July 7 RxAdvocate July, 2025 — Newsletter
July Stories:
- Pilot Study Finds GLP-1 Medication Significantly Reduced Migraine Days
- FDA Approves Yetzugo as the First Twice-Yearly HIV Prevention Option
- CVS Hit With Major Legal Challenges Over PBM Conduct
- Celebrating 10 Years Cancer-Free!
- Giving Back One Tab at a Time
Pilot Study Finds GLP-1 Medication Significantly Reduced Migraine Days
A small 12-week pilot study presented at the European Academy of Neurology found that the GLP-1 liraglutide, a drug commonly used for diabetes and weight loss, reduced the number of monthly migraine days by nearly half in people with obesity and chronic migraine. Participants experienced around 11 fewer headache days per month, with most noticing improvements within two weeks, alongside a significant drop in migraine-related disability. The researchers proposed that a potential reason for the reduction in migraine frequency is the drug’s effect on intracranial pressure, not from weight loss, which remained minimal. Approximately 42% of patients experienced mild gastrointestinal side effects, primarily nausea and constipation, but none serious enough for them to discontinue the treatment. A larger, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is planned to confirm these preliminary findings.
FDA Approves Yeztugo as the First Twice-Yearly HIV Prevention Option
On June 18, 2025, the FDA granted approval to Yeztugo® (lenacapavir) as the first-ever twice-yearly injectable option for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg, a historic milestone in HIV prevention. Clinical data from the Phase 3 PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2 trials demonstrated that ≥ 99.9 % of participants remained HIV-negative under this regimen. The drug will sell for an annual price of $28,218, or $14,109 per injection. In the U.S., the manufacturer, Gilead, is working closely with insurers, healthcare systems and other payers with the goal of ensuring broad insurance coverage for Yeztugo. Additionally, for eligible individuals, Gilead’s Co-Pay Savings Program will reduce out-of-pocket costs to as little as zero dollars.
CVS Hit with Major Legal Challenges Over PBM Conduct
CVS Health and its subsidiaries are facing significant legal challenges this week. A former Aetna actuary won a $95 million False Claims Act judgment against CVS’s pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), Caremark. The lawsuit alleged Caremark misrepresented prescription drug costs to the government, manipulating prices through non-contractual budgeted generic
effective rates (GERs) that lacked transparency and reconciliation measures.
Separately, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed three lawsuits accusing CVS and Caremark of deceptive business practices. These include using patient data to lobby against state legislation, leveraging Caremark’s control over the drug supply chain to obscure costs, and imposing excessive fees on competing pharmacies. The lawsuits criticize CVS’s market dominance and accuse it of inflating drug prices through spread pricing and rebate manipulation.
These legal developments highlight growing scrutiny of CVS’s PBM operations and market behavior.
Celebrating 10 Years Cancer-Free!
We’re excited to celebrate a major milestone with Kristy Torres, Manager of Account Services, who marks 10 years cancer-free this month! Her strength and positivity inspire us all, and we are so thankful to have her on our team!
Congratulations, Kristy, on this incredible anniversary!
Giving Back One Tab at a Time
RxConnection’s Strategic Account Manager Christina Hollis-Sabol and her daughter Greta participated in Ronald McDonald House’s annual Pull Tab Palooza with their girl scout troop.
Ronald McDonald House is a non-profit organization that provides a safe, home-like environment for families to stay at while their child is receiving hospital treatment. RMHC locations often are located within walking distance of a hospital and can save families thousands of dollars on hotels, travel, and incidentals.
For months leading up to the event, the troop collected pull tabs from aluminum cans then joined the weigh-in at Ronald McDonald House. Their efforts resulted in 11.4 lbs. of tabs (1000 tabs = 1 lb.)
Ronald McDonald House Charities then recycles the tabs in exchange for money that goes towards the organization’s Family Fund, which provides things like birthday gifts, dinners, and other gestures for Ronald McDonald House families, to provide a moment of peace and joy during their challenging time.
Each year, this program provides an average of $10k-$12k for the Charity.
Click the resources below for more information on the Pull Tab Polooza and learn how you can get involved.
Thank you, Christina and Greta, for your involvement and for bringing awareness to such a meaningful cause.
Contact us
Orlando.Neal@rxconnectionllc.com