The Rx Recap: April 20-25

Welcome to this week’s roundup of the most insightful and impactful articles from the sister publications of Dermatology Times, all under One MJH Life Sciences. Our network brings together expert perspectives, clinical advancements, and industry updates to keep clinicians informed and ahead of the curve. From cutting-edge treatments to practice management strategies, here’s a look at the top stories shaping the field of medicine.

HCV Combination Therapy Meets Phase 2 Endpoints, Will Present Data at Conference

This week, Contagion Live told readers Atea Pharmaceuticals will present full phase 2 data at the EASL Congress 2025, showing its 8 week oral combination therapy of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir achieved a 97% sustained virologic response (SVR12) in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) patients, regardless of genotype, age, or fibrosis score. The company has launched two global Phase 3 trials—C-BEYOND in the US and Canada, and C-FORWARD internationally—each enrolling around 880 treatment-naïve patients, including those with compensated cirrhosis. The once-daily treatment aims to shorten therapy duration compared to current regimens and has shown strong in vitro potency, low resistance risk, and favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profiles.

The 7 Secrets of a Fulfilling Medical Career

Physicians often enter medicine to help others, but Medical Economics noted the daily demands can lead to burnout or moral injury. To reignite purpose and build a sustainable career, experts suggest seven key strategies: reconnect regularly with your “why” to stay aligned with your mission; set firm boundaries to protect personal time; share the load by redesigning workflows and using digital tools; commit to lifelong learning beyond clinical knowledge; mentor newer physicians to pass on wisdom and find renewed meaning; prioritize your own physical, mental, and financial health; and lead change in your practice or profession, from adopting tech solutions to advocating for systemic reform.

Declining Childhood Vaccinations Could Increase Frequency of Infectious Disease Previously Eliminated

Drug Topics brought us a modeling study published in JAMA that warns that declining childhood vaccination rates in the US could lead to major outbreaks of diseases once considered eliminated, such as measles, rubella, polio, and diphtheria. Using historical vaccination data from 2004 to 2023, researchers projected that current vaccination levels could result in over 850,000 measles cases and 2,550 related deaths over 25 years. If MMR coverage dropped by 25%, measles cases could surge to 26.9 million, with nearly 81,000 infection-related deaths. Higher vaccination rates significantly reduced outbreak risk, underscoring the urgent need to improve immunization efforts to prevent disease resurgence and maintain public health.

FDA Approval of Cabozantinib for Pancreatic and Extra-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors Opens the Door to a New Standard Option

OncLive informed readers that the FDA has approved cabozantinib (Cabometyx) for previously treated, unresectable pancreatic and extra-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET/epNET) in patients aged 12+. Based on the phase 3 CABINET trial, cabozantinib significantly improved progression-free survival and is now a standard option across a broad range of NETs, with a manageable safety profile and no new safety signals.

Study Analyzes Long-Term Effects of Medical Cannabis for Various Conditions

A new 12-month follow-up study from Australia found that medical cannabis (MC) significantly improves pain, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, and quality of life for patients with chronic conditions, according to Cannabis Sciences and Technology. The real-world data, published in PLOS One, showed sustained benefits over a year, especially with THC-dominant products. Researchers highlighted MC as a promising option when conventional treatments fail.

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