Drug Channels delivers timely analysis and provocative opinions from Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., the country's foremost expert on pharmaceutical economics and the drug distribution system. Drug Channels reaches an engaged, loyal and growing audience of more than 100,000 subscribers and followers. Learn more...
Today’s guest post comes from Gerard Rivera, CEO and Co-Founder of RIS Rx.
Gerard explores how pharma companies lose billions each year through copay program inefficiencies, accumulators, maximizers, and other forms of systemic leakage. He introduces RIS Rx, a healthcare technology company whose platform helps manufacturers mitigate gross-to-net (GTN) revenue leakage while supporting patient access and outcomes.
Today’s guest post comes from Bansi Nagji, Chief Executive Officer at PANTHERx Rare.
Bansi explores how the emerging model of “Rare Pharmacy” addresses the challenges rare diseases pose to patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system. His perspective highlights the role of hyper-personalization, empathy, and data in improving outcomes for individuals with rare and orphan conditions, while also pointing to lessons that may extend across the broader healthcare landscape.
We’re thrilled to announce the full agenda for the 2026 Drug Channels Leadership Forum (DCLF)—taking place from March 16–18, 2026, at the Turnberry Resort & Spa in Miami. Once again, Drug Channels Institute (DCI) is proud to host this invite-only gathering of senior leaders across the drug channel ecosystem. You must request an invitation to be considered for attendance. We will begin sending invitations in mid-October.
Our 2026 lineup brings together a diverse range of C-suite leaders and policy influencers, ensuring every session delivers candid, high-value insights.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
DCLF is a strategic, invite-only gathering for leaders from across the healthcare and pharmaceutical landscape, including:
Pharmaceutical manufacturers
PBMs, health plans, employers, and plan sponsors
Health systems and physician practices
Pharmacies and wholesalers
Policymakers
WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect another year of bold, candid discussions—not just presentations. We’ve enhanced the 2026 agenda with new formats and even more opportunities for direct, high-impact exchanges among attendees.
At DCLF, there are no exhibit halls, no press, no recordings, and no distractions—just substance and strategy.
You can expect:
Provocative panels with C-suite executives
Off-the-record insights and open Q&A sessions
Direct, high-impact exchanges among leaders
If you want to be in the room where it happens, there’s no substitute for being there in person.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
To maintain the event’s strategic focus, attendance from industry suppliers (e.g., technology, consulting, financial services, etc.) is available only through sponsorship.
Each sponsorship level provides a limited number of attendee badges, ensuring the right mix of participants.
Invitations will begin going out in mid-October 2025. You must request an invitation to be considered for attendance. Don’t wait—our curated guest list fills up fast.
Today’s guest post comes from George Moore, Chief Information Technology Officer at CareMetx.
While banks and logistics companies update data instantly, patient services often rely on delayed, batch-based systems. George examines the challenges of this model and the potential for real-time synchronization to improve coordination and accelerate access to therapy.
Today’s guest post comes from Josh Marsh, Vice President and General Manager, Sonexus™ Access and Patient Support at Cardinal Health.
Josh examines the central role that hubs play in connecting patients, providers, and other stakeholders. He shares how hubs, by gathering and interpreting real-world insights, can help improve access, adherence, and the overall patient experience.
Today’s guest post comes from Jim Sheninger, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain at SmithRx.
Jim reviews the evolution of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) within the drug channel and discusses the challenges that the industry's current dynamics create for plan sponsors, patients, and pharmacies. He then outlines SmithRx’s approach to addressing these issues.
Our news-laden summer is ending. Time to pack away your bathing suit, send the kids back to school, and cherish these curated curiosities that I combed from the Drug Channels coastline:
Today’s guest post comes from Angie Franks, CEO at Kalderos.
Angie examines how data fragmentation contributes to inefficiencies in drug discount programs and the broader gross-to-net bubble—the widening difference between a drug’s revenue at list prices and what manufacturers actually receive. Angie outlines how better access to consistent, claims-level data could help reduce waste, improve program integrity, and enhance collaboration among stakeholders in the drug channel.
During my recent video webinar—What’s Next for Retail Pharmacy: Data, Debate, and Disruption—Antonio Ciaccia of 46brooklyn Research joined me to explore the data, trends, and strategic shifts driving a major shakeout in the retail pharmacy sector.
In the short video excerpt below, I break down five key economic forces putting intense pressure on U.S. drugstores. This clip offers just a glimpse of our broader conversation, which also covered PBMs, wholesalers, the evolving competitive landscape, and more.
Today’s guest post comes from Chris Dowd, Senior VP of Market Development at ConnectiveRx.
Chris revisits his November 2024 forecasts to assess how they’ve held up through mid-2025, giving them an overall grade of A-. He examines which trends played out as expected, where the landscape shifted more dramatically, and how these developments are reshaping patient access strategies.
After multiple years of mandated disclosure of negotiated hospital-insurer rates, those of us who follow the buy-and-bill channel might have expected transparency to reduce drug price variability, lower hospital markups, and accelerate adoption of lower-cost biosimilars.
Alas, that’s not what the latest data reveal.
DCI’s analysis of four national commercial insurers—Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare—and 26 hospitals found that:
Hospitals still earn significant markups over average sale price (ASP). 340B hospitals earn even more.
Insurers pay wildly varying amounts for the same drug.
Some hospitals get paid significantly more than others for the same drug.
Insurers can pay more for a lower-cost biosimilar than for the higher-cost reference product.
While provider-administered biosimilars are significantly cheaper than their reference products, hospitals and insurers are still making them expensive for plan sponsors. Meanwhile, patients with coinsurance and deductibles are paying higher out-of-pocket costs.
Transparency was supposed to clean things up—but someone forgot to bring the mop.
Today’s guest post comes from Stacey Little, Chief Growth Officer at AssistRx.
In this guest post, Stacey explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is helping life sciences organizations move beyond fragmented support models to deliver more integrated and personalized patient engagement. She outlines three distinct approaches to structuring patient support programs and discusses how AI-driven tools—such as AllazoHealth—can help tailor interventions across the entire treatment journey.
