The Weekly Fill

Table of Contents

• 📰Keys of the Big Fill:

• 📊 Industry Trends:

• 🗞 Quick Scripts: Other Industry News

• 💊Drug Spotlight:

• 🌟Meet Austin Mullins, PharmD

• 🫡Top Takeaways for Pharmacists and Technicians:

📰Keys of the Big Fill:

• Elimination of Grad PLUS Loans: The proposed legislation seeks to eliminate the federal Grad PLUS loan program for graduate students, including those in medical school. New borrowers would be ineligible starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, while existing borrowers could continue through the 2029-2030 school year.

• Loan Cap Implementation: A cap of $150,000 would be placed on federal loans for graduate and professional students. This is notable given that the average medical student debt was approximately $206,924 in 2023.

• Changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): The bill proposes that loan repayments made during medical residency would no longer count toward PSLF eligibility, potentially extending the time required for loan forgiveness.

Why This Matters:

The proposed changes aim to reduce federal spending by nearly $35 billion through 2034. However, medical schools and teaching hospitals express concern that these measures could exacerbate the existing physician shortage by limiting access to necessary funding for medical education. With over 70% of medical students graduating with significant debt, these cuts could deter prospective students from pursuing medical careers, impacting healthcare availability nationwide.

What This Means for You:

• Pharmacy Students and Healthcare Trainees: Those considering advanced degrees should be aware of potential changes to federal loan programs and plan accordingly.

• Healthcare Institutions: Teaching hospitals and clinics may need to prepare for potential challenges in recruiting and retaining medical professionals due to increased financial barriers for students. Read more here.

📊 Industry Trends:

HHS Moves to Enforce “Most-Favored-Nation” Drug Pricing Order

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it is taking immediate steps to implement President Trump’s executive order aimed at reducing prescription drug costs through “most-favored-nation” pricing. The directive pushes drugmakers to match U.S. drug prices with the lowest prices found in similar high-income countries.

Quick Doses:

International Price Benchmarking:

The order requires manufacturers to align U.S. prices for brand-name drugs without generic/biosimilar competition to the lowest price available in peer nations.

Implementation Timeline:

HHS has until June 11 to set and communicate pricing reduction goals to manufacturers. If progress stalls, formal rulemaking will begin.

Expanded Scope:

Unlike Trump’s earlier Medicare-focused effort (which was blocked in court), the new order applies to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans.

Defined Benchmark:

Pricing targets will reflect the lowest price in OECD countries with GDP per capita at least 60% of the U.S.

Projected Impact:

HHS claims the policy could cut U.S. drug prices by 50–90%, while preserving incentives for innovation.

Industry Pushback:

Pharmacy and biotech groups warn the model may threaten innovation and question the lack of legal enforcement mechanisms in the current order.

Why it matters:

This move represents a bold attempt to confront high U.S. drug prices by tying them to international benchmarks. If enacted successfully, it could transform pricing standards across Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance—lowering out-of-pocket costs for millions of patients.

What this means for you:

Pharmacists should prepare for possible formulary shifts, pricing updates, and patient questions as manufacturers respond. Healthcare leaders and payers must stay informed on the evolving regulatory landscape, especially as HHS weighs potential rulemaking to enforce the policy. Read more about it here.

🗞 Quick Scripts: Other Industry News

How 340B Funds Are Reviving Rural Pharmacy Access

Pharmacy deserts are expanding across rural America, and Prisma Health is addressing the issue by using savings from the 340B Drug Pricing Program to open and sustain retail pharmacies in underserved areas. This includes operating a 24/7 pharmacy in one rural community, made financially viable through 340B funds. While the program faces increasing scrutiny, Prisma Health emphasizes transparency and impact tracking to preserve its original mission of expanding access. Similar efforts are highlighted by organizations like the American Hospital Association, NACHC, and ASHP, all of which underscore how 340B savings are being leveraged to support rural healthcare infrastructure and pharmacy access. Read more here

Industry Trends: Eli Lilly Eyes $5.9B Investment in Texas Biomanufacturing

Eli Lilly is considering a $5.9 billion investment to build a state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facility in northeast Houston. The proposed site would focus on producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are essential for medications treating conditions like diabetes and cancer. If approved, the project is expected to create more than 2,000 construction jobs and around 600 permanent positions, delivering a major boost to the region’s economy. This move is part of Lilly’s broader $50 billion commitment to expand domestic drug manufacturing and strengthen the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. By shifting more production capabilities stateside, the company aims to mitigate risks exposed by global disruptions and ensure faster, more reliable access to essential medicines. For Houston, this project reinforces its growing reputation as a hub for biotech innovation and life sciences. Read more here

CVS is set to acquire over 1,000 Rite Aid Stores

Rite Aid has struck deals to sell more than 1,000 of its pharmacy locations to major competitors including CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, Kroger, and Giant Eagle. As part of the agreement, CVS will also take over several Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs stores across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. All locations will remain open during the transition, with no disruption to pharmacy services. The sale is pending approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, with a hearing set for May 21. Read more here

💊Drug Spotlight:

Brekiya, developed by Amneal Pharmaceuticals, is a newly FDA-approved acute migraine therapy that offers patients a convenient, self-administered solution. Approved in May 2025, Brekiya comes as a pre-filled auto-injector designed for use without refrigeration or complex preparation, providing fast and user-friendly relief from migraine attacks.

Clinical Trials

The approval was supported by clinical data demonstrating Brekiya’s ability to significantly reduce migraine symptoms shortly after administration. Patients experienced rapid pain relief, and the device’s ease of use was highlighted as a major benefit in real-world settings. Commonly reported side effects included mild injection site reactions and fatigue.

Looking Ahead

Brekiya represents an important shift in migraine care, especially for patients who require accessible, at-home treatment options. Its once-use injector format minimizes barriers to treatment during the onset of symptoms and may improve medication adherence for those with frequent migraine episodes. The drug is expected to be commercially available by late 2025.

Pharma Spotlight

Each week, we highlight pharmacy professionals and industry leaders who are making a real impact. This is our way of celebrating the work and dedication of professionals who drive pharmacy forward.

🌟Meet Austin Mullins, PharmD

Global Scientific Publications Manager, AbbVie

This week, we’re spotlighting Austin Mullins, PharmD, a rising leader in medical affairs and scientific communications. From his early days exploring industry through AMCP and IPhO to securing a competitive fellowship and now managing high-impact publications at AbbVie, Austin has built a career rooted in curiosity, strategy, and continuous growth.

In our conversation, Austin shared insights on breaking into the medical affairs space, the evolving role of AI in scientific publishing, and why soft skills like communication and collaboration are just as essential as scientific expertise. Take a look at the conversation below.

1. Let’s start from the beginning, what originally drew you to the world of medical affairs and scientific communications?

"When I started at Ohio State as a P1 PharmD student, I got involved in both IPhO and AMCP just to explore the alternative career routes. I’ve always had a bit of a business mindset, so learning about careers in managed care and industry piqued my interest as these careers bridge the gap between business and science. I got really involved in AMCP and IPhO participating in both the AMCP P&T competition and IPhO’s VIP case competition to explore those routes more deeply. Through that I ruled out regulatory affairs and Managed care as a path for me, and started reaching out on LinkedIn to connect with people in the industry to figure out what I could do. Going into my P3 year I was able to land an internship with a medical device start up that gave me experiences in both clinical development and medical affairs. After this experience, I was set on going the industry route. Ultimately, I landed a postdoctoral fellowship at AbbVie in Global Medical Affairs, and transitioned into Global Scientific Publications within medical affairs. That’s where I’ve been since. I find publications/communications the gateway to getting our science out in the field. Without peer-reviewed publications our teams cannot do much downstream to educate providers, decision makers and patients."

1. Your background includes a strong mix of scientific communication and leadership. How have your soft skills, like relationship-building and communication, amplified your effectiveness in medical affairs roles?

"Having soft skills is crucial in medical affairs. You need to understand the science and clinical data, but also be able to translate that into different materials, publications, field decks, etc. You have to be able to communicate effectively with HCPs, healthcare decision-makers, and internal stakeholders across departments. Building strong relationships lets you have more impactful interactions with doctors and collaborators. Good communication and strong written skills allow you to be more effective across the board."

1. In your current role at AbbVie, you manage high-stakes publications. What does strategic publication planning look like in such a fast-evolving space?

"Working in oncology, you really need to understand the therapeutic landscape, what competitors are doing, where they’re publishing, and what they’re saying. Internally, we assess our own data and plan how to communicate it in ways that differentiate us. For example, in CLL, we look at where there are unmet needs and where our data shows we can help. It’s about identifying the evidence, clinical trials, real-world evidence, health economics, and figuring out the right venues to share it, like ASCO or AMCP. It’s a big cross-functional effort with strategic timing and targeted messaging."

1. You’ve invested in continuous professional development. What advice would you give to others looking to break into or grow within the medical affairs landscape?

"Network, both inside and outside your organization. Every company operates differently, so learning from others is key. Be willing to continually develop yourself, get certifications, and do training. I became a board-certified MSL, and while I wouldn’t say it guarantees a job, it helped me better understand how to steer conversations, stay compliant, and add value when engaging with external stakeholders. Experience and skill sets are more important than just having something on paper."

1. Looking ahead, how do you see the role of scientific publications evolving with new technologies, AI tools, and increasing demand for real-world evidence?

"Great question. I was actually our AI lead last year, so I’ve worked on a lot of AI workstreams. Journals are placing restrictions on AI-generated medical writing, but AI can still support prompting, reviewing, and summarizing data.

For example, AI is great for literature gap assessments, identifying what’s missing in the therapeutic space or competitor data. It can expedite analysis and offer insights, particularly from databases like Optum or ConcertAI. AI won’t replace our roles, but it’ll automate administrative tasks and let us focus on more strategic work. We’ll still need someone to edit and ensure accuracy, so it’s about working smarter, not harder."

🫡Top Takeaways for Pharmacists and Technicians:

1. Soft skills are critical in industry roles.

Strong communication, relationship building, and writing abilities can be just as important as clinical knowledge, especially in medical affairs, where translating complex data into actionable insights is essential.

2. Proactive networking opens doors.

Reaching out early on LinkedIn and leveraging competitions, fellowships, and experiential learning to break into the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmacists and technicians should actively seek mentorship and professional connections.

3. Continuous development is non-negotiable.

Whether through board certifications, on-the-job learning, or side projects, growing professionally is key. Certifications won’t land the job alone, but they help frame how you think and speak in interviews and strategy discussions.

4. AI is a tool, not a threat.

AI is streamlining administrative and analytical tasks, but it won’t replace pharmacists or MSLs. Instead, it's enhancing how teams summarize literature, assess evidence gaps, and generate real-world insights. Human oversight remains essential. Be comfortable with evolving landscapes and stay ahead of technology trends.

Thank you, Dr. Mullins, for sharing your insights with us. It was a pleasure connecting with you, and we wish you continued success in your journey.

That’s it for today’s fill!

Stay tuned for next week’s issue. If you enjoyed this, please share it with your pharmacy friends. Until then, keep filling those scripts 🫡

Doses and mimosas, ShiftRx team

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