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Rayan Salih

Contributing writer · PharmD, RPh

Rayan Salih

Rayan is a pharmacist, life science communicator, and health policy researcher with a deep interest in ensuring patient access to innovative and life-changing therapies. She obtained her PharmD at Rosalind Franklin…

Rayan is a pharmacist, life science communicator, and health policy researcher with a deep interest in ensuring patient access to innovative and life-changing therapies. She obtained her PharmD at Rosalind Franklin College of Pharmacy and completed a postdoctoral fellowship focused on Health Policy & Communications at the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) in conjunction with Rutgers University. During her time at NPC, Rayan published HEOR-relevant research (e.g., on the Inflation Reduction Act, patient-focused drug development, and oncology access) in peer-reviewed journals like Pharmacoeconomics Open and Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science. Rayan also supported the research team’s health policy and economic research projects, including abstract and poster development for conferences like AMCP, ISPOR, and ASCO. For the Rutgers portion of the fellowship, Rayan was an adjunct faculty member and led research projects in business development and health policy topics like alternative payment models (APMs) and the 340B program. Rayan continues to work at the intersection of innovative pharmaceutical advancement and communications as Chief Medical Writer at TheBrief.Health.

PharmD, RPh

Stories by Rayan

Packaged intraosseous access supplies being checked against an inventory list in an emergency department.

Innovation & Devices

Intraosseous Needle Recall Prompts Emergency Stock Review

The FDA recall affects specified Becton Dickinson intraosseous needle sets. Hospitals and emergency services should identify recalled stock while maintaining dependable alternatives for urgent vascular access.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read

An automated Impella controller undergoing an identification-label check in a hospital cardiac procedure area.

Cardiology

Impella Controller Recall: Immediate Cath Lab Checks

Cardiac procedural teams should reconcile every automated Impella controller against the FDA-listed removal, including units in use, storage, transport kits and biomedical engineering custody.

Rayan Salih · 7 min read

Colon tumor pathology slide beside a biomarker report and an oncology treatment plan

Oncology

Atezolizumab Approved for Stage III dMMR Colon Cancer

The FDA approved adjuvant atezolizumab plus chemotherapy after resection of stage III dMMR colon cancer in adults and patients aged 12 years or older. The subcutaneous formulation is limited to adults.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read

Prostate cancer pathology slide beside a molecular test report and medication packaging in a clinical laboratory.

Oncology

Prostate Cancer Approval Expands Talazoparib Eligibility

The FDA has expanded talazoparib plus enzalutamide to selected adults with HRR-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Treatment requires mutation confirmation with an FDA-authorized test.

Rayan Salih · 7 min read

Stethoscope beside an aortic valve model and an unbranded medication bottle in a cardiology clinic.

Cardiology

Aortic Stenosis Trial Will Test Beta-Blocker Effects

The multicenter BASE trial will test cardiovascular and metabolic effects of beta-blocker therapy in people with aortic stenosis. Its protocol does not yet provide treatment-effect estimates.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read

A weekly medication organizer beside an insulin pen and glucose meter on a clinical desk.

Endocrinology & Metabolism

Type 2 Diabetes Gains a Once-Weekly Insulin Option

FDA approval of insulin efsitora alfa-gobe creates a weekly basal insulin option for adults with type 2 diabetes, making treatment burden, hypoglycemia risk and follow-up capacity central to selection.

Rayan Salih · 7 min read

Rectal cancer imaging and pathology materials beside an immunotherapy vial in a clinical review setting.

Health Policy

Dostarlimab’s Accelerated Approval in Rectal Cancer

The FDA authorized dostarlimab for eligible adults with stage II or III locally advanced rectal cancer, based on a 154-patient efficacy assessment. Confirmation of long-term clinical benefit is still required.

Rayan Salih · 7 min read

Pelvic MRI beside a multidisciplinary rectal cancer treatment plan and pathology report.

Oncology

Dostarlimab Reframes Organ Preservation in Rectal Cancer

Accelerated approval adds dostarlimab as an initial option for selected patients with untreated stage II or III MSI-H or dMMR rectal cancer, making organ preservation an early multidisciplinary decision.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read

Pathology slides and a molecular testing report beside two pembrolizumab product presentations.

Clinical Briefs

Pembrolizumab Eligibility for TMB-High Solid Tumors

Traditional approval retains a narrow, tissue-agnostic indication for adults and children with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic TMB-high solid tumors and no satisfactory alternatives.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read

Rectal MRI images and a pathology slide beside a multidisciplinary cancer care plan

Oncology

Dostarlimab Offers Treatment-Only Path in Rectal Cancer

Accelerated approval makes dostarlimab an initial option for previously untreated stage II or III MSI-H/dMMR rectal cancer, with the possibility of avoiding chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read

Radiopharmaceutical vial beside an oncology treatment plan for a gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Oncology

Edotreotide Improves PFS in GEP Neuroendocrine Tumors

In a phase 3 head-to-head trial, [177Lu]Lu-edotreotide extended progression-free survival compared with everolimus in progressive, somatostatin receptor-positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read

Blood tubes beside a breast cancer pathology report prepared for ESR1 mutation testing.

Women's Health

Imlunestrant Combo Makes ESR1 Testing a Selection Step

The FDA approval applies to adults with ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer harboring an ESR1 mutation after endocrine-therapy progression. Guardant360 CDx is the companion diagnostic.

Rayan Salih · 7 min read

Pathology slide and molecular test report illustrating HER2 mutation testing in nonsquamous lung cancer.

Oncology

Sevabertinib Makes HER2 Testing Pivotal in NSCLC

The FDA’s accelerated approval covers previously treated adults with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC harboring activating HER2 tyrosine-kinase-domain mutations detected by an approved test.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read

Pelvic MRI workstation beside a pathology slide and an oncology treatment plan for rectal cancer.

Oncology

Dostarlimab Opens Treatment-Only Path in Rectal Cancer

FDA accelerated approval covers selected previously untreated adults with MSI-H or dMMR locally advanced rectal cancer, allowing standard chemoradiation and surgery to be deferred when a complete clinical response is sustained.

Rayan Salih · 7 min read

Rectal cancer pathology slides beside a molecular testing report and multidisciplinary treatment notes.

Oncology

Rectal Cancer: Who Fits the Dostarlimab Approval

The FDA approval applies to adults with untreated stage II or III locally advanced rectal cancer whose tumors are MSI-H or dMMR. Testing must occur before the initial treatment strategy is fixed.

Rayan Salih · 6 min read