Pulse Newsletter | Volume 8 - Issue 2

FDA Approves New Prescription Treatment for Prevention of Motion Sickness

On December 30, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Nereus™ (tradipitant) capsules for the prevention of vomiting caused by motion sickness in adult patients. This marks the first new drug approved for motion sickness in about 40 years. Nereus™ is supplied as an 85mg capsule. The recommended dose is one or two capsules taken by mouth on an empty stomach one hour before exposure to an event that may cause motion sickness. No more than two capsules (170mg) may be taken in a 24-hour period. Warnings and precautions of Nereus™ include impairment of physical or mental abilities, including the ability to drive a car or operating machinery. The most common side effects of Nereus™ were headache, fatigue and drowsiness.

The safety and efficacy of Nereus™ was studied in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, including 681 total adult patients with a history of motion sickness. Patients with a history of chronic nausea were excluded from the studies. Use of any other anti-nausea medication, including over the counter medications, was not allowed. Participants were given a single dose of either Nereus™ or placebo one hour prior to a boat ride lasting around 4 hours. The primary endpoint in the clinical trials was whether the participants experienced vomiting during the boat ride, which was assessed every 30 minutes. About 10-20% of participants given Nereus™ experienced vomiting compared to approximately 40% of participants given placebo. Cost information is not yet available for Nereus™, however, it is expected to be priced much higher than other prescription and over-the-counter anti-nausea medications, such as scopolamine patch and meclizine. Of note, Nereus™ is also being studied by the drug manufacturer to prevent nausea and vomiting induced by GLP-1 drugs, side effects that are often cited by patients as a reason for discontinuing those medications.

CDC Announces Updates to the Childhood Immunization Recommendations

On January 5, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced updates to the childhood immunization schedule. The previous CDC guidance included universal vaccine recommendations for all children for 17 vaccinations. Per the updated guidance, the CDC now categorizes vaccines for children into three different categories, immunizations recommended for all children, immunizations recommended for certain children in high-risk groups and immunizations for children based on shared clinical decision-making in collaboration with the child’s parent or guardian and health care provider. The vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus (HPV) and varicella (chicken pox) are still universally recommended by the CDC for all children. The vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue, meningococcal ACWY and meningococcal B are now recommended only for children in certain high-risk groups, including those children with certain medical conditions that could make them more vulnerable to serious disease and those children living or traveling to areas where risk of disease exposure is high. The vaccines recommended based on shared clinical decision making with the child’s parent or guardian and health care provider include rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A and hepatitis B.  All three categories of CDC recommended vaccines for children will continue to be covered by most insurance plans at no cost to the patient through government sponsored programs, including the Affordable Care Act and the Vaccines for Children program. Questions regarding the new recommendations for childhood vaccines should be directed to a child’s pediatrician or other health care provider.

White House Announces the Great Healthcare Plan

On January 15, 2026, the White House announced plans regarding making healthcare more affordable and lowering drug costs in the United States. The plan, called “The Great Healthcare Plan”, contains objectives aimed at lowering prescription drug prices, lowering insurance premiums and increasing transparency in drug pricing. The announcement follows an executive order signed by President Trump on May 12, 2025, regarding Most Favored Nation (MFN) prescription drug pricing. The intent of MFN pricing is to allow the U.S. to access brand name drugs from pharmaceutical companies at lower prices, at parity with the pricing given to other similar developed peer countries. The Great Healthcare Plan also suggests making more over-the-counter medications available to help lower drug prices overall.

To reduce premiums, the plan proposes sending money directly to eligible individuals and allowing them to shop for and purchase their insurance plan, along with a cost-sharing reduction plan to reimburse health plans for eligible recipients. To make shopping for a health plan more easily understood by the average American consumer, The Great Healthcare Plan would require insurance plans to follow a plain-language standard when providing information about the plan’s coverage and cost. Insurance plans and providers that participate with the government-funded programs Medicare or Medicaid would be required to publish their pricing and fees for patients to easily view to help make pricing more transparent and minimize risk for surprise bills for patients. In addition, plans would be required to make pricing information available on their website, including publishing the cost of claims, as well as turnaround times and claim denial rates.  

New FDA Approvals

New Drug: Zycubo® (copper histidinate)

Subcutaneous injection approved for treatment of pediatric patients with Menkes disease, a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from absorbing and transporting copper. [1/12/2026 – Sentynl Therapeutics, Inc.]

New Generics Entering the Marketplace

Besivance® (besifloxacin)

Indication: For treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, or pink eye, caused by a susceptible bacterium in patients aged 1 year and older.

Dosage Form/Strength: 6mg/ml (0.6%) ophthalmic suspension

Average Wholesale Price (AWP): Generic = $250 per 5 ml bottle | Brand = $275 per 5ml bottle