• Georgia: According to three new CDC reports, medetomidine, an animal sedative, is showing up more often in the U.S. illegal drug supply. Medetomidine was first detected in illegally manufactured opioids in North America in 2022, and investigators say it has been mixed in with other illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl. In the reports, CDC outlined several recent clusters of medetomidine cases in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. In Chicago, health officials were confused by a surge of supposed fentanyl overdoses that could not be reversed by naloxone. After investigation, the city's health department identified 12 confirmed cases of medetomidine-involved overdoses and more than 160 probable or suspected cases. In Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, health officials reported cases of medetomidine withdrawal. Patients experienced an unusual version of fentanyl withdrawal and were resistant to medications usually used against fentanyl and xylazine, another animal sedative. However, health officials said that another drug dexmedetomidine was effective at treating these patients. (Associated Press/MedPage Today, 5/2)
• North Carolina: Labcorp has agreed to acquire certain clinical and anatomic pathology assets from Incyte Diagnostics in an effort to expand its oncology portfolio. Through the transaction, Lapcorp will gain several of Incyte's same-day testing laboratories, its main anatomic pathology lab, and other labs throughout Washington and Montana. Incyte's pathologist will continue to provide anatomic pathology testing services while Labcorp will provide tissue processing and slide preparation services. The deal is expected to close later this year, and until then, both companies will continue to operate independently. According to Modern Healthcare, Labcorp has increased its acquisition efforts in recent months, including agreements with BioReference, North Mississippi Health Services, and Inspira Health. (DeSilva, Modern Healthcare, 5/5)
• North Carolina: According to a new report from IQVIA, spending on prescription drugs in the United States continues to increase. Overall, net spending on medicine increased by 11.4% to $487 billion in 2024. Out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs also grew to $98 billion, a cumulative 25% increase over five years. High out-of-pocket costs may have also prevented some people from filling their prescriptions. According to the report, over a quarter of new prescriptions were not filled in 2024, largely because they weren't covered by insurance. Going forward, IQVIA estimates that spending on medications will continue to increase, potentially exceeding $600 billion by 2029, with obesity and oncology medications driving this increase. (Goldman, Axios, 5/5)

The pharmaceutical market is experiencing significant shifts, and you need to be prepared. Explore the major trends shaping the industry, including the rise of high-cost drugs and the impact of changing policies, and find out what they mean for your organization.