About this episode
If you're wondering which therapies may influence care delivery, budgets, and decision making in 2026, the pipeline offers an early preview and it points to a year defined by innovation. We're seeing new first in class treatments, thoughtful next generation agents, and a biosimilar market where fewer launches are offset by important competitive shifts driven by recent approvals. John Schoen and Heather Pace from the Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence join Stacy Lauderdale, Associate Vice President of Evidence-Based Medicine and Drug Information and your Verified RX program host to highlight pipeline agents worth watching and discuss what they may mean for care delivery and spend management in the year ahead.
Guest speakers:
John Schoen, PharmD, BCPS?
Senior Clinical Manager of Drug Information??
Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence?
Heather Pace, PharmD
Senior Clinical Manager of Drug Information??
Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence?
Host:?
Stacy Lauderdale, PharmD, BCPS?
Associate Vice President
Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence
Show Notes:
[01:01] — Episode Scope
The focus is non-CGT therapies; CGT pipeline will be covered in Part 2.
[01:50] — Therapeutic Areas With the Most Approvals
Oncology leads the pipeline.
Others include infectious disease, neurology, rare disease, endocrine, hepatology, dermatology, and rheumatology.
[02:37] — Biosimilars in 2026: Momentum or Headwinds?
Discussion of potential “biosimilar void”—only 10% of expiring biologic patents have biosimilars in development.
Emerging role of PBM private-label biosimilars.
[03:51] — FDA Draft Guidance on Interchangeability
FDA exploring interchangeable designation for all biosimilars.
Potential shift away from clinical efficacy studies in favor of analytical comparisons.
Guidance still in draft and open for public comment.
[05:34] — John’s Top Picks for First-in-Class Agents
06:11 — Orviglance
First manganese-based, oral MRI contrast agent.
Advantages for patients with kidney impairment.
Used for liver imaging.
[06:20] — Why Non-Gadolinium Matters
Lower risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
[06:46] — Tabelecleucel
First allogeneic EBV-specific T-cell therapy.
For EBV-positive PTLD post-transplant.
Could become new standard of care.
[07:42] — Tanruprubart
First therapy specifically for severe Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
Shows improved outcomes over IVIG and plasma exchange.
[08:20] — Comparing to Standard of Care
Review of improved real-world data outcomes.
