Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of thromboembolic stroke. Anticoagulant therapy can reduce this risk and is recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation and one or more of the following: congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, or prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (CHADS₂ score ≥1).

The investigational monoclonal antibody sotrovimab (VIR-7831; GSK/Vir Biotechnology) has been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients ≥12 years old who weigh ≥40 kg and are at high risk of progressing to severe disease, including hospitalization and death.1 Two other monoclonal antibody regimens are authorized for the same indication: casirivimab (REGN10933) and imdevimab (REGN10987) administered together, and bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555) and etesevimab (LYCoV016) administered together. The FDA revoked its EUA...

Nisoldipine (Sular -Zeneca), a dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker structurally similar to nifedipine, has been approved for marketing by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is available in an oral extended-release formulation for treatment of hypertension.

The FDA has approved Trijardy XR (Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly), a fixed-dose combination of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin, the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor linagliptin, and extended-release metformin, for oral treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. Empagliflozin and linagliptin have been available in a fixed-dose combination as Glyxambi since 2015, and both have been available in 2-drug combinations with extended-release metformin for years (see Table 1).

The FDA has approved Prestalia (Symplmed), an oral fixed-dose combination of the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Norvasc, and generics) and a new salt form of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril, for treatment of hypertension in patients not adequately controlled on monotherapy or already taking both drugs, and in those just starting therapy who are likely to need multiple drugs to control their blood pressure. The new salt form (perindopril arginine) is more stable and has a longer shelf-life than perindopril erbumine (Aceon, and...

The FDA has approved darolutamide (Nubeqa – Bayer), an androgen receptor inhibitor, for oral treatment of nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). Darolutamide is the third androgen receptor inhibitor to be approved for this indication; apalutamide (Erleada) and enzalutamide (Xtandi), which are also approved for use in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), were approved earlier.

The oral sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator ozanimod (Zeposia – Bristol Myers Squibb) has been approved by the FDA for treatment of adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. It is the first S1P receptor modulator to be approved for treatment of ulcerative colitis. Ozanimod was approved in March 2020 for use in adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

The FDA has approved Jentadueto XR (Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly), a once-daily extended-release formulation of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor linagliptin and the biguanide metformin, for oral treatment of type 2 diabetes. Linagliptin and metformin have been available for years in a twice-daily immediate-release combination (Jentadueto). Once-daily extended-release formulations combining metformin with the DPP-4 inhibitors saxagliptin (Kombiglyze XR) and sitagliptin (Janumet XR) are also available.

The FDA has approved venetoclax (Venclexta – Abbvie/Genentech), an oral selective BCL-2 inhibitor, for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in patients with a 17p deletion who have received at least one prior therapy. The 17p deletion is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with CLL; it is prevalent in about 20% of patients with relapsed CLL. Venetoclax is the fi rst BCL-2 inhibitor to become available in the US.

Transdermal nitroglycerin products commercially available in the USA are listed in the table below. These patches, which look like adhesive bandages, are often applied over the precordium, but they can be attached to any hairless area of the skin, except distal parts of the extremities. Individual patients vary in their absorption of nitroglycerin from the skin; the amounts delivered (the doses) are average figures.