The Rx Recap: March 1-6

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.

FDA Approves Teclistamab Plus Subcutaneous Daratumumab for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

As reported by OncLive, the US FDA approved teclistamab-cqyv in combination with daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj for adults with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy, while also converting teclistamab monotherapy from accelerated to traditional approval. The decision was based on the phase 3 MajesTEC-3 study, which showed that teclistamab plus daratumumab significantly improved outcomes compared with investigator’s choice of daratumumab-based regimens, achieving a median progression-free survival that was not reached vs 18.1 months, a higher overall response rate (89.0% vs 75.3%), and greater minimal residual disease negativity, with an emerging overall survival benefit at 36 months (83.3% vs 65.0%). Safety was consistent with known profiles of the agents, with common adverse events including neutropenia and cytokine release syndrome—mostly grade 1 and resolving—supporting the combination as a new treatment option for earlier-line relapsed or refractory disease.

Vaginal Estrogen Therapy Not Associated With Increased Risk of Endometrial Cancer Recurrence

As reported by Contemporary OB/GYN, a cohort study of more than 2,800 younger survivors of endometrial cancer found that short-term use of low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy did not increase the risk of cancer recurrence. The study, published in Menopause and based on data from the TriNetX US Collaborative Network, compared 1,412 survivors who used vaginal estrogen with 1,412 matched controls who did not. Researchers found no elevated recurrence risk (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.60–1.27), suggesting that local, low-dose vaginal estrogen may be a safe option for managing menopause-related symptoms such as vaginal dryness and urinary discomfort in younger endometrial cancer survivors who often experience early menopause after treatment.

Q&A: Pharmacies Should Use VRS Tools, Document DSCSA Compliance Processes

As reported by Drug Topics, pharmacies face growing pressure to comply with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, which strengthens drug tracking and verification requirements and carries penalties of up to $500,000 or possible license revocation for noncompliance. In an interview with Matt Sample of Cencora, experts emphasized the importance of tools like the verification router service (VRS), which allows pharmacies to confirm a drug’s legitimacy directly with manufacturers when barcodes fail to scan, helping identify potential counterfeit products. Pharmacists are also urged to maintain clear documentation and standard operating procedures to ensure access to required data under the law, while preparing for an industry shift from 10-digit to 12-digit National Drug Code formats that will require updates to pharmacy software and barcode systems.

Sucrose Proven Effective for Pain Relief in Newborns

As reported by Contemporary Pediatrics, a review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that small doses of oral sucrose can help reduce pain in newborns undergoing procedures such as venipuncture. Researchers analyzed 29 randomized trials involving more than 2,700 preterm and full-term infants and found that sucrose significantly lowered pain scores compared with no treatment, water, or some forms of standard care. The effect was strongest when sucrose was combined with non-nutritive sucking, such as using a pacifier. Investigators including Mariana Bueno said the evidence supports using sucrose as a simple, fast method to ease procedural pain in neonates, though experts such as Jiale Hu emphasize that it should be administered under clear clinical protocols that define appropriate timing and dosing.

Nipocalimab Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

As reported by Rheumatology Live, the US FDA has granted Fast Track designation to nipocalimab for adults with systemic lupus erythematosus. The designation is supported by results from the phase 2b JASMINE trial, which found the investigational therapy significantly improved SLE disease activity compared with placebo at 24 weeks and showed potential to reduce reliance on glucocorticoids. In the 228-patient randomized trial, nipocalimab achieved the primary SLE Responder Index-4 endpoint and met multiple secondary outcomes without new safety signals. Experts including Richard Furie said the progress could expand targeted treatment options for lupus, and the developer Johnson & Johnson has already launched the phase 3 GARDENIA study to further evaluate the therapy.

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