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The FDA has licensed new 2025-2026 formulations of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) and Moderna (Spikevax, mNEXSPIKE) and the adjuvanted protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Novavax (Nuvaxovid). The new formulations are indicated for use in all adults ≥65 years old and in persons 6 months (Spikevax), 5 years (Comirnaty), or 12 years (mNEXSPIKE, Nuvaxovid) through 64 years old who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 because of an underlying condition. An Emergency Use Authorization allowing administration of the Pfizer vaccine to children 6 months through 4 years old has been withdrawn.

The FDA has approved Vybrique (IBSA), an oral film formulation of the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor sildenafil, for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Sildenafil oral tablets (Viagra, and generics) have been available since 1998. The manufacturer is promoting the new product as a "discreet, on-the-go" option that can be taken without water.

The FDA has approved Wegovy HD, a 7.2-mg dose of the injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist semaglutide, for use in adults who have tolerated the 2.4-mg dose for at least 4 weeks and require additional weight reduction.

The FDA has expanded the licensed use of the recombinant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Arexvy (GSK) to include adults 18-49 years old. Arexvy and the two other available RSV vaccines, Abrysvo and mResvia, are now all licensed for prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease in persons ≥60 years old and in those 18-59 years old who are at increased risk of lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV. Abrysvo is also licensed for use in pregnant women at 32-36 weeks' gestation to prevent RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in their infants from birth to 6 months.

The FDA has approved lerodalcibep (Lerochol – Lib Therapeutics), a subcutaneously injected proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). Lerodalcibep is the fourth subcutaneously injected PCSK9-directed therapy to be approved in the US; the monoclonal antibodies alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha) and the small interfering RNA inclisiran (Leqvio) were approved earlier (see Table 3)

The FDA has required that the labels of all carbidopa/levodopa-containing products (Crexont, Dhivy, Duopa, Rytary, Sinemet, Sinemet CR, Stalevo, Vyalev) include a warning about the risk of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) deficiency and vitamin B6 deficiency-related seizures associated with their use. The combination of carbidopa/levodopa is the most effective treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease and recent evidence favors its early use.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend using insect repellents to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, ticks, and other arthropods that transmit disease-causing pathogens. Repellents applied to exposed skin should be used in conjunction with other preventive measures such as wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, and socks and avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito-biting times. Some insect repellents are listed in Table 1.

The FDA has approved use of oral leucovorin calcium (folinic acid) for treatment of cerebral folate transport deficiency in patients who have a confirmed variant in the folate receptor 1 gene (FOLR1-CFTD). It is the first drug to be approved for this extremely rare disorder.

Relacorilant (Lifyorli – Corcept Therapeutics), an oral first-in-class glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane, and generics) for treatment of platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer in adults who received 1-3 prior lines of systemic therapy, one of which included bevacizumab (Avastin, and others).

Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu – Daiichi Sankyo/AstraZeneca) has now been approved by the FDA for use in combination with pertuzumab (Perjeta) for first-line treatment of HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer. The drug was approved earlier for use as monotherapy in adults with previously treated HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer.