Pharma Pulse: Telehealth Medication Abortion Requests Surge, FDA Expedites Tzield Review, and New Biopharma Air Network Launches

Welcome to Pharma Pulse, a Pharmaceutical Commerce podcast where we bring you the latest insights shaping patient access, supply chain/logistics, data & tech, and healthcare innovation. I’m your host, and today we’re covering the surge in telehealth requests for medication abortion following the Dobbs decision, the FDA’s expedited review of a priority drug through its new National Priority Voucher Program, and a new biopharma air logistics network launched by Frontier Scientific Solutions and Air Transport Services Group (ATSG).

• New data shows that telehealth requests for medication abortion have doubled since the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision. Researchers found that online consultations surged in states with restrictive abortion laws, reflecting telemedicine’s growing role in reproductive healthcare access. The findings highlight ongoing policy tensions, and the critical role of digital health platforms in connecting patients to care across regulatory boundaries.
• The FDA has accepted Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv) for expedited review under the agency’s new National Priority Voucher Program, designed to accelerate access to drugs addressing major public health needs. Tzield, already approved to delay the onset of type 1 diabetes, is being evaluated for expanded indications. The move underscores FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s focus on faster review timelines for high-impact therapies under the PreCheck and Priority Voucher initiatives.
• Lastly, in supply chain news, Frontier Scientific Solutions and ATSG have partnered to launch a dedicated air network for pharmaceutical shipments. The initiative aims to improve delivery speed and cold chain reliability for temperature-sensitive products, a critical advantage as global demand for biologics and cell and gene therapies continues to rise.

From telehealth access and regulatory acceleration to next-generation logistics, these developments show how innovation and policy are reshaping healthcare delivery and pharma operations alike.

That’s it for this episode of Pharma Pulse. For more insights on trends transforming pharmaceutical access and care delivery, visit pharmaceuticalcommerce.com.

Thanks for listening—until next time, stay well and stay informed.

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