The FDA has approved tirzepatide (Mounjaro – Lilly), a peptide hormone with activity at both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors, to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide, which is injected subcutaneously once weekly, is the first dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist to become available in the US. Selective GIP receptor agonists are not available in the US; GLP-1 receptor agonists have been available for years.

The FDA has approved the oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor upadacitinib (Rinvoq – Abbvie) for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults who have had an inadequate response to or cannot tolerate one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Upadacitinib is the second JAK inhibitor to be approved for this indication; tofacitinib (Xeljanz) was the first. Upadacitinib is also approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, atopic dermatitis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Cannabis (marijuana) contains more than 60 pharmacologically active cannabinoids; delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the best known. THC is the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis. CBD, unlike THC, does not produce intoxication or euphoria.

Atopic dermatitis (AD; also known as eczema) is frequently associated with other atopic disorders such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and food allergy. It commonly presents in infancy and early childhood and has a relapsing course, often improving by adolescence, but sometimes persisting into (or first appearing in) adulthood or even old age.

Pharmacologic treatment is recommended for postmenopausal women who have bone density T-scores (standard deviations from normal mean values in the spine, femoral neck, total hip, or distal radius) of -2.5 or below, T-scores between -1.0 and -2.5 with a history of fragility (low-trauma) fracture of the hip or spine, or T-scores between -1.0 and -2.5 with a FRAX 10-year probability of ≥3% for hip fracture or ≥20% for major osteoporotic fracture.

The main goals of treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are to relieve symptoms, reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations, prevent disease progression, and reduce mortality. GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) guidelines for treatment of COPD were updated recently. Treatment of acute exacerbations is not discussed here. Drugs available for treatment of COPD are listed in Tables 1 and 3.

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Plaque Psoriasis

The FDA has approved two new ophthalmic drugs for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: latanoprostene bunod (Vyzulta – Bausch and Lomb), a modified prostaglandin analog, and netarsudil (VRhopressa – Aerie), the first Rho kinase inhibitor to be approved in the US.

Acute cough (<3 weeks in duration) generally does not require pharmacologic treatment, especially in children. Suppression of productive cough may be harmful. Management of patients with cough should include elimination of any precipitating factor (e.g., cigarette smoking) and treatment of any underlying cause such as upper airway cough syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, or other pulmonary disease.

Cefuroxime axetil (Ceftin - Glaxo), an oral form of the second-generation parenteral cephalosporin cefuroxime (Zinacef), was recently marketed in the USA. Previously available oral cephalosporins are the first-generation drugs cephalexin (Keflex; and others), cephradine (Anspor; and others) and cefadroxil (Duricef; and others), and the second-generation cefaclor (Ceclor); second-generation cephalosporins have more activity against gram-negative bacteria.