The FDA has approved the complement C3 inhibitor pegcetacoplan (Syfovre – Apellis) for treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Given as a series of monthly or every-other-month (EOM) intravitreal injections, it is the first drug to become available for use in patients with atrophic dry AMD. Subcutaneous pegcetacoplan was approved earlier as Empaveli for treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

The FDA has approved the complement C5 inhibitor avacincaptad pegol (Izervay – Iveric) for intravitreal treatment of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Avacincaptad pegol is the second complement inhibitor to be approved in the US for this indication; pegcetacoplan (Syfovre), a complement C3 and C3b inhibitor, was approved earlier.

The FDA has approved the nitrofuran antiprotozoal drug nifurtimox (Lampit – Bayer) for treatment of Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) in children who weigh ≥2.5 kg. Nifurtimox was previously available in the US only through a CDC-sponsored Investigational New Drug (IND) program.

Ropinirole (Requip - GlaxoSmithKline), a dopamine agonist already available for treatment of Parkinson's disease, is now the first drug approved by the FDA for treatment of moderate to severe restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Lapatinib (Tykerb - GlaxoSmithKline), an oral inhibitor of both HER-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor type 1 (EGFR-1 or ErbB-1), has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with capecitabine (Xeloda) to treat advanced or metastatic breast cancer that overexpresses HER-2 in patients who have received prior therapy that included an anthracycline, a taxane and trastuzumab (Herceptin), an intravenous monoclonal antibody that also inhibits HER-2.

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Plaque Psoriasis

The FDA has approved the pyrimidine analog uridine triacetate (Xuriden [zur' uh den] – Wellstat Therapeutics) for treatment of hereditary orotic aciduria, a rare autosomal recessive disorder (estimated birth prevalence: <1:1,000,000) in infants and children caused by a deficiency in uridine 5'-monophosphate (UMP) synthase. This deficiency prevents synthesis of uridine nucleotides and causes developmental delays, failure to gain weight, hematologic abnormalities, and excessive urinary excretion of orotic acid, which can lead to urinary obstruction.1 Xuriden is the first drug to be approved...

The FDA has approved Lonsurf (Taiho Oncology), a combination of the thymidine-based nucleoside analog trifluridine and the thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor tipiracil, for oral treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Trifluridine is incorporated into DNA, interfering with DNA synthesis and inhibiting cell proliferation. Tipiracil inhibits the metabolism of trifluridine. The combination is only approved for use in patients who were previously treated with a fluoropyrimidine (fluorouracil or capecitabine), oxaliplatin, irinotecan, an anti-VEGF biological such as bevacizumab, and, if the tumor...

The FDA has approved an oral suspension formulation of nitisinone (Orfadin – Sobi) for treatment of hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT-1). Orfadin has been available in a capsule formulation in Canada since 1994 and in the US since 2002.HT-1 is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder (estimated birth prevalence: 1:100,000) caused by mutations in the gene responsible for formation of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH), which catalyzes the last step in tyrosine metabolism. FAH deficiency results in accumulation of upstream toxic metabolites, causing liver and kidney failure and developmental...

Clarithromycin (Biaxin - Abbott) and azithromycin (Zithromax - Pfizer), two macrolide antibiotics chemically related to erythromycin, have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of respiratory, skin, and skin structure infections. Azithromycin has also been approved for treatment of nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.