Buzz Newsletter 4/9/2026

Welcome to the April 9 edition of the GPhA Buzz Newsletter.

 

This weekly round up of pharmacy news and information is a member benefit, and if you are having difficulty receiving all GPhA emails, please whitelist our domain as well as glueup.com. You can find instructions for that on our website here.

Could the flu vaccine help slow or prevent Alzheimer's? 

 

Maybe. Researchers who have been studying this say that their latest findings show a 20% reduction in incidents of Alzheimer's or dementia among older patients who received a high-dose flu vaccine. The statistics showed women have a lower risk than men, but the data still needs further research. 

 

However, any step toward preventing disease is a step forward, in our opinion. 

For the first time in almost three decades, we had a doping-scandal free Olympics. In fact, of the 3,053 samples taken from 1,848 athletes, there were no signs of doping violations. 

 

According to Britannica, drug testing began in 1968 and as of 2020 Tokyo Games, there were 442 positive doping tests leading to the loss of 173 medals. More fun Olympic doping facts: 

Preventing cholera might come down to the right diet, or at least be a part of the equation. 

 

Researchers found that diets high in casein and gluten can reduce the ability of cholera bacteria to nestle into the gut and cause havoc. And it's a significant difference -- up to 100 times the difference in colonization than without those proteins. 

 

The primary treatment for cholera is hydration and antibiotics, but adding in an element of diet is easier and less expensive than treatment and could mean a huge difference for parts of the world with the most infections. 

It seems like every week, there's a new story about GLP-1s and their positive impact on patients. 

 

However, it seems that the latest version, retatrutide, might be having a somewhat negative side effect -- ruining relationships. 

 

The online chatter among those using the drug, whether in clinical trials or through other illicit sources, is that it leads to "emotional flattening." The GLP-1s impact so much of the brain, it could also lead to the elimination of enthusiasm for love or relationships. 

 

It could also add another layer to the classic breakup line, "It's not you, it's me... and my GLP-1." 

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, is a nasty neurodegenerative disease.

 

Research is constant and ongoing, as there is currently no cure or way to treat the disease as it progresses. One scientist is working inside clinical trials for very personal reasons -- his mother and all her siblings passed away from ALS, and he and his siblings have all tested positive for a gene mutation that makes it likely they will develop ALS as well.

 

Jeff Vierstra's story is really moving and interesting, and we enjoyed reading it for the science and the emotional impact. 

A drug in testing for treatment of hepatitis C might also disrupt hepatitis E, research has shown. Hep E leads to around 70,000 deaths each year and has no vaccine or targeted treatment. 

 

Amgen may have found a more patient-friendly way to administer its thyroid eye disease medication, Tepezza. Currently administered via infusion, the latest trials have shown that it is just as effective with a patient-administered subcutaneous injection. 

 

A quarter of older adults might be able to successfully stop levothyroxine and maintain healthy TSH levels. Right now, a prescription for levothyroxine is considered a lifetime drug as there are no deprescribing protocols. 

 

Two research teams have developed medications that can regrow bone and cartilage. So far it's only been tested in animals, but those patients with conditions like chondromalacia patella (ask us how we know) are delighted to hear that the soft tissues that make things like bending less painful might be regenerated in the near future. 

 

A recent study out of Sweden lists additional medications that lead to increased odds of a C. diff infection, and it's not all antibiotics. 

What is it that you love about your GPhA membership? Is it the Spring Meetings? The Convention? Delightful email newsletters like this one?

 

Share what it is you love about GPhA with friends and colleagues, and help us Build the Bench with our new membership referral program. See more details here, and make sure you invite someone to join GPhA in 2026. 

The 2026 Georgia Pharmacy Convention brings together hardworking pharmacists, pharmacy owners, technicians, and decision makers looking to expand their knowledge and improve their practice of pharmacy. 

 

Join 300+ of your colleagues and friends for a week full of insightful CE courses, lunches, and networking on beautiful Amelia Island. We are working hard to build the full schedule now, and can't wait to see you all June 18-21! 

 

Spring Region Meetings are being scheduled, and we have a lot of amazing plans for our members, thanks to the hard work of our Region Presidents. 

 

You can find the full list and registration links here, but in the meantime, here are the Regions with set dates and locations: 

 

Tuesday, April 21 @ 6:30pm 

Piedmont Brewery, Griffin 

 

Sunday, April 19 @ 1pm 

American Axes, Marietta 

 

Thursday, April 16 @ 6pm 

Bearfoot Tavern, Macon 

 

Tuesday, April 21 @ 7pm 

J&D Designs and Cafe, Douglas 

 

Thursday, April 9 @ 6:30pm 

Athenic Brewing, Athens