1: Is GLP-1 Success Written in Your DNA?

A genome-wide association study of 28K patients published in JAMA, suggests genetics may influence how people respond to weight-loss drugs. Researchers identified variants in the GLP-1 and GIP receptor genes associated with greater weight loss (roughly 1.5 kg more on average for those with specific alleles) but also a higher risk of severe nausea and vomiting. These findings pave the way for pharmacogenetic testing, allowing clinicians to potentially predict which patients require slower dose titration to manage side effects and improve long-term adherence.

2: Listening to the Symptoms, Not the Schedule

A cluster RCT suggests that tailoring pharmacologic treatment of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) to infants’ might be the best new approach. In 383 infants, those who received symptom-based dosing were ready for discharge 2.3 days earlier than infants who followed a scheduled opioid taper. With no difference in safety outcomes, symptom-based dosing appears to better align treatment with withdrawal severity in order to speed up medical readiness for discharge.

3: Coffee Rewires the Gut-Brain Axis

A recent study found that coffee’s benefits go far beyond a caffeine buzz. Researchers found that habitual coffee intake (3–5 cups daily) reshapes the gut microbiome by increasing levels of specific bacteria like Eggertella sp, which are linked to improved mood and lower stress. Interestingly, while caffeine was responsible for boosting alertness and reducing anxiety, decaffeinated coffee was uniquely associated with improvements in learning and memory. Finally, a study that validates the therapeutic necessity of that 3rd double-espresso during a Monday morning rush.

Drug Shortages ⚠️

Clonazepam (Pro-Clonazepam): The company, Pro Doc Limitée, cited a disruption in the manufacture of the drug and is currently exploring a transfer to a different supplier.

Sitagliptin (pms-Sitagliptin / Pro-Sitagliptin Metformin): Pharmascience and Pro Doc Limitée have reported shortages for sitagliptin and its metformin combination. This affects the standalone 50 mg tablets and the 50 mg/500 mg fixed-dose combination.

50 mg / 50 mg-500 mg

Newly Approved Drugs ✨

Kisunla (donanemab injection): Approved May 4, 2026. This is a once-monthly intravenous (IV) infusion for adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. It is the 1st amyloid-targeting therapy allowing patients to potentially stop treatment once brain plaques reach a specific level of clearance.

Apotex semaglutide: Approved May 1, 2026. Health Canada authorized this 2nd generic semaglutide injection, making Canada the first G7 nation to approve multiple generic versions of the drug. Like the brand-name product, it is indicated for the once-weekly treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Canada spent nearly a decade and $300 million trying to kill the fax machine. The fax machine won.

What happened: PrescribeIT, Canada's national e-prescribing service, will shut down May 29, after spending more than $250 million since its launch in 2017. The program was designed to let prescribers send prescriptions electronically, directly into pharmacy management systems. Despite thousands of pharmacies and doctor's offices signing up, fewer than 5% of prescriptions were ever sent through it.

A major factor: in 2025, PrescribeIT began charging pharmacies $0.20 per prescription and in a CPhA survey, 65% of pharmacists said they would stop using the service if the fee was introduced. The program's collapse also became a political scandal: the CEO of Canada Health Infoway, the federally funded non-profit that built and operated PrescribeIT, was recently dismissed after more than 11 years in the role, amid a parliamentary committee investigation into how the money was spent. Telus Health, the program's main technology vendor, received $98 million and retained 85% of the intellectual property, meaning the government paid to build software it doesn't own.

What happens now: Infoway says it will publish a national open e-prescribing standard that other vendors can adopt, but no replacement service has been named, leaving clinics and pharmacies across the country to figure out their own workflows. In Alberta specifically, there is an added wrinkle: the exemption allowing electronic transmission of TPP Type 1 monitored medications via PrescribeIT will end May 29, meaning those prescriptions must again be issued on physical TPP secure prescription pads. Other provinces will face their own transition considerations depending on local regulations and vendor systems.

Bottom Line: Canada spent $300 million and nine years to build a prescription system that 95% of the country ignored, and then handed the intellectual property to a private company on the way out. What replaces it is anyone's guess. In the meantime, Canadian pharmacists should check with their software vendor about what, if anything, changes after May 29. And maybe dust off that fax machine.

1: 🚢 A hantavirus outbreak has hit the MV Hondius cruise ship off the coast of Cape Verde, leaving nearly 150 people stranded, including 4 Canadians. As of Thursday, the WHO confirmed 8 cases and 3 deaths (a Dutch couple and a German national) from the rare, rodent-borne virus. While typically spread through contact with infected droppings or urine, the shipboard cluster has sparked an investigation into possible rare human-to-human transmission. The vessel remains barred from docking while authorities coordinate medical evacuations for the remaining sick, as the virus carries a staggering 30–50% mortality rate with no known cure.

2: ✈️ The federal government is reportedly revisiting the controversial idea of privatizing Canada’s major airports as it looks to unlock billions for infrastructure. According to a report led by Mark Carney, the move could see a shift from the current non-profit model to one involving private equity and pension funds, potentially lowering federal debt but raising concerns about increased landing fees and passenger costs. While proponents argue private investment would modernize terminals and boost efficiency, critics worry that profit-driven motives could compromise long-term service quality at Canada’s busiest hubs.

3: 📠 A major study published in the CMAJ reveals that while 95% of Canadian doctors have gone digital, medical data sharing remains stuck in the past. Researchers found that interoperability between hospitals, specialists, and family doctors is "low and uneven" nationwide, with nearly every province still relying on fax machines or snail mail to exchange critical patient records. The report warns that this "fragmented digital spine" leads to thousands of redundant tests and avoidable medication errors, prompting calls for national legislation to mandate that different software systems finally speak the same language.

🎓 Attend: the Practical Approaches for Delivering Hep C Care webinar (May 16, 2026), a free virtual session hosted by the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals. It covers everything from diagnosis reviews to medication selection and overcoming treatment barriers.

🏃 Workout: this spring and give running a shot. Runner's World's beginner guide might peel you off the couch for a comfortable 30 minutes, one slow kilometre at a time.

📖 Read: how chewing gum could earn a place in cancer care. A new study found a bioengineered piece of gum reduced HPV and oral cancer-linked bacteria to near-zero levels in patient samples. It hasn’t been chewed yet (only tested on saliva samples) and flavours and bubble-ability haven’t been announced.

🥗 Make: these meal prep power bowls. Take 25 minutes on a Sunday to sort your lunches for the whole week: quinoa, roasted veggies, beans, and whatever is about to die in your crisper.

📺 Watch: this TED-Ed animation to see if your sleep posture is helping or hurting you. The video explains how sleeping on your back, stomach, or side affects everything from acid reflux to spinal health.

First clue: Item in a box with 7 compartments

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