Insights Newsletter September 2026: Emerging Trends for Clinical Leadership

This month’s Insights Newsletter covers the latest practice-changing pharmacy updates, emerging trends, and popular natural medicine topics and resources. 

Know What’s New With Flu Vaccines for 2026-2027

Your team will be the first place patients turn with questions about this season’s flu shot. Our articles walk through what’s new for 2026-2027, including when to preferentially reach for a higher-dose or adjuvanted vaccine in patients 65 and older, and how to counsel on mFlusiva, the first mRNA-based flu vaccine now approved for patients 50 and up (more side effects, and payer coverage may vary). We also cover the ideal timing for vaccination, how to discuss flu effectiveness, and which other vaccines can be given at the same visit. Your team can use our Flu Vaccines for 2026-27 chart to sort through products, and our Communicating About Flu Vaccination resource for answers to common patient questions. Read More

Community Pharmacies: Enlicitide (Lipfendra): The First Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor for Cholesterol

You’ll hear that enlicitide (Lipfendra) is a gamechanger for managing high cholesterol…as the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor. Our articles cover how enlicitide 20 mg once daily lowers LDL-C by about 60% when added to a statin, similar to injectable PCSK9 inhibitors, but without CV outcomes data yet. We also outline when to consider a PCSK9 inhibitor over ezetimibe, key administration requirements patients need to know (taken on an empty stomach, kept in its original container), and how enlicitide compares on cost to other non-statin options. Your team can reach for our Non-Statin Lipid-Lowering Agents chart to see how PCSK9 inhibitors compare to other options, including bempedoic acid and ezetimibe. Read More

Hospitals: Unpack the Evidence About Sodium Bicarbonate Use in Cardiac Arrest and Acidosis

Hospital pharmacists should be ready to guide decisions about the use of IV sodium bicarbonate in cardiac arrest and acidosis from acute kidney injury (AKI). Our articles review evolving evidence around bicarb use in cardiac arrest and severe acidosis, including when benefits are uncertain and when use may still be appropriate. We also highlight practical considerations for monitoring, safety, and preventing fluid-related mix-ups. Teams can explore our IV Fluid Safety FAQ for tips to prevent mix-ups between bicarb and other fluids at the bedside. Read More

NatMed: Fish Oil & Atrial Fibrillation

Patients see fish oil as a “heart-healthy” supplement, but many don’t realize high doses carry a real risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). Our NatMed article covers the evidence. AF risk is dose-dependent, rising sharply above 1 gram daily and highest at 4 grams daily. Fish oil can also raise LDL levels. Patients on higher doses, especially those with cardiovascular risk factors, should have both AF symptoms and LDL monitored. Read More

Pharmacy & Prescriber Podcasts

Medication Talk

Listen to this month’s podcast episode, Decoding the Lipid Guidelines, as our expert panel breaks down what clinicians need to know about the 2026 dyslipidemia guidelines, such as the role of lipoprotein a, apolipoprotein B, and coronary artery calcium scoring. Plus, you’ll walk away with practical takeaways to optimize lipid management including when to add non-statin therapies like PCSK9 inhibitors and ezetimibe for your patients. Read More

Rumor vs Truth

Listen to the latest episode, Opioids, as our editors separate opioid fact from folklore by challenging long-held assumptions with the latest evidence. Read More

Clinical Capsules

Listen to our latest episode, New Therapies for MASH: What Healthcare Teams Need to Know, as our Associate Editor and Clinical Pharmacist Sara Klockars, PharmD, explores the growing prevalence of MASLD and MASH. She reviews newly approved treatment options, including semaglutide and resmetirom, and discusses how healthcare teams can help identify, support, and manage patients throughout their care journey. Read More

Other Covered Topics

Be sure to listen to our new Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice podcast, ADHD Supplement Stacking: Are More Supplements Better?, learn how our Compounding Compliance Suite helps hospital pharmacy teams move from reactive fixes to continuous, provable readiness, and watch our recent webinar, The Performance Gap Your Pharmacy Training Metrics Can’t See, to learn what traditional training models may miss about whether teams are ready to perform when a situation demands more than process knowledge.

Read More