The Mortar & Pestle

FDA Removes Black Box Warning on Estrogen: HRT Game-Changer for Women's Health After 23 years, the FDA removed the black box warning on estrogen products—a landmark decision transforming hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women. In this episode of the Mortar and Pestle podcast, hosts Mike De Lisio and Sebastian Dennison discuss this breakthrough with Sara Hover, Senior Director of Clinical Services at PCCA.   What You'll Learn: Why the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study was flawed and created decades of HRT concerns The timing hypothesis: why age matters when starting hormone replacement therapy Synthetic vs. bioidentical hormones and their clinical differences Oral estrogen delivery systems and safety implications Shared decision-making between patients, prescribers, and pharmacists Why compounded HRT solutions matter for patients who don't fit commercial products Hormone testing modalities and why multiple testing methods are essential Vaginal estrogen's role in preventing UTIs and hip fractures How pharmacists can educate providers and patients on HRT safety   Topics Covered: Black box warning removal, hormone replacement therapy, bioidentical hormones, menopause management, compounding pharmacy, women's health, estrogen, patient monitoring, HRT dosing strategies   Perfect for: Compounding pharmacists, healthcare providers, and anyone seeking evidence-based information on hormone replacement therapy.   Links: The FDA Removes the Black Box Warning on Estrogen: What Pharmacists Need to Know (2025 Update) Why VersaBase Cream Is Your Best Choice for Women's HRT The Vaginal Microbiome, Menopause & HRT A Personalized Approach to HRT for Perimenopausal Women Backed by Science: Anhydrous VersaBase® HRT Optimizing the Patient Experience with the Right HRT Base: Insights from the Webinar

In this episode, discover innovative dermatology compounding formulations featuring methylene blue for anti-aging skincare. Clinical pharmacist Nat Jones discusses PCCA's USP-grade methylene and the need for quality. Methylene blue may play a role in collagen stimulation, hyaluronic acid production, and UV protection. Also, learn about bio-peptide cream bases, research on carbamazepine and plaque psoriasis as well as research on losartan and hypertrophic scars. Explore evidence-based topical treatments that may be appropriate for patients in compounding pharmacies. Perfect for pharmacists seeking advanced dermatological formulation strategies and cosmeceutical applications.   Learn more by visiting our blog:   Methylene Blue: Something Old and Something Blue   Working with Methylene Blue: Best Practices for Compounding and Cleanup   Methylene Blue: From Textile Dye to Potential Clinical Wonder

In this episode of a Mortar and Pestle, Tenille Davis, Chief Advocacy Officer for the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, joins host Mike De Lisio and guest co-host Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, to discuss the APC Blue Print, a blueprint for eliminating redundant, unauthorized, or ineffective regulation that impedes patient access to compounded drugs.

In this episode of a Mortar and Pestle, Vice President of Research and Development Daniel Banov and Senior Formulation Specialist Courtaney Davis join host Vice President of North American Sales Mike De Lisio and co-host Clinical Compounding Pharmacist, RPh, FAARM (Candidate) Sebastian Denison, to discuss PCCA’s newest base innovation, UniFlow ­— a game changer in T3 and T4 compounding.

In this episode of a Mortar and Pestle, Tricia Heitman, PharmD, joins host Mike De Lisio, Vice President of North American Sales, and co-host Sebastian Denison, Clinical Compounding Pharmacist, RPh, FAARM (Candidate) to discuss leucovorin and other supplements for autism.

In this episode of The Mortar & Pestle Podcast, pharmacist and hormone therapy expert Ranel Larsen joins Mike de Lisio, Vice President of North American Sales, and Sebastian Denison, Clinical Compounding Pharmacist, RPh, FAARM (Candidate), to dig into men’s health. From hormone replacement therapy and lab testing to lifestyle factors like stress, sleep, and nutrition, Ranel breaks down how pharmacists can better support male patients while debunking common myths around testosterone.

In this special live episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Tiffany Kofroth, CSPT, CPhT-Adv, Advanced Pharmacy Technician in Continuing Pharmacy Education at the University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center from and Mindy Stephens, as they discuss their compounding journeys.

In this episode of The Mortar & Pestle: A PCCA Podcast, host Mike de Lisio is joined by PCCA’s VP of R&D, Daniel Banov, and returning guest Richie Ray, owner of Richie Specialty Pharmacy, to explore the innovation and impact of SubMagna—a proprietary sublingual base developed by PCCA. They discuss the technical challenges and scientific breakthroughs involved in formulating SubMagna to effectively deliver high molecular weight peptides like semaglutide via the sublingual route. Daniel details the base’s development process, including surfactant balancing, solubility enhancement, and permeability optimization, while Richie shares clinical insights, patient responses, and the broader market implications. Together, they highlight SubMagna’s potential as a game-changing delivery system for peptides and other challenging APIs, especially in an era of rising demand for non-injectable therapies.

In this episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Michael Negrete, Vice Chair of the Board at PLEI (Pharmacy Leadership & Education Institute), and Ryan Burke, Senior Director of Professional Affairs at PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) as they discuss leadership development and what PLEI and PTCB has to offer for pharmacy technicians.

In this episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Mallorie Thomasson, pharmacy technician at Chris' Express Drug, as they discuss her compounding journey.

In this episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Michelle Frediani, pharmacy technician at Kusler's Pharmacy, as they discuss her compounding journey.

If you've ever downloaded a formula from the PCCA database and thought, “Wow, that was easy,” you’re not wrong — but behind that single click is a mountain of work, innovation and science. In this episode of the Mortar & Pestle, PCCA Senior Formulation Specialist & Project Manager Stacey Lemus, BS, joins host Mike De Lisio and co-host Sebastian Denison, RPh, FAARM  (Candidate) to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the engine that drives PCCA’s formulation development.

In this episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Cindy Pegues, Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Texas at PCCA, as they discuss her compounding journey.

In this episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Stacey Lemus, Senior Formulation Specialist and Project Manager at PCCA, as they discuss her early start into compounding from small town waitress to being recruited as a pharmacy technician.

In this episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Mike Johnston, founder and CEO of the National Pharmacy Technician Association, as they discuss his compounding journey from his beginnings as an accidental technician to becoming the CEO of the world's largest professional membership organizations for pharmacy technicians.

In this episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Holli LeMond, Key Account Manager at PCCA, as they discuss her journey into compounding from an early passion for chemistry to becoming a pharmacy technician.

In this episode of a Mortar and Pestle, Michael Strouse, firefighter for the Department of Defense, and Robyn Crow, RPh, Lead Pharmacist at Clark's Rx The Compounding Lab, joins host Mike De Lisio and co-host Sebastian Denison, RPh, FAARM  (Candidate) to discuss how compounding saved Michael's life.

In this episode of Tech Talk, a Mortar & Pestle production, Erin Michael, Director of Member Engagement, is joined by Heather Tierney, Compounding Pharmacy Technician at Wheeler Custom Compounding, as they discuss her compounding journey and the importance of adding that personal touch into compounding.

In this episode of a Mortar and Pestle, PCCA’s retired Clinical Compounding Pharmacist Bruce Biundo, RPh, FACA, joins host Mike De Lisio and co-host Sebastian Denison, RPh, FAARM  (Candidate) to discuss a new study about PSA numbers.

In this episode of a Mortar and Pestle, Dr. Pamela Smith, M.D., MPH, MS, joins host Mike De Lisio and co-host Sebastian Denison, RPh, FAARM (Candidate) to use her perspective as a physician, discussing how to market to physicians.