The Rx Recap: October 5-10

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.

“Don’t Be a Hero and Go to Work Sick”: An Autumn COVID-19 Check-In With Matthew Pullen, MD

If you’ve been following wastewater surveillance updates, like the University of Minnesota Wastewater Surveillance Study dashboard, you’ve probably noticed the same thing that readers of Infection Control Today have: the COVID-19 signal is climbing as the weather cools. Infectious diseases physician Matthew Pullen, MD, says that it tracks with seasonal behavior more than anything ominous about a brand-new variant. “I honestly have not seen much to indicate that the new strain is really any more severe, any more communicable,” he told the publication. “We’re still early in this year’s COVID-19 season…in colder states, people cluster indoors, so we’ll see more spread of everything.”

Balancing Human Oversight and Automation in AI-Driven Trials

In a recent video interview with Applied Clinical Trials, Michelle Longmire, MD, co-founder and CEO of Medable, discussed the role of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical trials. She highlighted that 45% of clinical development time is wasted due to delays and siloed data. Agentic AI aims to reduce this by leveraging technology in areas previously untouched, freeing up human resources for strategic work. The human-in-the-loop concept ensures that AI supports, rather than replaces, human decision-making. Integration of AI across legacy systems is facilitated by model context protocols, reducing manual effort. Automation handles routine tasks, while critical decisions remain human-controlled. No-code platforms for AI tools require clear job descriptions and validation similar to human training.

FDA Approves Nerandomilast, First New IPF Treatment in More Than a Decade

As reported in Patient Care, the FDA has approved nerandomilast (Jascayd; Boehringer Ingelheim), marking the first new treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in over a decade. The approval was based on the phase 3 FIBRONEER-IPF trial, in which nerandomilast at 9 mg and 18 mg twice daily significantly slowed decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) compared with placebo (−122 mL and −106 mL vs −170 mL) over 52 weeks. The drug was generally well tolerated, with discontinuation rates similar to placebo and manageable side effects.

Emergency Medicaid Spending for Undocumented Immigrants Less than 1%, Expenditure Analysis Shows

As reported in Managed Healthcare Executive, a JAMA Network analysis of 38 states found that emergency Medicaid spending accounted for just 0.4% of total Medicaid expenditures in 2022, averaging $9.63 per resident, though states with larger undocumented immigrant populations spent over 15 times more per capita. The study warns that cuts under the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Law—reducing the federal emergency Medicaid match rate from 90% to as low as 50%—will disproportionately harm states with higher undocumented populations while offering minimal cost savings. Researchers emphasized that such reductions could severely impact safety-net hospitals and immigrant care providers.

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to ADCE-D01 for Soft Tissue Sarcoma

As reported by Cure, the FDA has granted fast track designation to ADCE-D01 for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma, accelerating its development and review. ADCE-D01, developed by Adcendo ApS, targets the uPARAP protein—commonly overexpressed in sarcomas—to deliver cancer-fighting agents directly to tumor cells. The therapy is currently being evaluated in ADCElerate1, a phase 1/2 clinical trial assessing safety, tolerability, and early efficacy in patients with metastatic or unresectable soft tissue sarcoma. Adcendo leaders said the designation underscores ADCE-D01’s potential to address an urgent unmet need and advance new targeted treatment options for patients.

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