Breaking Barriers in Specialty Pharmacy: AXS25 Recap from Las Vegas

In specialty pharmacy, the status quo is no longer sufficient: A renewed focus on patient care is the future. Leaders across healthcare, pharmacy, and biopharma gathered in Las Vegas for Asembia’s 2025 Specialty Pharmacy Summit (AXS25) to explore how we can collectively drive access, innovation, and outcomes across the specialty drug landscape.

As the complexity of patient care increases, so does the urgency to make therapies more accessible and effective. Tackling these issues head-on, the industry leaders discussed key strategies to break down access barriers, redefine the pharmacist’s role, and realign pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) with value-based care principles. Here are some of the key takeaways from our time at AXS25:

Improving Access to Specialty Therapies

One sobering data point from IQVIA revealed that over 50% of first-time specialty prescriptions go unfilled. Of those who do begin therapy, only one-third remain on treatment after one year. The takeaway? Barriers to access and adherence remain stubborn — and costly.

Speakers across sessions emphasized that improving access requires a coordinated ecosystem that supports affordability, education, and personalized support throughout the patient journey.

The Evolving Role of the Pharmacist

Pharmacists are becoming critical touchpoints in the care continuum — often with more frequent contact with patients than primary care providers. Their clinical expertise and frontline visibility position them to improve outcomes through medication counseling, adherence support, and care collaboration programs.

We’re seeing more organizations investing in pharmacist-nurse care teams focused on reducing hospital readmissions and aligning therapy with measurable outcomes — not just volume.

PBMs, Flexibility, and the Shift Toward Value

The traditional role of the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) is under scrutiny. Stakeholders are pushing for contract flexibility, interoperability, and a focus on outcomes over utilization. Value-based frameworks are gaining traction, rewarding drug performance and real-world results rather than sheer prescription volume.

Policy and Pricing: The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

The IRA was a hot topic at this year’s summit. While the goal is to reduce drug prices and improve access, the long-term impact remains unclear. 

Another surprising data point: Less than 1% of Medicare Part D beneficiaries opted into the MPPP Smoothing program in its first year, leaving questions about awareness, complexity, and system readiness.

AI, Equity, and the Future of Specialty Pharmacy

Additional sessions dove into AI-powered decision-making, the importance of community-informed health equity initiatives, and preparing for emerging therapies like cell and gene treatments, which require seamless logistics and reimbursement strategies.

As the industry continues to evolve, one theme was clear across the board: Patient-centered care, backed by clinical innovation and policy reform, is no longer optional — it’s the future.

Rethinking Delivery of Specialty Care

AXS25 reinforced the urgency of industry collaboration to break down access barriers and rethink how specialty care is delivered. Whether through smarter technology, evolving pharmacist roles, or new policy frameworks, we’re all working toward the same goal: ensuring that every patient can get the care — and the medications — they need, when they need them.

Prepare for the Future of Specialty Pharmacy With Medix

Ultimately, transforming specialty pharmacy requires a dual focus: developing effective strategies and building the teams to execute them. As the industry works to overcome access barriers and enhance patient care, access to qualified professionals becomes essential. A life sciences staffing partner with almost 25 years specializing in building pharmaceutical teams, Medix can help organizations find the skilled talent and drive meaningful progress now and into the future. 

For strategic staffing solutions that support all your healthcare initiatives, explore how Medix can be your trusted partner.