Buzz Newsletter 03/12/26

Welcome to the March 12 edition of the GPhA Buzz Newsletter.

 

This weekly round up of pharmacy news and information is a member benefit, and if you are having difficulty receiving all GPhA emails, please whitelist our domain as well as glueup.com. You can find instructions for that on our website here.

Has everyone recovered from the impact of daylight saving time this past weekend? Even our dog looked at us funny when we woke up in the dark Monday morning. It's a rough transition. 

 

And it turns out, it could be bad for your health. 

 

Sleep trouble can persist for weeks after the time change, and there is usually an increase in heart attacks after the time change as well as fatal car crashes. While some people love the extended daylight after work hours, experts say the best thing for our health is to observe standard time year round, and do away with the "spring forward, fall back" system altogether. 

Sotyktu got FDA approval last week for use in patients with psoriatic arthritis, making it the first TYK2 inhibitor approved for PsA. Already approved for treating plaque psoriasis, this expanded approval puts the medication to more patients, as it's an oral immunosuppressant, not injectable.  

 

In some maybe questionable news, the FDA is considering allowing additional "adult" flavors of vape pens, including mint, coffee, tea, and spices. Since the ban on fruity e-cigarettes was fairly unsuccessful, the New York Times article supposes the thinking behind the move is that young people won't like the more adult flavors like coffee and chai. However, they've clearly never been in a Starbucks near a school after 3pm. Kids like coffee now. 

 

It pays to be a pharmaceutical company CEO. 

 

It really, really pays. 

 

As end-of-year financial reports come out for major pharma companies, their CEO salaries are becoming public. GSK's Emma Walmsley, who left the company in 2025, earned around $21 million in compensation, a 50% increase over prior years. 

 

Lilly CEO David Ricks has a reported 2025 total compensation of $36.7 million in salary and bonuses, as the company has seen a 207% revenue growth since 2017. Other CEO salaries in 2025 include: 

 

Not sure about you, but we are rethinking our journalism degree right now. 

After so many rounds of lawsuits against online, telehealth GLP-1 providers, it looks like Novo Nordisk has thrown in the towel and agreed to work directly with online provider Hims & Hers. As part of the deal, Hims will offer both oral and injectable forms of branded semaglutide -- Wegovy and Ozempic both -- online and stop advertising compounded medication. 

 

Shares of Hims & Hers soared upwards of 40% in Monday morning trading. 

 

On Tuesday of this week, the FDA sent Novo Nordisk a warning letter about failing to report Ozempic side effects within the proper timeframe, to which Novo has responded that action is being taken and the FDA has been informed of all progress. 

A new study is showing that taking a daily multivitamin can slow the aging process. The effects were most present in epigenetic clocks (molecular tools that measure biological age, we had to look it up) PCPhenoAge and PCGrimAge, both of which estimate mortality risk. Regular multivitamin use might also increase cognitive skills as well. 

 

But while you're taking your vitamins, make sure you offload the difficult people in your life, as a new study shows spending time with challenging people can make you age faster. The study looked at "hasslers" -- people who create problems or make life more difficult -- and their impact on themselves and others. In addition to them being a real bummer, they might also be shaving years off your own life. 

Menthol and mint have decidedly cooling effects on us, but why? Scientists have discovered that the protein channel called TRPM8 acts as an internal thermometer and lets your brain know "Hey, we're cold." When temperatures drop, TRPM8 opens up. Menthol and mint can trick that channel into opening up, even when the environment around you is still warm. 

 

Just a fun nerdy fact to drop at your next gathering. 

 

The ancient Chincha Kingdom was one of the most prosperous societies in the time before the rise of the Incans, and they couldn't have done it without sea bird guano. New archeological research shows that by using the guano for fertilizer, the Chinchas boosted their production of maize and enabled them to become wealthy through trade. The valley in which they thrived was dry, and the guano fertilizer allowed them to grow crops at a rate previously unheard of in the region. 

The 2026 Georgia Pharmacy Convention brings together hardworking pharmacists, pharmacy owners, technicians, and decision makers looking to expand their knowledge and improve their practice of pharmacy. 

 

Join 300+ of your colleagues and friends for a week full of insightful CE courses, lunches, and networking on beautiful Amelia Island. Early bird registration ends March 31, so make sure to get your GPhA Member Exclusive discount on registration today! 

There's a lot going on at GPhA! Here's a look at what's happening at the Association. 

 

Did you know you can access archived Buzz Newsletters on our website? You can find them here. The weekly Legislative Update is also archived online, and you can find it here. If you are not receiving both email newsletters, please let us know. You may have to "whitelist" our domain on your email server. 

 

Register today for a two-part business goal planning series led by GPhA Board member Mollie Durham and sponsored by the Academy of Employee Pharmacists. Part I on March 31 teaches attendees the art of the SWOT analysis, and Part II on April 19 teaches SMART goal setting. Take your career to the next level with these informative programs. 

 

 

Our new member referral program is up and running. See more details here, and make sure you invite your non-member colleagues to join GPhA in 2026.