Innovative ideas, strategies, and resources to attract students to the pharmacy profession: Report of the 2023-2024 AACP Student Affairs Committee.

Over the past 2 decades, the Academy has witnessed an increase in new colleges and schools of pharmacy and, simultaneously, a decrease in student applications, resulting in a decline in enrollment across most institutions. Although the number of students pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree has been dropping, the Academy is responsible for bolstering recruitment to effectively prepare a robust pharmacy workforce to care for our ever-growing and complex patient populations. The 2023-2024 Student Affairs Committee (SAC) was convened to explore new ideas, develop innovative strategies, and gather supportive resources that can be utilized by colleges and schools of pharmacy to attract students to the pharmacy profession. The SAC was charged with developing a framework for a video mini-series that utilizes the art of storytelling to promote the pharmacy profession to prospective students. Secondarily, the SAC was charged with developing a plan to engage with students who apply but do not ultimately get accepted into nonpharmacy health professions programs and consider recommendations for targeting pharmacy technicians to pursue a PharmD degree. To accomplish this work, we created videos and proposed other innovative tools and flexible pathways to assist in recruiting students into the pharmacy profession. We also conducted a literature and website review, engaged in professional networking across the Academy, and proposed best practices to enhance student recruitment. In addition, we offered 8 recommendations to the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy and 7 suggestions to colleges and schools of pharmacy to attract students to the pharmacy profession.

Dronedarone: a safety comparison to amiodarone.

Dronedarone is an oral Class III antiarrhythmic agent which was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in nonpermanent atrial fibrillation. Structurally similar to amiodarone, dronedarone is a benzofuran derivative but it lacks the iodine moiety attached to amiodarone. Based upon the investigational clinical trials to date, it appears that dronedarone has an established efficacy when compared to placebo along with exhibiting a minimal adverse effect profile. The efficacy of dronedarone will need to be further evaluated in comparison trials with established antiarrhythmics for atrial fibrillation. The adverse profile of dronedarone appears to be substantially safer in comparison to amiodarone, although there is still little data available. The adverse effect profile of amiodarone necessitates close and extensive monitoring. Although a risk of pulmonary toxicity was identified in animals, long term studies in humans are needed to determine the significance of this adverse effect with dronedarone. One noted effect of dronedarone is an isolated increase in serum creatinine levels, and the clinical relevance of this effect needs further evaluation. Based on supporting evidence, the use of dronedarone is contraindicated in advanced or decompensated heart failure. Some clinically significant dronedarone drug interactions have been identified. Although the potential differences between dronedarone and amiodarone have been evaluated there have been no direct comparison trials published to date. This article reviews the chemistry, antiarrhythmic effects, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, adverse effects and drug interactions of dronedarone.

A review on the rationale and clinical use of concomitant rosuvastatin and fenofibrate/fenofibric acid therapy.

Mixed dyslipidemia, characterized by a lipid triad of elevated triglycerides (TG), elevated low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and reduced high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), is a common and frequently difficult to manage condition. The use of combination medications is often needed to effectively treat the lipid triad. The co-administration of statins and fibrates may provide the desired endpoints but safety issues such as toxicity to the muscles, liver and kidneys are a concern. Given the potency of rosuvastatin to lower LDL-C and fenofibrate's effectiveness in lowering TG, the use of this specific combination may be desirable in treating mixed dyslipidemia. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed no significant interactions with the concomitant use of rosuvastatin and fenofibrate or its active metabolite fenofibric acid. Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of this combination therapy demonstrate significant reductions in TG and LDL-C levels, and elevations in HDL-C. Safety data from clinical trials reveal no major adverse reactions. However, case reports of adverse events have been published and monitoring for potential adverse reactions of the individual agents is advised. Overall, current data suggest the combination of rosuvastatin and fenofibrate or fenofibric acid is a safe combination to utilize when managing difficult to treat mixed dyslipidemia patients.

Individualized initiation of statin therapy determined by baseline LDL-C: Are you more likely to achieve goal LDL-C?

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the world. A significant amount of clinical data are available to demonstrate the positive influence that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin) therapy has on slowing the progression of cardiovascular disease and improving clinical outcomes. Achieving the treatment goals for cholesterol in cardiovascular disease continues to present challenges. Recent clinical trial information is available assessing the use of more aggressive initial doses of statin therapy based on initial low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) measurements in an attempt to reach treatment goals sooner. Six clinical trials assessed low-, moderate- and high-risk individuals as well as those with type 2 diabetes mellitus to determine if this treatment approach is both safe and effective. The studies concluded that initial dosing of statin therapy determined by a baseline LDL-C measurement demonstrates good achievement in reaching treatment goals and does not result in a higher rate of adverse effects.