compliance. Johny Kello, CEO of MatchRx, joins the show alongside Riya Cao, CEO of LSPedia, for an important conversation centered on DSCSA readiness and the evolving world of pharmacy compliance. This discussion explores how pharmacies and supply chain stakeholders can be...

This episode is dedicated to the late Dr. Eric Geyer PharmD. 

Feautured guest Chuck Melendi Disruptive Dialogue

Special report from Bruce Kneeland

Sponsored by TJM Labs and interview with Jonathan Adly

This episode is sponsored by YARAL Pharma 

On this week’s This Week in Pharmacy (TWIRx), we explore how innovation, technology, and emerging therapies are reshaping pharmacy practice. From the growing influence of AI in medical information research, to the next generation of pharmacy management systems, and the expanding role of cell and gene therapies, this episode brings together industry leaders to discuss what’s next for pharmacy.

Special thanks to this week’s sponsors Cardinal Health, Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), and Nested Knowledge for supporting the podcast.

Segment 1 – AI & the Future of Medical Information with Nested Knowledge Nested Knowledge returns to TWIRx as we welcome...

Welcome to another episode of TWIRx – This Week in Pharmacy, where we break down the most important developments impacting the pharmacy profession. This week’s show features leaders from across community pharmacy, health systems, healthcare advocacy, and international patient engagement. From PBM reform to patient-centered care and health system growth in Western Pennsylvania, this episode brings together voices shaping the future of pharmacy.


Sponsored by Sykes & Company, P.A.
Accounting, tax strategy, and advisory services dedicated exclusively to independent pharmacy operators.

Segment 1 Austin Murray Communications and Marketing Director – Sykes & Company, P.A.
We kick of...

On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we spotlight two major conversations shaping the future of pharmacy practice in 2026.

First, we welcome Dr. Lisa Faast, PharmD, founder of DiversifyRx, to discuss the Pharmacy Profit Summit 2026 and how independent pharmacies can strengthen margins, diversify revenue streams, and build sustainable growth models in today’s reimbursement environment.
Then, we turn to Rare Disease Day 2026 with Richard Faris PharmD, Chief Commercial & Clinical Officer at and PANTHERx Rare, to discuss specialty pharmacy leadership, pharmacist impact, and new patient feedback data revealing communication gaps in rare disease care.

Segment 1: Ph...

LTC Rx at Home: Logistics & Advocacy | TWIRx
Rx4Route is a specialized pharmacy delivery management platform and software designed to optimize prescription delivery for pharmacies. It integrates with existing systems to provide real-time tracking, AI-powered route optimization, HIPAA-compliant proof of delivery, and driver management tools. It aims to reduce delivery costs and improve efficiency.

Doni Sattarov with Rx4Route
Rx4Route.com

Kristen Hutchison - Health Policy and Patient Advocacy
As a seasoned medical technical writer and chronic illness patient advocate, I meticulously translate intricate medical information into succinct content tailo...

TWIRx – This Week in Pharmacy

Episode Date: February 13, 2026
Valentine’s Day Special 💘

This week on TWIRx, hosts Stephen Beckman, PharmD and Todd Eury break down the biggest headlines shaping pharmacy, from workforce trends to policy updates and innovation.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we welcome Drs. Mark and Gretchen Garofoli, PharmD, a pharmacy power couple who met at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and have built a life and career TogetheRx.

Their journey includes raising a family, leading in pharmacy advocacy, podcasting, acad...

 Independent pharmacies are dispensing more prescriptions than ever—but too many are seeing their profits shrink month after month. In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, hosts Todd Eury and CEO of MatchRx Johny Kello sit down with Saeed Dinno Director of Pharmacy for a group of independent pharmacies in MI. For a practical, plain-English breakdown of one of the most overlooked metrics impacting pharmacy profitability: GCR, let's dive into this!

This episode isn’t about policy debates, compliance theory, or vendor hype. It’s a real-world conversation designed to help pharmacy owners, managers, and buyers understand how every...

TWIRx – January 30 | Special Guest: Marc Essensa, CEO of IPC On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we welcome Marc Essensa, President and CEO of the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), to discuss timely strategies and resources helping independent pharmacies strengthen their businesses in today’s challenging environment.
Building Your Independent Pharmacy Business Marc shares insights on navigating reimbursement pressure, improving margins, and leveraging IPC’s purchasing power, data, and strategic tools to support long-term sustainability.
The Payment Card Settlement: A Practical Guide We break down IPC’s guidance on the Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement, which may allow pharmacies t...

In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we explore how the Pharmacy Podcast Network (PPN) is deepening connections across healthcare by elevating pharmacists’ voices in the conversations that matter most. Inspired by the recent partnership between podcasting giant PodcastOne and the AI-driven analytics platform Listener, we highlight how PPN is using the same type of advanced engagement metrics—combining podcast listener data, social media signals, and network insights—to measure true influence, not just downloads. 

With Listener’s powerful data, PPN can now identify where pharmacists are making the greatest impact and uncover new opportunities to expand pharmacis...

🎙️ This Week in Pharmacy (TWIRx) — January 9, 2026
Welcome to TWIRx — This Week in Pharmacy! I’m your host Todd Eury, and today’s episode is sponsored by YARAL Pharma, a generics company committed to “Doing Things Differently”—with a human-centered, untraditional approach that’s redefining relationships between industry and pharmacy practice. 
✅ Today’s Sponsor: YARAL Pharma
YARAL Pharma is committed to innovation, partnership, and supporting pharmacists at the front lines—especially as healthcare continues to restructure and the role of the pharmacist becomes more essential than ever. Their mission to Do Things Differently is more than a slogan—it’s a commitment to reshaping what...