Brolucizumab-dbll (Beovu — Novartis), a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA as an intravitreal injection for treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is the fourth VEGF inhibitor to be approved in the US for this indication; bevacizumab (Avastin, and others), a VEGF inhibitor FDA-approved for treatment of breast cancer and other malignancies, has been used off-label for this indication for years.

The FDA has approved an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT) formulation of rimegepant (Nurtec ODT – Biohaven), a small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist ("gepant"), for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Rimegepant is the second oral gepant to become available in the US; ubrogepant (Ubrelvy), which is approved for the same indication, was the first. Four parenteral CGRP antagonists, erenumab (Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy), galcanezumab (Emgality), and eptinezumab (Vyepti), are approved for prevention of...

A 0.24% ophthalmic solution of the second-generation H₁-antihistamine cetirizine (Zerviate – Eyevance) is now available by prescription for treatment of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in patients ≥2 years old. Oral cetirizine (Zyrtec, and others), which is used for treatment of allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis, has been available over the counter (OTC) for years.

The FDA has approved a subcutaneous formulation of the recombinant human anti-CD20 antibody ofatumumab (Kesimpta – Novartis) for treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including clinically isolated syndrome (initial neurological episode), relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Kesimpta is the second anti-CD20 antibody to be approved for these indications; IV ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), which is also approved for treatment of primary progressive MS, was the first. An IV formulation of ofatumumab (Arzerra) has...

The FDA has licensed MenQuadfi (Sanofi Pasteur), a quadrivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine that uses tetanus toxoid as a protein carrier, for prevention of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W, and Y (MenACWY) in persons ≥2 years old.

The interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist tocilizumab (Actemra – Genentech) has received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA for IV treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients ≥2 years old who are receiving a systemic corticosteroid and require supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Tocilizumab has been approved by the FDA for various indications, including rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Myfembree (Myovant/Pfizer), an oral fixed-dose combination of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor antagonist relugolix, the estrogen estradiol, and the progestin norethindrone acetate, has been approved by the FDA for management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) in premenopausal women. It is the second product to be approved in the US for this indication; Oriahnn, which contains the GnRH receptor antagonist elagolix in combination with estradiol and norethindrone acetate, was approved earlier. Relugolix was approved for...

The FDA has approved Lybalvi (Alkermes), a fixed-dose combination of the second-generation antipsychotic olanzapine (Zyprexa, and generics) and samidorphan, a new opioid antagonist, for treatment of adults with schizophrenia or with manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder. The addition of samidorphan is intended to mitigate the weight gain that occurs with olanzapine. This is the first FDA approval for samidorphan.

The FDA has approved Vtama (Dermavant), a 1% cream formulation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist tapinarof, for treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis. It is the first AhR agonist to be approved by the FDA.

The FDA has approved the oral GABA_A receptor modulator zuranolone (Zurzuvae – Sage Therapeutics/Biogen) for treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). Zuranolone is the second drug to be approved for this indication; brexanolone (Zulresso), another GABA_A receptor modulator, was approved for IV treatment of PPD in 2019.